The Paradox of Birth

Born once, die twice;
Born twice, die once.

There are two births and there are two deaths—the natural and the spiritual birth, and the natural and the spiritual death. The natural birth has to do with our entrance into the world, while the spiritual birth has to do with our conversion, our entrance into the kingdom of God. Natural death is separation of the soul and the spirit from the body, while spiritual death is separation from God. That is why Jesus said, "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:5).

We all know that physical life begins with a birth. Spiritual life likewise begins with a birth. We become members of the human family by birth. We become members of the family of God by birth—by being born again. There is no other way to get into God's family except by birth. Education, reformation, performing good deeds, joining a church, being religious, even trying to live a good life will not do it. "Ye must be born again" (John 3:7).

The words born again mean that a man may have a fresh start. There is a breaking with the past. Consider a baby born into the world. We are impressed by its utter pastlessness. It has nothing to regret, nothing to forget. Everything is before it, nothing behind. That "land of beginning again" is found by the sinner who believes the gospel and is thereby born again.

It is far better to be twice-born. If a man has been born but once, he will surely die twice, but if he has been born twice, he will only die once, and perhaps not even once (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17).

~ Coulson Shepherd