Born: Then Born Again

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. - John 3:6

    The Bible speaks of two births: every man’s natural or fleshly birth; and his people’s supernatural or spiritual birth. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (Jn 3:6). The verb “is” in our Lord’s statement to Nicodemus reveals to us that we will remain as we are born until death. The truth and realization of this concerning the first birth is discouraging and depressing. It means that we will be prone to, and subject to sin and all its afflictions and hindrances as long as we live. Thank God for his throne of grace where-upon sits our intercessor and advocate! But, alas, the evidence of our sinful nativity will follow us to the grave. And worse, those who are not born again spiritually will live in eternity as they are here: without Christ and with sin and it’s consequences, eternal death.

    The second birth, or spiritual birth, our Lord speaks of is from above (not fleshly, but of God). Those who are born of this birth will remain the same—eternally! This truth gives us much comfort and joy. What we are here as the people of God, we will remain so for ever. For those who do not know Christ here, eternity will be worse. But for those who have been born again, eternity will be indescribably better for we shall see him as he is, and we will be totally dead to the first birth, which is sin (1 Cor 15:54).