The Two Births&

The Two Deaths

By Chuck Moss

The First BirthWe as humans are born into this world as a baby. Even though life for us actually begins at conception, we focus on the day of our birth. When we physically come forth from the womb.

The First BirthBabies inside their mothers womb are surrounded by water called embryonic fluid. Prior to birth this water bag burst giving meaning to “my water broke” This is the first birth Jesus speaks of.

John 3:3-6 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

The First BirthJesus talks about two births here. The first birth is a physical birth. The second birth is a spiritual birth. Notice he says…” That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” Two separate but important events in a persons life.

John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Many Christians incorrectly believe that the above verse is referring to a water baptism followed by a filling of the spirit that is necessary for salvation. Nothing could be further from the truth. To do that would take this verse totally out of context with the rest of the passage. Jesus tells Nicodemus you must be born again. The worn again is the Greek word anothen which means from above. Jesus is telling Nicodemus you must have a heavenly birth. He misunderstands and says how can I enter the womb again.

The First BirthBecause Nicodemus misunderstands Jesus explains further. He tells Nicodemus that a person who has a physical birth by water through the womb must have a second birth a spiritual birth ( from above) in order to be able to enter into heaven.

Now you ask…what happens to babies who die during pregnancy such as in abortions. Well they never have had a physical birth they do no need a spiritual birth. They go straight into the arms of Jesus. Remember life begins at conception not birth. Those guilty of aborting babies are guilty of murder in Gods eyes. They will be held accountable for that one day.

Ok so we see here that Jesus is talking about two separate births, both physical and spiritual having nothing to do with water baptism. Ok what is this second birth, from above, a spiritual birth?

The Second BirthIn John 3:3 Jesus tells Nicodemus you must be born again. The King James version did a poor job translating the Greek word anothen. Anothen means from above. Every person who has ever been born must have a second birth from above. A heavenly birth or spiritual birth by the power of the holy spirit.

This passage has nothing to do with water baptism.

How can a person get this spiritual birth from above?

In John 3 Jesus is talking to Nicodemus. He tells Nicodemus he must have a spiritual birth. He goes on to say that no man has ever ascended to heaven, but that Christ came down from heaven and must be lifted up (on the cross). And that man must believe this in order to gain access to heaven. Look at the whole passage not just part.We’ll do this on the next page.

The Second BirthJohn 31) There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2) The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3) Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4) Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5) Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7) Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8) The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. 9) Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?

The Second Birth10) Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? 11) Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. 12) If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? 13) And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. 14) And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: (speaking of his death on the cross) 15) That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (Believeth = Faith=Life) 16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18) He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

The Second BirthSo what did Jesus tell Nicodemus?

He said this… Nicodemus you must have a heavenly spiritual birth. By believing that I am Jesus sent from heaven to the earth to die on the cross to bring salvation to those who believe that this is the truth. This is called faith.

Jesus essentially is saying to Nicodemus that if he would believe the he was the Christ sent by God the father for the purpose of redeeming mankind from sin then he would have a second birth. A spiritual birth from above.

Now I want you to notice here Jesus himself said this to Nicodemus. Nowhere does Jesus say that you must be baptized to get this second birth. Jesus said you must have faith in me period.

The apostle Paul confirms this in Eph2:8-9 “ 8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast.

The Second Birth

1 John 5 1) Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. (born from above) 2) By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3) For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 4) For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5) Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

The apostle John, who was Christ’s closest friend in life and who lived longer than the other apostles by some 40 years says here again as he said in the gospel of John that faith is all that is necessary for this second birth.This is exactly what Jesus told Nicodemus.

The First DeathWhat is death? Death is a separation, separation of the body and spirit, separation of God and man.

Mankind was intended to live forever. Had sin not entered in Adam and Eve would be here still today.As a result of sin Adam and Eve were separated from God and kicked out of the garden, and they physically died. Guess what they still dead been death for 1000’s of years. Are at least their bodies are in the grave. Their spirit is in heaven now in presence of God. Again death is simply a seperation.

