When God created man, man became a living soul (Genesis 2:7), meaning that man’s Spirit (soul) was alive and until they sinned they were not conscious of the nakedness of their bodies (Genesis 3:7), which makes me wonder if the body, until then, was merely a dead jar of clay that contained the Spirit of the image of God (2 Corinthians 4:7) in man. And by one man sin entered into the world and death by sin (Romans 5:12) and from then on, each time a child was conceived, that child was conceived in sin (Psalm 51:5) and with the wages of sin being death (Romans 6:23), in essence, each time a child is born, that child is born dead (in the Spirit) and alive in the body (flesh). Jesus reinforces this in his conversation with Nicodemus, whom He counseled saying that in order for anyone to see and enter the kingdom of God, they must be born again (John 3:7), by expressing that, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, but that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:6). Jesus then goes on to say that in believing in Him is Life, Life Eternal (John 3:16) and though one were dead (in the Spirit), yet shall he live (John 11:25).
Being born is being alive in sin and dead in the Spirit, but when one believes in Jesus Christ, the Son of God as their Messiah, he/she becomes a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). That person is born again. Ever wondered as to what it means to be born again? The revelation of this hidden treasure is startling. To be born again is to die first; die to being slaves to sin (Genesis 4:7, Romans 6:17-23), and die with Christ (Romans 6:2-4). Being born again is being dead to the flesh and its lusts (Romans 8:13), and rising to walk in the newness of life (Romans 6:2,4). And in dying to sin, in dying with Christ, we are made alive (Romans 6:2-4)
The oxymoronic aspect here is this:
In being born (natural birth), we are born dead in the Spirit, alive in the flesh. This is the first birth, the natural man.
In dying (to sin; with Christ), we are born alive in the spirit, dead in the flesh. This is the second birth, the spiritual man.
We can live to die or we can die to live! What is your choice?
Romans 8:5-13 (KJV)
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
