Ecclesiastes 3 verse 2 states that there is 'A time to be born.' Now, we need to ask ourselves: What is this verse really talking about? We must be clear, however, that it is not only referring to a natural or physical birth with which we are all familiar. Principally, it is talking about spiritual birth. Nevertheless, we can use a natural birth to explain a spiritual birth. Firstly, anything given birth to has parents and secondly, by virtue of the birth, the newly-born thing is given an identity.
We must necessarily reconcile ourselves to the fact that every human born into this world was born with a dead spirit. This simply means that we were all born spiritually dead. We were born alienated from God. We were anti-God by birth, by nature and by choice. What really happened in the garden of Eden was that when Adam and Eve rebelled against the Word of God, their spirits died. The Almighty had previously warned about the possibility of this happening should the couple disobey Him.
You see, the original plan of God was for the human spirit to rule over his soul and his body. However, during the temptation that arose in the garden of Eden, the human soul and his body conspired to overthrow the human spirit. Whenever it is said that a human spirit is dead, it does not mean that that spirit no longer exists. What it means is that such a spirit is enstranged from God and has become a veritable channel in the hands of the devil.
Therefore, for any human being to be able to have a relationship with God, their spirit must first be brought back from the dead, that is, such a spirit must first be reconciled to God. This is what is referred to as spiritual birth or being born again. It is not possible for a human being with a dead spirit to have a relationship with the living God. We need to realise that only a spirit can have a relationship with a spirit. We must also know that God is a Spirit.
The most important thing that must be stressed about the spiritual birth we are talking about is that it has to happen now, that is, a human spirit must receive life from God while that human being is still physically alive. Should anyone die without their spirit having been born anew, that is, regenerated or reconciled to God, such a person will remain separated from God forever.
For anyone to be able to dwell in the presence of God forever, he or she must have been born twice while on planet earth, that is while physically alive. The first birth is the natural or physical birth and the second birth is the spiritual birth. This was why the Lord Jesus told Nicodemus, a Jewish leader, in John 3 verse 3, 'Jesus answered and said to him, ''Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.'' Therefore, if you were born twice, you will only die once, that is, physically. This is because the second death will have no power over you. However, if you were born only once, you will die twice. The second death is when, at the end of time, your spirit is banished from the presence of God forever.
The Lord, again in John 3 verse 6, states, ''That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.'' Fallen man was referred to as flesh by God in Genesis 6 verses 3 and 13. Therefore, man, being flesh can only give birth to flesh. For the human spirit to be reborn therefore, God has to be involved. This is why the bible states in John 1 verses 12 and 13, 'But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name; who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.' One's dead human spirit must be reborn or recreated or regenerated or born again while one is still physically alive. This is why 2 Corinthians 6 verse 2 states, 'For He says: ''In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.'' Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.' Now is the time to be born of God.
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