Personally, I find it troublesome that we have two classes of so-called Christians: that is, "regular" Christians who have "professed Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior" and "Born Again" Christians. As far as I know, these born again Christians have also "accepted Jesus Christ as Savior," but they believe that they are filled with his spirit and seem to think themselves a notch above the rest of the "regular" Christians.

This need to be recognized as special reminds us of the Pharisees of the Messiah's day for whom recognition as special devotees of YEHOVAH was important. Consider this verse from John 7:18. "He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him." Or, consider Luke 11:43. "Woe unto you Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets." Or Luke 16:15. "And He said unto them. Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; But God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God." Finally, I quote Luke 20:46-47. "Beware of the scribes which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts: which devour widows' houses: and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation."

Well what about the disciples at Pentecost? Were they born again? I think not! They certainly received the spirit like tongues of fire and they were filled with the holy spirit -- but the holy spirit was within their corruptible bodies. Because of Adam's sin, we all bear the burden of sin, even those who were blessed at Pentecost.

Even the apostle Paul, who received his blessing elsewhere, reviled himself, calling himself the chief among sinners. And in Romans 7:14-19, we read the following,

"For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do, I allow not: for what I would, I do not: but what I hate, that do I. If then I do which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me, (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me: but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would do, I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do."

And so we come to understand that the gift of the holy spirit at Pentecost was but an EARNEST of what was to come.

The Messiah taught the lesson of the need to be born again when Nicodemus came to him by night. Yeshua started the lesson by saying, John 3:3, "Verily, Verily, except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God." Now, we know that Israel, the House of Jacob, is the physical Kingdom of YEHOVAH God, but at the present time it is wallowing in imperfection and sin. What does Isaiah say of the Kingdom? Look to Isaiah 65:19 and 25:

"And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord."

Here the YEHOVAH God is talking about a sin free environment. It is confirmed in Revelation in the description of the New Jerusalem descending from YEHOVAH God. Revelation 21:27, "And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life." From this a reasonable conclusion may be reached: that is, we can only enter the capital of the King when we are sin free and released from these sinful, corruptible bodies.

It is very clear that the Kingdom will flourish under the rulership of YEHOVAH God when He returns TO EARTH TO RULE FOREVER. The Messiah will TAKE UP THE THRONE OF DAVID AND RULE JACOB (ISRAEL) FOR EVER. And the faithful shall rule with him. John 14:2­3, "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you. I will come again and receive you unto myself: that where I am there may you be also."