My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth …
Summary: Childbirth is a powerful illustration of what is involved in developing a new Christian.
When our second son came into the world, I was “in the pains of childbirth” in a different way than Paul means. My wife’s first delivery was complicated by factors I was only dimly aware of at the time. It was after our first son was safely home from the hospital that I started to appreciate how close I had come to losing both my wife and my son.
This second pregnancy represented another risk to my wife’s health, and being more experienced this time, I was also more apprehensive. When the time came for the birth, it was late evening, and the doctor had gone home for dinner. People came and went as they do in delivery rooms, and a doctor I didn’t know and had never seen before came in to assist with the delivery.
As it turned out, this new doctor was a wonderful man with an excellent bedside manner. He was a big Hawaiian who looked like he could have been a football player if he had wanted to. Our son was born without complications, but I didn’t know that. All I knew was that the doctor was handing me a pair of surgical scissors and asking me if I could cut the umbilical cord.
What I didn’t know at the time was that some doctors thought it was a fun thing to let the husband participate by “cutting the cord.” Never having heard of such a thing before, and since I was anxious that everything went right for my wife and son, I did as he asked. Snip! One cut and I handed the scissors back to him.
Now, it helps to know that I am not a big man. I’m average in height and weight and not big enough to cause anyone else much concern, especially a Hawaiian football player who happened to be a doctor. When I cut the umbilical cord, I had enough adrenaline in my system to give me the strength of ten men. When I cut it in one try, the doctor’s eyes opened really wide. He looked at me and said, “I’ve never seen anyone do that before!”
The reason I share this story is that Paul’s concern for the Galatians was every bit as urgent as my concern for my wife and my son. When he says, “I am again in the pains of childbirth,” he is telling us he thought he had birthed new Christians when he was with them the first time. Now, like me and our second son, he was having to go through the process all over again.
The adrenaline is flowing. If he could have cut the cord, he would have, but the birthing process was not yet complete.
Application: Be kind to your spiritual parent(s) and be attentive to your spiritual needs.
Food for Thought: How do we know when the process of spiritual childbirth is complete?
When we receive the gospel message and place our faith in Christ our spirit comes to life and we are children of God.
Titus 3: 4 – 7: But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
Ephesians 1: 13: And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.
John 1: 12 – 13: Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
1 John 3: 1: See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!
Romans 8: 9 – 16: You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life d because of righteousness. 11And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of e his Spirit who lives in you.
12Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
14For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. f And by him we cry, “Abba, g Father.” 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
Thank you, Rich!
Life in the Spirit is key! Great verses!!
I agree with Rich.
Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Romans 10:5-13
For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Once the message is truly received, our faith is put in Christ, we become children of God. I think though, the length of time for that transformation is different for others. I believe God knows our hearts, and is faithful to bring us to a place where we hear His Word, and can decide if we will place our faith in Christ. But once we do decide, once we do have faith and confess Him as Lord, we are God’s child(ren). For some that transformation may take many years, for other, just a little time.
Chris,
You’ve added an interesting twist to our question today. Does spiritual childbirth require time? Is that time span different for different people? Great questions!
I don’t mean to imply that spiritual rebirth is a process. I do believe that when a person puts their faith in Christ, they are born again. I mean that the timeframe to come to that point is different.
Jesus spoke to Nicodemus and said in John 3:3
Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Paul took that concept and spoke in 1 Cor about spiritual growth, being milk fed, and then solid food in regards to Christian maturity.
I don’t want to take this to a weird conceptional level, but I do believe that everyone has a moment of understanding in their hearts that God exists, that there is sin in their life, and that they need redemption. If that could be considered a moment of a “conception,” not conception of our spirit, as we were conceived in the mind of God, but rather the moment of realization that Christ died for our sins and we can come to Him, for some that moment is quickly followed to obedience, and others, they fight against it for a long time.
I believe that is why is to vital for those who do live a life dedicated to Christ, live a life that shows how Christ lives within them. That their life is a living invitation, and that they are “casting seeds” not only actively, but in simply in the way they live.
Hey CH,
Great points today. I see the words of Jesus John 16:8
in your comment. Your summary seems to be Spot on to me.
Thanks,
Ron
Thanks Chris,
Personally, I kinda like your “weird conceptual level.” 🙂
How do we know when the process of spiritual childbirth is complete?
God inspired John to write:
John 3:16, “For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life.
Jesus tells us:
John 5:24, Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
The thief on the cross shows, saved by faith:
Luke 23:42-43, And he was saying, “Jesus, [please] remember me when You come into Your kingdom!” 43 Jesus said to him, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
God inspired James to write:
James 1:18, James described the new birth of Christians. He said, “By His sovereign plan He gave us birth through the message of truth, that we would be a kind of first-fruits of all He created.”
1 John 2:13-14, John classified the church as children, young men, and fathers. He said that the children knew God—they had a saving relationship with him. The young men were conquering the devil because the Word of God was strong in them. Finally, he said the fathers, like the children, knew God. However, this knowledge was much deeper based on experience and their knowledge of God’s Word. Also, because they were fathers, they were leading others to Christ and mentoring believers. This is the spiritual pathway God has for all of us—ultimately becoming spiritual mothers and fathers.
To Grow Spiritually, We Must Be Quick to Listen, Slow to Speak, Slow to Anger, as we Joyfully Receive God’s Word.
Ron,
Excellent passages and comments. The thief on the cross and the classifications of ages John gives us both point to important aspects of this topic.
We are going to get a view of God’s love for all mankind when we get to paradise. What a diverse crowd we will have.
Blessings,
Ron