God Almighty has produced spiritual children by three, different, divine processes.  First there was the creation of the man Adam, then Jesus’ miraculous birth, and finally the blessing of grace.  Divinely, Abram/Abraham’s sons and their three mothers suggest these three processes for producing children.

Abram’s first son by Hagar is a pattern for the creation of the man Adam.  Abram partnered with the rebellious, Egyptian bondwoman to produce Ishmael.

He went in to [the bed of] Hagar, and she conceived; and when she realized that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress [regarding Sarai as insignificant because of her infertility].  …  But Abram said to Sarai, “Look, your maid is entirely in your hands and subject to your authority; do as you please with her.”  So Sarai treated her harshly and humiliated her, and Hagar fled from her.  Genesis 16:4,6  Amplified Bible

However, Hagar returned to Abram’s household to give birth to their son Ishmael.  After Isaac was born to Sarai/Sarah, Ishmael treated Isaac poorly.  Because of the friction between the women and their sons, Hagar and her son were sent away from Abram/Abraham’s presence and faced death because of too little water.

So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water, and gave them to Hagar, putting them on her shoulder, and gave her the boy [Ishmael], and sent her away.  And she departed, and wandered about in the wilderness of Beersheba.  And the water in the skin was used up, and she left the boy under one of the bushes.  Then she went and sat down opposite him, about a bowshot away, for she said, “Do not let me see the boy die.”  Genesis 21:14-16  NASB

Hagar and Ishmael offer a retrospective of God Almighty’s first partnership with humanity.  Like Abram/Abraham, God Almighty gave seed of life to an inferior partner (dust of the ground) and produced a son, the man Adam, who was rebellious, like Hagar.  After “eating” the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, the first couple fled from God Almighty’s presence, but later “returned.”  Just as Hagar and her son were sent from Abram/Abraham’s presence to face death, the first couple were sent from God Almighty’s presence so that their descendants would face death by too much water.

Abram/Abraham’s second son, Isaac by Sari/Sarah, is a pattern for the second divine-human partnership with humanity, the birth of Jesus.  Abram and Sarai were promised a son who was born after a miraculous conception, was offered as a human sacrifice, was given a reprieve, and was given all by his father.

Now Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac;  Genesis 25:5  NASB

As we know, God Almighty took Mary as His partner to produce His promised Son.  Mary’s conception was miraculous just like Sarah’s.

And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy offspring shall be called the Son of God.”  Luke 1:35  NASB

Jesus, like Isaac the promised son of Sarah, was offered as a human sacrifice.  Jesus was raised from the dead and was given all (authority) by His Father.

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”  Matthew 28:18  NASB

Abraham’s six sons by a third wife suggest the production of children of God Almighty.

Now Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah.  And she bore to him Zimran and Jokshan and Medan and Midian and Ishbak and Shuah.  Genesis 25:1-2  NASB

Because six symbolizes humanity, we get the suggestion that the blessing of grace, the third divine-human partnership which produces children of God Almighty, is for all humanity.

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.  He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.”  Mark 16:15-16  NASB

The blessing of grace when bestowed upon an individual produces the birth of a child of God Almighty into the kingdom of God Almighty.

Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”  Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old?  He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?”  Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and 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.”  John 3:3-6  NASB

Jesus spoke of two births.  The first, of course, is the natural birth, which Jesus referred to as born of woman in Matthew 11:11 and here as born of water and as born of the flesh.  All of us have been born of woman/water/flesh, thereby becoming a living soul with a physical body.  With a clothing of flesh, we are inherently attuned to input from our five physical senses by which we experience the physical realm.  In addition, we have the burden of Satan’s spirit which concentrates our attention upon Satan’ desires (John 8:44).  Jesus referenced these circumstances of human existence when He said, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh.”

Nicodemus’ reaction to Jesus’ comment of a second birth was to think of a second, natural birth, but Jesus identified the second birth as a spiritual event when he says that which is born of Spirit is spirit.  This spiritual birth is the transfer of an individual while on earth from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of God.  Being born again brings one to a new spiritual environment and expands sensory input to the soul from the spiritual realm just as the natural birth brings one to a new environment and expands sensory input to the body from the physical realm.

