New Birth

On this Easter Sunday, let us reflect on how we are born again in Christ.

In one sense, we have been born again. In another sense, we will be born again.

"For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers." - Romans 8:29 (NIV)

That Jesus is the firstborn among many brothers implies that in some sense, we will be "born again" as Jesus was "born".

"And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy." - Colossians 1:18 (NIV)

"John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth." - Revelation 1:4-5 (NIV)

Given that Jesus is the firstborn from among the dead, and that unlike us Jesus was neither "born" (in the sense of "created") nor spiritually dead before being "born again", Jesus' birth from among the dead can only refer to His physical (not spiritual) rebirth, His resurrection from the dead.

To be sure, our new birth does refer to our spiritual rebirth. However, it does not only refer to our spiritual rebirth. It also refers to our physical rebirth, our resurrection from the dead!

We were born again spiritually when God raised Christ from the dead in the past; we will be born again physically when God raises us from the dead in the future!