The First DeathThe first death is when we who are alive physically die. Every one who has ever beenphysically born through a woman's womb will one day die unless the Lord comes first.This physical death means that the heart stops pumping, the blood stops flowing, the lungs stop breathing and the brain stops functioning. This is physical death, also known as the first death.

Now understand this, since Adam and Eve were created ever living person both saved by their faith and those who died in unbelief all die this first death. The body goes into the ground and the spirit of the person goes ether directly to heaven or directly to hell.

2 Corinthians 5:6-8 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

No such a place as purgatory. When a Christian dies he immediately goes to be with the Lord. When the lost die they go directly to hell. See My Lesson on Hell

Paradise

Great Gulf

Hades

Old testament saints

Old testament lost New testament saints

New testament lost

Old testament saints could not go to heaven until Jesus died and his blood covered their sins.

Paradise

Hades

Old testament lost

New testament saints

New testament lost

After the crucifixtion the saints of the old testament were covered by the blood and could be carried to heaven.

Now Hell is bigger for more people going there.

Isaiah 5:14Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.

Revelation 20 1And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. 4And I saw thrones, and they (saved dead here) sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (these are the Christians who died ) 5But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. (These are the lost)(The first resurrection is when Christians who died are alive again with new bodies which takes place at the time of the rapture)

The First Death

(Luke 16:22-24) 22And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. (This was immediate no delay) 24And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

The Lost spirit goes directly to hell and torment and pain. The saved spirit goes directly to be with the Lord. This is where they will remain until the time of judgment. At the rapture the saved souls in heaven will be given new bodies and rewards based on their faithfulness. The lost dead will not be raised again until after the 1000 year reign of Christ on earth.

The First Death

Rev 20:4-5

4And I saw thrones, and they (saved) sat upon them, and judgment (rewards) was given unto them: and I saw the souls (saved after the rapture) of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (these are the Christians who died ) 5But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. (These are the lost)(The first resurrection is when Christians who died are alive again with new bodies which takes place at the time of the rapture)

The lost dead do not get new bodies until after the 1000 years and the great white throne judgment.

The First Death

The First DeathSo when Christians die they go to be in the presence of the Lord now in heaven. However when the rapture takes place ( catching up) All the saved dead in heaven will be reunited with a new body and rewards will be given to them based on their faithfulness.

1st Corinthians 15:52-54 52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead (saved dead) shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

Here it is talking about Christian dead , for the lost there is no victory only defeat. The Christian dead arise receive new incorruptible bodies.

The First Death1 Corinthians 3 11For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

When the saved are raised with new bodies following the rapture they will be judged according to their faithfulness. Many Christians will be embarrassed because they wont have anything left but they still in heaven.

The Second Death

11And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12And I saw the dead (lost dead here only), small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

The white throne judgment takes place after the 1000 years is over. Satan will be loosed for a short time to round up any people living through the 1000 reign of Christ.. These people have not died the first death yet. Many will follow Satan now. Just because Satan was bound for 1000 yrs. man still has a sinful nature.

The Second Death

Remember Born Twice Die Once Born Once Die Twice!

At the white throne judgment all the lost dead will be given new bodies as well. Notice they stand before the throne. After their judgment they are cast alive into the pit.This is the second death and burning in the pit they do not die but suffer pain and torment forever. This is worse than death. The second death is to be permanently separated from God for eternity. Spending eternity in Hell.

Notice all people will be judged one day.The saved will be judged according to their faithfulness and rewarded.The lost will be judged by their works and punished 1000 years later.

All of mankind was created to live eternally as God, Christ and the angels are. You will live forever, question is where will you spend eternity.

Re-Cap• First Birth – Physical• Second Birth – Spiritual• First Death – separation of body and spirit• Second Death – separation of God and person

Remember Born Twice Die Once Born Once Die Twice!