Conceived, Then Born

The spiritual truths of God have always been brought out and revealed by means of natural analogies (see Rom. 1:20). The truth of the new birth is no different. In the natural realm, a child is conceived in a woman well before birth. From the time of conception until the time that the birth takes place, a baby has many life experiences such as movement, receiving nutrition, and maybe even hearing. If natural processes continue, the baby will eventually be born and become a citizen of this world. But if something happens to prevent the birth, the baby will never be recognized as a citizen of this life. Jesus used this likeness to demonstrate to His disciples their spiritual condition while He was yet with them (Jn. 16:20-22). He referred to them as a conceived child and also as the expectant mother. Both applied to them because their new birth experience, which was yet to come at Pentecost, would establish them as the mother [the body of Christ]; and as the children that would be born, seeing they were the beginning of the new testament household of God. The record of the conversion of the Samaritans in Acts chapter 8 is an excellent reference for confirmation of this truth. The Samaritans experienced faith, deliverance, healing and great joy through the preaching and ministry of Phillip, but they did not receive the holy Ghost until Peter and John came from Jerusalem to lay hands on them and pray for them to receive it; at which time they were baptized with the Spirit (Acts 8:5-17). It is also evident that the Samaritans spoke with tongues and were visibly moved and changed powerfully, even though these things are not specifically mentioned.

Simon the sorcerer, a man greatly intrigued with the supernatural, offered money in order to possess the power that he saw manifest on the Samaritans when Peter and John laid hands on them (Acts 8:18,19). He had already seen many miracles by Phillip but had not offered money for them. Not only so, but Luke, who wrote the book of Acts, fully understood that everyone he was writing to knew that everyone speaks in tongues upon receiving the Spirit of God; so he did not have to continually state that in his descriptions of people believing on Jesus. Had the Samaritans not received this experience they would not have had the remission of their sins, nor would they have been in the body of Christ, meaning they would not have been born again (Jn. 3:5; I Cor. 6:11; Rom. 8:9; I Cor. 12:13; Titus 3:5). One of these referenced scriptures alone fully confirms what I’ve said here: “Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his” (Rom. 8:9). Hosea, in prophecy said the Lord would give His people “a miscarrying womb and dry breasts” for their sins (Hos. 9:14). That prophecy has certainly been fulfilled among God’s people, as non-scriptural teachings like “getting saved,” “accepting the Lord,” “confessing Jesus,” “repeating the sinners prayer,” etc; have replaced the truth about the new birth, thus stopping many souls short in the spiritually conceived state, not experiencing the true born again experience. This needs to stop my friend. None of God’s people would support the abortion of naturally conceived children, and none would rejoice in the miscarriage of the same. We need to learn to not accept, practice, or support doctrines that may if effect abort or miscarry conceived souls in the Spirit. Amen.