In human physical reproduction, there is a time element.
From impregnation—begettal on the part of the father—
having conceived on the part of the mother—to birth, or parturition,
or being delivered from the mother’s womb, is a time element of nine months.
That nine-month period is called gestation. Upon conception, the now fertilized ovum
is called an embryo. A few months later, it is called a fetus. But during this nine-month
period of gestation, we do not speak of the embryo-fetus as having been born.
It is in the process toward birth. It is the child of its parents. But it is then the unborn
child of its parents. The father has already begotten it—sired it.
But the mother has not yet given birth to it. Yet it is, during the gestation period,
the unborn child of its parents.
the C H U R C H our M O T H E R
Now in being “born again,” the process of this birth begins [begotten] when
God’s divine spirit-life is imparted to us, we become heires to his kingdom.
When one, after repentance, faith and baptism, receives the Holy Spirit,
the Spirit of God puts him into—baptizes him into—God’s Church.
The Church is called the body of Christ. So we read: “y one Spirit are we
all baptized into one body …” (i-Cor. 12:13).
the Church is called “Jerusalem above,” or “the heavenly Jerusalem” (Heb. 12:22-23)
Galatians 4:26: “But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.”
The analogy is this: When begotten by God the Father by receiving His Holy Spirit,
we are put into the Church, which during this gestation period is our mother.
The human mother of the fetus within her womb serves the function of feeding her
unborn child with physical food, so that it may develop and grow physically.
And also she carries it where she may best protect it from physical injury or harm,
until parturition—delivery from her womb.
The spiritual mother—the Church—is commissioned to “feed the flock”
(iPet. 5:2) through the ministry which God has set in the Church
“[f]or the perfecting of the saints … for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
unto a perfect man …” (Eph. 4:11-13).
Just as the human fetus develops and grows physically during the prebirth gestation
period, so we, after begettal by God’s Spirit, develop and grow spiritually in pre-birth state.
But not only is the Church to feed the members on the Word of God—spiritual food,
but also to protect these conceived but yet unborn children of God from spiritual harm.
“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with
every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness,
whereby they lie in wait to deceive”
Then, at the time of the resurrection, we in the Church—the spiritual mother—
shall be delivered from her, and born into—brought forth into—the Kingdom—
the spirit-composed family of God.
From impregnation—begettal on the part of the father—
having conceived on the part of the mother—to birth, or parturition,
or being delivered from the mother’s womb, is a time element of nine months.
That nine-month period is called gestation. Upon conception, the now fertilized ovum
is called an embryo. A few months later, it is called a fetus. But during this nine-month
period of gestation, we do not speak of the embryo-fetus as having been born.
It is in the process toward birth. It is the child of its parents. But it is then the unborn
child of its parents. The father has already begotten it—sired it.
But the mother has not yet given birth to it. Yet it is, during the gestation period,
the unborn child of its parents.
the C H U R C H our M O T H E R
Now in being “born again,” the process of this birth begins [begotten] when
God’s divine spirit-life is imparted to us, we become heires to his kingdom.
When one, after repentance, faith and baptism, receives the Holy Spirit,
the Spirit of God puts him into—baptizes him into—God’s Church.
The Church is called the body of Christ. So we read: “y one Spirit are we
all baptized into one body …” (i-Cor. 12:13).
the Church is called “Jerusalem above,” or “the heavenly Jerusalem” (Heb. 12:22-23)
Galatians 4:26: “But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.”
The analogy is this: When begotten by God the Father by receiving His Holy Spirit,
we are put into the Church, which during this gestation period is our mother.
The human mother of the fetus within her womb serves the function of feeding her
unborn child with physical food, so that it may develop and grow physically.
And also she carries it where she may best protect it from physical injury or harm,
until parturition—delivery from her womb.
The spiritual mother—the Church—is commissioned to “feed the flock”
(iPet. 5:2) through the ministry which God has set in the Church
“[f]or the perfecting of the saints … for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
unto a perfect man …” (Eph. 4:11-13).
Just as the human fetus develops and grows physically during the prebirth gestation
period, so we, after begettal by God’s Spirit, develop and grow spiritually in pre-birth state.
But not only is the Church to feed the members on the Word of God—spiritual food,
but also to protect these conceived but yet unborn children of God from spiritual harm.
“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with
every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness,
whereby they lie in wait to deceive”
Then, at the time of the resurrection, we in the Church—the spiritual mother—
shall be delivered from her, and born into—brought forth into—the Kingdom—
the spirit-composed family of God.