The natural birth is identified with water because of the amniotic fluid and is therefore named born of water.  On the other hand, baptism with water is the ceremonial representation of the spiritual birth.  In addition, there is the baptism with the Holy Spirit.

“I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”  Mark 1:8  NASB

There is need for care in order to avoid confusion among the two births of water and the Spirit and the two baptisms with water and with the Holy Spirit.

Jesus said that unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3).  The word translated as “see” is Strong’s G1492, which means a mental seeing, perceiving, or understanding and not a visual seeing.  With this connotation, Jesus’ statement means that it is difficult to understand or perceive things about the kingdom of God Almighty without the experience of being born into it.

The birth of a new child of God Almighty requires three events (divine completeness), and we mention them in the order of their occurrence.  First, there was the spilling of Jesus’ blood 2,000 years age, once for all humanity.

For the death that He died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life that he lives, he lives to God.  Romans 6:10  NASB

Jesus’ death, represented by His blood, is the necessary and sufficient substitutionary sacrifice that is acceptable to God Almighty and that enables one to enter the kingdom of God Almighty while on earth.

Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.  Romans 5:9  NASB

Second, God Almighty initiates one’s salvation by calling and choosing him/her from the kingdom of darkness with a spiritual awakening.

Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.  2Peter 1:10-11  NASB

“These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.”  Revelation 17:14  NASB

These first two steps in the birth of a child of God Almighty are divine acts having been done on behalf of and prior to one being born again.

Third, after one has been called and chosen, God Almighty then partners with him/her to birth a spiritual child.  This partnership is characterized as taking a wife of harlotry for God Almighty, because God Almighty’s standard is that humanity worship Him, follow His commands, do His will, and produce fruit of the Spirit; the unfaithfulness of doing otherwise is described as harlotry.

“– for you shall not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God – lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land and they play the harlot with their gods, and sacrifice to their gods, and someone invite you to eat of his sacrifice; and you take some of his daughters for your sons, and his daughters play the harlot with their gods, and cause your sons also to play the harlot with their gods.”  Exodus 34:14-16  NASB

So, when God Almighty partners with a member of the kingdom of darkness–one who has not followed His commandments–to birth a child into His kingdom, He takes a wife of harlotry and has a child of harlotry.  Such a partnership was foreshadowed in the life of the prophet Hosea.

When the LORD first spoke through Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea, “Go, take to yourself a wife of harlotry, and have children of harlotry; for the land commits flagrant harlotry, forsaking the LORD.”  Hosea 1:2  NASB

The one called and chosen to receive the blessing of grace has a dual role when partnering with God Almighty to birth His spiritual child.  On the one hand, the called and chosen is the one who is birthed or born again as a child of God Almighty.   But on the other hand, the called and chosen conceives and gives birth to the child of God Almighty.  We begin with the recipient of grace in the role of the mother.

The conception of a child of God Almighty by the virgin Mary illustrates the conception of a child of God Almighty within the called and chosen.  Mary did not initiate contact with God Almighty because she determined that she should bear a child of God Almighty.  God Almighty sent the angel Gabriel to announce this wonderful event.  In fact, Mary protested the very idea (Luke 1:34).  Mary’s role in this event was to be a willing participant and to accept God Almighty’s will and plan by faith.

And Mary said, “Behold, the bond slave of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word.”  And the angel departed from her.  …  “And blessed is she [Mary] who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.”  Luke 1: 38,45  NASB

Applying that which happened to Mary to the spiritual birth of a child of God Almighty reaffirms that those who are born again do so by the choice of God Almighty and not of their own determination.

But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth  2Thessalonians 2:13  NASB

God Almighty chooses an individual who is in the kingdom of darkness to receive the blessing of grace (I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, Ex 33:19).  Scripture indicates that one’s salvation is a gift from God Almighty and not acquired as a choice of the individual.

