How Many Births Have You Experienced?

In other words, how many times have you been born?

 

There are two births which every man born of a woman should experience. They are the first or natural birth and the second or spiritual birth.

The first or natural birth occurred by the will of our parents. That is, the natural birth was by the will of man, and the will of the flesh. The natural birth is that which brought us into the world and makes us members of a human family.

The first or natural birth makes you and I a sinner and this birth qualifies man for two types of death – the physical or natural death and the second or eternal death. The physical or natural death applies to all men who must return to the dust irrespective of having first or second birth (Ecclesiastes 12:7). Hebrews 9:27 says, ‘’ it is appointed to all men to die once and after death is judgment.’’

The second or eternal death is an eternal separation from God. Those who experience the second death are those who die in sin without repentance; who rejected God’s offer of salvation. Their eternal abode is Hell, the place of eternal torment and punishment and total hopelessness.

The second or spiritual birth is by the will of God, not the will of our parents.  John 1:13 says, ‘’ which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.’’

The second birth makes you a child of God and member of the family of God. The second birth makes you a saint in the eyes of God.  The second birth is for those who receive salvation through Jesus Christ and have been empowered to become the sons of God. 

John 1:12 says,

‘’ but as many as received Him, to them He gave the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.’’

They are the ones who have been resurrected from spiritual death to life and are children of a heavenly father. John 3:3 says, ‘’…verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’’

For those who have the second birth, who are born-again, the second or eternal death has no power over them. Revelations 20:6 says, ‘’blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has no power.’’

The second birth reconciles man back to God and reconnects his spirit to God. Without the second birth, men will die in sin and end up in eternal Hell because nothing unclean can inherit the Kingdom of God.

For those who have been born only once via the natural birth and who miss the second birth, they will experience two kinds of death –the physical and the eternal death. Their physical death will be their door to eternal death. Those who have the two births will experience only one death – the physical death which will be their door to eternity with Christ.

The second birth involves a moral and a spiritual change; a change of heart that transforms one into a new creature (John 3:3) (2 Corinthians 5:17). It is a change of masters that adopts one from the satanic family into the family of God. 

It is a consecration of the body, soul and spirit of man to serve God and holiness rather than Satan and sin (Romans 8:1-13). It translates a sinner from the broad way that leads to destruction to the narrow way that leads to life (Matthew 7:13-14).

The second birth is a renewal in righteousness and true holiness; a change of favour and a new standing before God and also a change of character, state and service (Ephesians 2:1-9; 4:23-24) (Titus 3:5).

The moment one is responsible and accountable enough to recognize that he is a sinner, and he repents and believes the gospel, the moral and spiritual change will take place (2 Corinthians 5:17-18).

How can we experience the Second Birth?

Ø Accept and acknowledge that you are a sinner heading to destruction (Romans 3:23) (Romans 6:23)

Ø Believe in the Lord Jesus, the Risen Christ. Confess Him as your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9-10) who alone can save

Ø Confess your sins to Jesus and ask for His mercy and forgiveness (1 John 1:9)

Ø Determine not to return to your old life of sin (Isaiah 55:7)

Ø Open the door of your heart to Jesus and allow Him to come in to dwell in it (Revelations 3:20)

Act now, the next minute may be too late. You are only one heartbeat away from eternity. Today is the day of salvation. Further delay is dangerous!

If you have taken these steps, you have been born into the family of God and the angels are rejoicing over you, celebrating your new birth (Luke 15:10). 

You are welcome into the family of God.