We have been begotten unto a living hope, and a miraculous mercy, that lifts us up and out of a fallen nature whose way and truth and life is death. For the fallen way is a nature that is forged in the spirit of corruption. Which is a nature unto death. For that which corrupts, destroys. It maims, it kills and it destroys. For it is a nature that was birthed when the spirit of “the fowler” entered into Adam. For is the nature of “the fowler” not a nature that “fowls”? Which is to turn that which is wholesome into ruin and rot? Which is a process of incremental decay over time? Until every last remnant is replete with the putrid stench of fowl and corruption? For when our flesh becomes fowl, does it’s corruption not stink? Does sepsis not have a distinctly fowl odour? Has the LORD our God not shown us this life principle through what we can all see of our own flesh in the natural?

Which is why those who are ensnared in the ways of the fallen nature are entirely and blissfully unaware that they are progressing towards a state of complete and irrevocable decay. For in their minds, do they not yet live? And if they live, how then can it be that they are dead? But is that life really life? Is that not the art of true deception? For is the greatest talent of the fowler in fact not deception? That we should believe that we are alive when we are not? That we should think that the life of the fallen nature is life, when in fact it is a slow and cancerous decay unto utter ruin and compete rot? Until the entire fruit that is our life falls away in irreversible separation from the tree unto the ground, utterly fowled and soiled, and becomes dust?

For is it not written that to sow unto the flesh is to “reap corruption”, but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit “reap life everlasting”? (Galatians 6:8). And is the fallen nature not the spirit of “sowing unto the flesh”? Which is the spirit of sowing unto the soul? Which is the three-way nature of the lusts of the eyes, the lusts of the flesh and the pride of life? “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world” (1 John 2:16). For was it not the pride of life that entered Adam when he surrendered to the lusts of his eyes when both the lusts of his eyes and the lusts of his flesh compelled him to eat from the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil?

For is it not written that the sons of God are led by the Spirit of God? (Romans’ 8:14). Which tells us that if we are led by ANYTHING else, we are not sons of God? Which tells us that if we are led by anything else, we are then the sons of something and someone else? So when we are led by the voice of the soul, we are then, in fact, NOT the sons of God. But the sons of the flesh. Which are sons of the fallen nature. Which are the sons of the father of the fallen nature. Which are those who, instead of eating from the tree of life of being led by the light of the spirit, are those who choose instead to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil of their soul? For is the soul not the flesh? And is the flesh not at enmity with the spirit? For is it not written: “because the mind of the flesh is hostile to God: It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so“? (Romans 8:7). And when we choose to exalt our soul above the spirit, are we not exalting our own ways above the ways of our Father who is Spirit? Have we not fallen for the same deception as Adam in being led by the voice of the soul, which is the voice of the lusts of the flesh and the pride of life? For when we eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil of our soul, are we not choosing for ourselves what is right and wrong, and good and evil? Which is what Adam did? Which is the pride of life? Which will always have only one outcome - a great fall?

But yet, in the great treasure that is 1 Peter 1:3, we have our Father’s loving assurance that through “the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead”, His abundant mercy has begotten us again unto a living hope - a LIVING hope - which is our “own resurrection” from the dead of our fallen nature of the flesh. Which is a living hope in “an abundant mercy” that out of a fallen nature that utterly cleaves us unto the jaws of death, we may be resurrected into something that is not death, but life — which is a resurrection into a divine nature and an eternal power. Which is the unquenchable power of love. For the divine nature has power over every thing that is foreign and foe to love being both thoroughly expressed and completely accomplished. For the divine nature IS love. Which is a nature and a power entirely without spot or wrinkle, a way that is without any blemish or corruption, a life that is completely without fowl or flaw. For when we take on the heart and the nature of our Father in heaven, we shall be perfect, lacking nothing (John 1:4). For our character shall then be the character and nature of love. For love not only conquers all, it cannot corrupt. Love cannot turn fowl. For that would be entirely contrary to its nature and its power. For love is the nature and power that allows us to live and move and have our entire being in God. (Acts 17:28).

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” (‭‭I Peter‬ ‭1:3‬).