You have been saved by God’s love and kindness because you believed.  It was not because of anything you did, but it was a gift from God.  Ephesians 2:8  Worldwide English (WE)

A gift is initiated by the giver, not by the receiver!

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believed in His name, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.  John 1:12-13  NASB

Jesus directly addressed and refuted the claim of an individual choosing salvation.

“No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.”  John 6:44  NASB

And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me, unless it has been granted him from the Father.”  John 6:65  NASB

“If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”  John 15:19  NASB

The apostle Paul stated plainly and repeatedly that predestination by God Almighty, not individual choice, determines who receives the blessing of grace.

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.  Romans 8:29-30  NASB

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him.  In love, He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.  Ephesians 1:3-6  NASB

also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,  Ephesians 1:11  NASB

Scripture clearly, directly, and unambiguously states that, if one has received Jesus Christ as his/her Lord and Savior (the blessing of grace), it is because God Almighty has preordained that s/he be called and chosen; it is not as the result of the individual’s choice.  We will shortly address the prevalent perception that one chooses her/his salvation.

As with Mary, those called and chosen by God Almighty encounter a visitation by a messenger from God Almighty–the Holy Spirit—an enter into a spiritual union with Him.

Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a harlot is one body with her?  For He says, “THE TWO WILL BECOME ONE FLESH.”  But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.  1Corinthians 6:16-17  NASB

This spiritual union is similar in purpose to the male-female union.  Just as conception may result when a man joins himself to a woman, so also there is conception of a spiritual child when one joins himself to the Lord.  God Almighty is the Father and a member of sinful humanity is the female partner/mother.

A necessary occurrence in the conception of a human child is the transfer of life-producing seed from the male to the female.  Likewise, it is necessary in the conception of a spiritual child of God Almighty that life-producing seed from the Father (God Almighty) be transferred to the mother-to-be (a member of sinful humanity), and that seed is the living and abiding word of God.

Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding word of God.  1Peter 1:22-23  NASB

An individual who joins him/herself to God Almighty and is one spirit with Him receives Jesus, the word of God, Who produces new spiritual life when deposited as seed in humanity.

So also it is written “The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL.”  The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.  1Corinthians 15:45  NASB

Just as God Almighty used His life-giving ability to produce life in the physical world, so also Jesus as a life-giving spirit uses his life-giving ability to produce eternal life in the spiritual realm.  That is, the spiritual birth brings the new child of God Almighty into eternal life.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”  John 3:16  NASB

We now consider the born again experience from the perspective of the newborn.

In the natural birth, the newborn is a passive participant in its development within the womb.  Similarly, the one to be born again is passive during his/her calling and choosing (2Peter 1:10).  As the birth approaches, the babe in the womb is positioned for delivery.  Similarly, the one to be born again is positioned for “conversion” through a spiritual awaking, prompted by a visit from the Holy Spirit, which leads to conviction of his/her sins.

“But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper shall not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.  And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin, and righteousness, and judgment;”  John 16:7-8  NASB

The babe during birth is under physical pressure during passage through the birth canal.  Similarly, one chosen for the blessing of grace is under spiritual pressure of sorrow, which leads to repentance.

I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, in order that you might not suffer loss in anything through us.  For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation; but the sorrow of the world produces death.  2Corinthians 7:9-10  NASB

The pressure in the birth canal for the babe leads to its birth.  Similarly for the one to be born again, the “pressure” of conviction and repentance stimulates a response to an “altar call” whereby one publicly accepts Jesus as one’s Savior.

with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.  2Timothy 2:25-26  NASB

Blood and water are associated with a natural birth, and these are mentioned in Scripture.

“and say, ‘Thus says the LORD God to Jerusalem, “Your origin and your birth are from the land of the Canaanite, your father was an Amorite and your mother was a Hittite.  As for your birth, on the day you were born your navel cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water for cleansing; you were not rubbed with salt or even wrapped in cloths.  …  When I passed by you and saw you squirming in your blood, I said to you while you were in your blood, ‘Live!’ I said to you while you were in your blood, ‘Live!’ ” ’ ”  Ezekiel 16:3-4,6  NASB

Similarly, blood and water were present at the enabling event for the spiritual birth, that is, Jesus’ death upon the cross.

