labour pains

it is interesting to ponder why - of all the possible consequences of sin - God chose to 'greatly increase [the woman's] pains in childbearing' (Genesis 3:16, NIV). could it be that this typologises the process of being born again?

sin gives birth to death

"When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." - James 1:13-15 (NIV)

the Spirit gives birth to life

"Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created." - James 1:16-18 (NIV)

1. every good thing in this world is a foreshadowing of the new creation.
2. every evil thing in this world is a remnant of the old creation.
3. every evil thing in this world 'works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose' (Romans 8:28, NIV). at the same time, there will be labour pains as the old creation gives way to the new creation.

as Christ - the first man to be born of the Spirit and the first man to be raised in the Spirit - is the firstfruits of man, so man (first Jew, then Gentile) is the firstfruits of creation. of course, Christ is fully God and fully man.

as Christ was born to bear the image of God, so we are being born again to bear the image of God. as we are being born again to bear the image of God, so is the world being born again to reflect the glory of God.

given that the world is being born again to reflect the glory of God, we should ensure that we are being born again to bear the image of God.

"Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."" - John 3:5-8 (NIV)

"We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently." - Romans 8:22-25 (NIV)

given that we are being born again to bear the image of God, we should ensure that the world is being born again to reflect the glory of God.

"Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God." - 1 Peter 1:22-23 (NIV)

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." - 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 (NIV)

even as the new creation will only be completed when 'there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away' (Revelation 21:4, NIV), God has ordained that we participate in the process of completing it (and even speed its completion) by loving one another (cf. 1 Peter 1:22-23) and spreading the good news (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:17-21).

"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness." - 2 Peter 3:9-13 (NIV)