Section 2
much fruit. This is a matter of germination through resurrection. Concerning this, Peter says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has re generated us unto a living hope through the res urrection of Jesus Christ from among the dead" (1 Pet. 1:3). When Christ was resurrected, we, His believers, were all included in Him. Hence, we were resurrected with Him (Eph. 2:6). In His resurrection, He imparted the divine life into us and made us the same as He is in life and nature.
THE DEAD HEARING THE GOSPEL
AND BEING GERMINATED
All fallen human beings are dying. A person begins to die from the moment of birth. Al though we may say that people are dying, the Bible reveals that sinners are already dead. Ephe sians 2:1 and 5 say that, as sinners, we were dead in offenses and sins. Colossians 2:13 also says that we were dead in offenses. In these verses God seems to be saying, "You may think that human beings are living. You are mistaken. Fallen human beings are not living—they are dead."
In John 5:25 we see that when we preach the gospel, we are actually preaching to those who are spiritually dead: "Truly, truly, I say to you, an