The soldiers therefore came, and broke the legs of the first man, and of the other man who was crucified with Him; but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs; but one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately there came out blood and water.  John 19:32-34  NASB

At the spiritual birth of a newborn child of God Almighty, the one born again is figuratively covered with the blood and water from Jesus’ side.

If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have a fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.  1John 1:6-7  NASB

that He might sanctify her [the church], having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word.  Ephesians 5:26  NASB

So, there is water at the spiritual birth that cleanses the one born again of the filth of the earthly, carnal, beastly nature inherited at the natural birth, and there is blood for justification before God Almighty.

Upon birth, the umbilical cord which supplies life-support from the mother to the child must be cut, and the new child is completely separated from the environment provided within the mother’s womb.  Likewise, the one born again must cut the ties leading back to the previous environment (sinful life within the kingdom of darkness) and must learn to live in a new environment.

Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.  2Corinthians 5:17  NASB

The newborn is in a new environment and must become active in meeting its need for breath and nourishment.  Similarly, the one born again must become active in surviving in a new spiritual environment.

Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him,  Colossians 3:9-10  NASB

that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lust of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.  Ephesians 4:22-24  NASB

The born again experience includes the life-changing transformation of the individual whereby s/he lays aside the old life in the kingdom of darkness and takes up a new life of pursuing righteousness and holiness in the kingdom of God Almighty.  In other words, one who has been born again must consciously renounce sin (cut the umbilical cord to the old life) and deliberately commit to the commandments of the new Father (put on the new eternal life).

There are approximately 45 commandments of Jesus which identify actions and attitudes that produce righteousness, holiness, and fruits of the spirit in one who is born again.

And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good?  There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.”  Matthew 19:17  NASB

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”  John 14:15  NASB

And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.  1John 2:3  NASB

A commitment to practicing the commandments of righteousness and holiness from the Law (the Ten Commandments, etc.) and the commandments and teachings of Jesus (45 commandments) manifests the new self/life in the one born again.  Those attending to a natural born child encourage and assist the newborn to begin functioning in the new environment; likewise, through preaching, teaching, readings, and personal conversations, the spiritual newborn is encouraged to succeed in his/her new environment.

Just as perseverance in breathing and nursing are required to sustain the newborn in the natural, so also perseverance in belief and faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ are required to sustain the born again child of God Almighty in the new life of righteousness as a member of His kingdom.

And after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”  Mark 1:14-15  NASB

and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”  And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household.”  Acts 16:30-31  NASB

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also the Greek.  Romans 1:16  NASB

For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.  …  if indeed God is one – and He will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.  Romans 3:28,30  NASB

Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith.  Galatians 3:24  NASB

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.  Hebrews 11:6  NASB

Without perseverance in belief and faith, the new child of God Almighty will become a spiritual “infant death.”  Therefore, belief and faith are emphasized throughout scripture as necessary requirements in the new life of a child of God Almighty.

The idea of self-selection for salvation is believable because, unlike the natural birth, the one born again has full awareness and lasting memory of his/her experience leading up to and following the spiritual birth.  In addition, their application of faith and the required, conscious, deliberate decision to lay aside the old self and put on the new self of Christ-likeness lead many who have received God Almighty’s blessing of grace and the accompanying spiritual birth to speak of their choosing salvation for themselves.  Relying only upon their experiences, they cite their belief, faith, and dedication to a new self as the initiators of the born again experience.   Perseverance in belief and faith is a necessary contribution in the third step of the born again experience but does not initiate the born again event.  The emphasis of belief and faith in Scripture and failure to appropriately acknowledge the divine actions surrounding their spiritual birth lead to misattribution of who makes the decision of who receives the blessing of grace.

The spiritual birth has an alternate characterization as a spiritual death and resurrection.  This idea is presented by the apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans.

