Rebirth in Christ
The Philippine Statistics Authority records that three babies are born each minute in the Philippines. That is about 165 babies born per hour, translating to over 1.4 million babies born yearly. Meanwhile, worldwide, the United Nations records that 250 babies are born every minute, which translates to 130 million in a year!
Every birth is a miracle. Starting from a single cell called a zygote. By 3-5 weeks, the heart, initially a tiny tube, begins to beat independently. As the pregnancy progresses, crucial organs like the brain, lungs, and spinal cord form. By the 6th to 11th week, the embryo develops into a fetus, with over 200 million cells working harmoniously. By the 9th to 12th week, the fetus starts to move, and its facial features become recognizable. By the 20th week, the fetus can suck its thumb and feel emotions. By the 24th week, its organs begin functioning and can hear sounds. The lungs develop by the 26th and 27th weeks, and the fetus starts to open its eyes. By the 28th week, the brain is active, and the skeleton hardens. At the 32nd week, the baby’s skin becomes smoother, and by the 36th week, it prepares for birth by positioning its head down. Finally, by the 40th week, the baby is ready to be born. There is indeed no doubt that each birth is a miracle!
But there is a birth far more spectacular and miraculous than a natural birth, the spiritual birth or what Jesus calls “born again.”
Jesus states that being born again is “a must” to enter the kingdom of God! It is mandatory. It is a prerequisite. It is not an option or an alternative. This teaching is hardly heard in our generation anymore; it appears that this teaching of Jesus about the necessity of spiritual rebirth has wholly disappeared. Because many today are just religious, but they are still spiritually ignorant, just like Nicodemus was. Nicodemus was a Pharisee. He was spiritual, educated, and powerful. But at the same time, he knew nothing about the kingdom of God, much less how to enter it. Even though he knew something true about Jesus, he stopped short of fully committing and surrendering his life to our Savior (John 3:2). Today, many are just like Nicodemus in many respects—religiously educated but ignorant, deceived and misled too. They know something true about Jesus but have not consciously and deliberately committed to Him.
Cultural Christianity is now the more prevalent and acceptable form of Christianity. It is taking on the mere label or the branding of Christianity without a personal conviction regarding the actual teaching of Jesus and without experiencing a spiritual conversion. It is an affiliation with a religion or a church group but not identification with Christ. It is speaking the name of Jesus without obeying Him. It is speaking the name of Jesus without submitting to His will. It is seeking Jesus for His blessings more than for who He is. When Jesus told Nicodemus this truth, Israel’s highly respected and profoundly religious leader was shocked and stunned. He asked, “How can this be?” Perhaps this is your question, along with your other questions about God and life.
Just as natural birth is needed for any human being to enter our physical world, on the other hand, spiritual birth is necessary to enter the spiritual world, and that is, the kingdom of God (John 3:3). Jesus compares natural birth with the spiritual birth (John 3:6). Just as the natural birth happens in a real-life setting, so is the spiritual birth. In John 3:8, He likens the born-again experience to the wind. The wind blows where it wishes. You hear its sound but do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit. Spiritual rebirth, like the wind, may be invisible, but it is accurate and produces real-life effects on those who have received it. Nicodemus experienced this transformation. After he met with Jesus that night, he later defended Jesus publicly and even helped bury our Savior (John 7:50; 19:39). We, too, can experience—or may have already experienced—the life-changing power of being reborn in Christ.
Our whole being is corrupted, weakened, and dominated by sin. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 15:50 (NIV), “…flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable!” This is another reason why one must experience a second birth. In spiritual birth, you can receive that new heart and spirit. You will become a brand-new person. You will be given a new life, a new identity and you will be given access to the kingdom of God.
This month’s feature delves into a deeply personal and universally relevant topic—spiritual rebirth. It’s a journey of renewal, a transformation that many find life-changing. It’s a deeply personal experience that can redefine your life. Believe, receive Jesus, repent, and be baptized, and you will experience this rebirth. Let us seek the miracle of physical birth and embrace the opportunity for spiritual renewal. May we all strive to deepen our relationship with Christ, allowing His Spirit to guide us into a life filled with purpose, joy, and fulfillment.
by: Apostle Jonathan S. Ferriol