Their Question:
Concerning John 20:22 - Help me
understand this again. When did the disciples become born –again? Before or
after this instance.
Hi,
Joh 1:10He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world
did not know Him.
Joh 1:11He came to His own, and those who were His own did
not receive Him.
Joh 1:12But as many as received Him, to them He gave
the right to become children of God,even
to those who believe in His name,
Joh 1:13who were born,
not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
On the basis of the above scripture which speaks of the requirements for being 'born of God' - that is, being born again spiritually so that you become a member of God's family and children of God - are to receive Jesus and believe in His name. Thus each disciple, except Judas, would have had an individual experience of this before John 20:22. For further discussion of John 20:22 there is a little bit here:
http://www.jesusplusnothing.com/questions/SpiritualGifts.htm
All the best,
Before this point, the Holy Spirit was not yet dwelling in them, was it? This
experience could not be complete until the Holy Spirit was sent from heaven to
dwell within them. And I think that was the reason why The Lord Jesus told them
to wait until Acts 2:1. What is your comment?
Hi,
sorry for the slow reply. Up until Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came on some believers for special purposes, but after Pentecost He indwells every believer permanently. Your question however was when were the disciples 'born again'? There is not a lot to go on but it seems to me that being born again was possible before Pentecost. Look at Jesus' discussion with Nicodemus again where He introduces this:
In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. " How can a man be born when he is old? Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." How can this be? Nicodemus asked. You are Israel's teacher, said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things?
(John 3:3-10)
Jesus expected Nicodemus to understand what He was talking about. Thus being born again or 'born from above' was something that the spiritual amongst Israel's religious leaders obviously should have known about. So it doesn't seem that Jesus was introducing something that was still future (like when He spoke about the coming of the Holy Spirit with His disciples and said that the Holy Spirit 'is with you and will be in you.' (John 14:17)
As I said, there isn't a lot to go on but that is how I see it anyway.
All the best.