For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is living; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning the husband.  So then if, while her husband is living, she is joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress, though she is joined to another man.  Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, that we might bear fruit for God.  Romans 7:2-4  NASB

Just as the death of a woman’s husband frees her to be joined to another man, so also a Jew’s relinquishing of allegiance to the Law (spiritual death) freed him/her to join with Jesus in a new union of life.

But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.  Romans 7:6  NASB

Likewise for the gentile, the end or death of one’s former life in the kingdom of darkness frees one to join him/herself with Jesus in a new union of life.

Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,  Romans 6:8  NASB

Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  Galatians 5:24  NASB

The spiritual death as a child of Satan while on earth allows one to be raised from the “dead” (born again) as a child of God Almighty.

In the following table, we show that deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and deliverance of a sinner from slavery to sin in the kingdom of darkness both follow the pattern of a natural birth.  The basis for this association is that the Israelites were identified as the first-born son of God Almighty.

“Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Israel is My son, My first-born.” ’ ”  Exodus 4:22  NASB

We need to establish the parents for each of these births.  Abraham is the (fore) father of the Israelites.

What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found?  …  and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.  Romans 4:1,12  NASB

Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?  James 2:21  NASB

God Almighty is the spiritual father of those who we are born again.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  1Corinthians 1:3  NASB

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace.  2Thessalonians 2:16  NASB

For both the Israelites and the new child of God Almighty, humanity conceives, hosts, and births the spiritual child.  Egypt, which hosted and “birthed” the Israelites, was the spiritual mother for God Almighty’s son, My first-born (Ex 4:22), and Egypt’s paganism suggests a wife of harlotry.

“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.”  Exodus 20:2  NASB

For the spiritual birth, we have established that a sinful human is the wife of harlotry for God Almighty and is the mother of His spiritual child (1Cor 6:16-17).

Each of these births is the result of seed from the father.  There was a “conception” within Egypt, the host/mother, of the ancient Israelites when seventy descendants of Abraham from the household of Jacob, a grandson of Abraham, entered Egypt as the seed which will grow into the nation of Israelites.

All the persons belonging to Jacob, who came to Egypt, his direct descendants, not including the wives of Jacob’s sons, were sixty-six persons in all, and the sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt were two; all the persons of the house of Jacob, who came to Egypt, were seventy.  Genesis 46:26-27  NASB

We have established that a child of God Almighty is conceived when a sinner, in a spiritual union with God Almighty, receives the living and abiding word of God (1Pet 1:22-23).

God Almighty sent a “midwife” to assist both of these births.  Moses was sent to assist Egypt in the “birth” of the Israelites.

“Therefore, come now, and I will send you [Moses] to Pharaoh, so that you may bring My people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt.”  Exodus 3:10  NASB

The Holy Spirit assists in the born again experience of a child of God Almighty.

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”  John 14:26  NASB

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”  Luke 11:13  NASB

There is pain for the one giving birth.  Egypt, the mother of the nation of Israel, suffered the (birth) pain of the plagues.

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Rise up early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh and say to him ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me.  For this time I will send all My plagues on you and your servants and your people, so that you may know that there is no one like Me in all the earth.” ’ ”  Exodus 9:13-14  NASB

The individual, having become one spirit with God Almighty, suffers the pain of conviction of sinfulness and the resulting pain of remorse.

And about these also Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones, to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have against Him.”  Jude 14-15  NASB

“But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper shall not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.  And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin, and righteousness, and judgment;”  John 16:7-8  NASB

The birthing process moves the newborn out of the “womb” of the host/mother and into a new environment.  The Israelites left their home in Egypt.

“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.”   Exodus 20:2  NASB

The one being born again must leave the “womb” of the kingdom of darkness and move into the kingdom of light.

But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR GOD’S OWN POSSESSION, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;  1Peter 2:9  NASB

There is blood associated with each birth.  The blood of the original Passover lamb is applied to the Israelite households.

“Moreover, they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses in which they eat it.”  Exodus 12:7  NASB

The blood of the Lamb of God Almighty is applied to the one born again.

knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with the precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ  1Peter 1:18-19  NASB

There is water associated with each birth.  The Israelites passed through the water of the parted sea.

And the sons of Israel went through the midst of the sea on the dry land, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.  Exodus 14:22  NASB

The redeemed are baptized with water in the name of Jesus Christ.

And Peter said to them, “Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”  Acts 2:38  NASB

The umbilical cord, that which follows or accompanies the newborn from the host/mother, must be cut off.  Pharaoh’s army, which followed the Israelites out of Egypt, was cut off.

So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal state at daybreak, while the Egyptians were fleeing right into it; then the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.  And the waters returned and covered the chariots and horsemen, even Pharaoh’s entire army that had gone into the sea after them; not even one of them remained.  Exodus 14:27-28  NASB

For the one born again, the old life of the flesh is cut off.

Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.  2Corinthians 5:17  NASB

and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ;  …  And when you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions.  Colossians 2:11,13  NASB

The old life, guided by the spirit of Satan that emphases selfishness and doing the will of Satan, is “cut off” from the new child of God Almighty.

The newborn, having left his/her initial environment, struggles to live in a new environment and is reluctant to give up that which they had.  The Israelites longed for nourishment from Egypt (their mother).

And the whole congregation of the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness.  And the sons of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the Lord’s hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat, when we ate bread to the full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”  Exodus 16:2-3  NABS

The newborn Christian must give up the life of sin and start a new life of righteousness.

But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lust of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.  Ephesians 4:20-24  NASB

The new life of a child of God Almighty is guided by the (Holy) Spirit of God Almighty and emphasizes doing the will of God Almighty and love of others.

Each newborn is provided liquid for support in the new life.  The Israelites were provided water from a rock.

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Pass before the people and take with you some of the elders of Israel; and take in your hand your staff with which you struck the Nile, and go.  Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.”  And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.  Exodus 17:5-6  NASB

One who is born again needs the “milk of the mother,” a new source of nourishment.

Therefore, putting aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babes, long for the pure [unadulterated] milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation.  1Peter 2:1-2  NASB

Each newborn is provided bread from heaven.  Manna was the bread from heaven for the Israelites.

“Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘HE GAVE THEM BREAD OUT OF HEAVEN TO EAT.’ ”  John 6:31  NASB

The born again Christian is given bread from heaven.

Jesus therefore said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who has given you the bread out of heaven.  For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.”  John 6:32-33  NASB

Thus, both the escape of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and the escape of an individual from slavery to Satan in the kingdom of darkness conform to the pattern of birth of a human child.

God Almighty, having condemned all of humanity to servitude to Satan, predetermined some for the blessing of grace.  Predetermination, a component of the necessity and fate to which the human will is subject, does not invalidate the human will.  Even thought the human will is not “free,” one may effectively use his/her will.  Consider an unlovable acquaintance; one can exercise his/her will to love such a person.  The determination by the will to love does not make it happen, but it does enlist the Holy Spirit when working with the individual can bring about a change such that there is genuine love of the unlovable one.  It takes a partnership of the will of the redeemed and the Holy Spirit to accomplish that which is not doable by the individual alone.

The Holy Spirit can also influence the residual effect of having been born as a child of Satan to do his will.

You are of your father the devil, and it is your will to practice the desires [which are characteristic] of your father.  …  John 8:44  AMP

The transfer from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light does not instantly remove the susceptibility to the desires of Satan, as we saw in Paul’s comments about his actions (Rom 7:15-19).  However, growth in the spirit brings a shift from focusing one’s will upon Satan to focusing one’s will upon God Almighty.  By one’s growth and development after the spiritual birth, one’s attention and focus shift from the physical to the spiritual.  Spiritual maturity results in concern for spiritual aspects of life and in minimization of one’s physical wants and needs.  Thus, by concentration upon and reliance upon the spiritual senses, saints have been able to endure persecution, torture, and death while remaining true to the gospel of Jesus Christ.