Hope of Israel Ministries (Ecclesia of YEHOVAH):

Most professing Christians, today, seem to believe that being "born again" is a simple matter; it merely involves professing the Messiah as your personal Saviour, and "presto," you are thereby automatically "born again," or "born of the Spirit"!

This common idea is very prevalent among evangelical or fundamental type Christians, and some even go around boasting about being "born again." Others, in a sincere attempt to witness for the Messiah, seem to go around asking other people, "Are you born again?" But most of these people, albeit they may be very sincere, are also very ignorant of just what the Bible speaks of when it discusses the "new birth"! Most, who believe they have been "born again," also believe that they are "saved." They have the idea that "once saved, always saved." This concept seems to flow from the idea that since they have already been "born again," that they now cannot be lost or go astray from the Messiah.

The Worldwide Church of God has recently joined the ranks of Protestant churches, in that it also now endorses the common conception of what it means to be "born again." Joseph Tkach, the leader of the Church, in effect now says he is "Born Again"!

While changing this important doctrine, Tkach actually boldly claims that he isn't changing it at all. He wrote, "Sometimes we find that we need to correct not what the Church teaches, but the kind of explanation it has given -- a matter that does not affect doctrine at all. One such matter is the description we have chosen to give of the believer's conversion and spiritual growth in this life" (Worldwide News, Jan. 28, 1991).

Did you catch the smooth, slippery "double-talk" in that paragraph? Sometimes, Tkach says, they need to change or correct the EXPLANATION it has given in teaching a doctrine -- yet, he says, this does not affect the doctrine at all! This is slippery, serpentine, oily double-talk! If you change the basic explanation of a doctrine, then you are actually changing the BASIC CONCEPT of the doctrine! You cannot have it both ways! Either we are "born again" at this present time -- or we are NOT! And all the double-talk in the world won't change that fact!

Joseph Tkach tries to use I John 3:9 as his "proof text" that true Christians are already "born" of YEHOVAH God. He claims, "Even before the death of Mr. Armstrong, the Church understood that I John 3:9 is not really speaking of an impossibility to sin, but of the need of the Christian not to abide in sin. The Church knew that this verse was incorrectly rendered in the King James Version as 'whosoever is born of God...cannot sin.'" According to Tkach, "The Greek text is correctly understood as 'whosoever is born of God cannot abide in a state of sin.' A Christian can sin, but he does not abide in sin." Is this really true? We will discuss this verse again, later!

Tkach then claims:

"For example, the Greek verb used in the expression 'born of God' is gennao. Mr. Armstrong generally applied 'born of God' to man's change to a spirit being at the time of the resurrection of the dead. As we have seen the verse refers to the present life -- to abiding in sin. This means that the expression 'born of God,' in I John 3:9, must refer to the present life. The man born of God, who does not continue in sin, is none other than the Christian" (ibid.).

What is the truth about this matter? Without any proof of his new interpretation, Tkach adds:

"In the light [sic] of this understanding [sic], the Church must now redefine its explanation of the verb gennao, not the correctness of the basic doctrine that the Church has been teaching about the spiritual life."

Tkach then claims that the reason Herbert Armstrong was wrong in his understanding of being "born again," in applying this term to the time Christians are changed into spirit beings at the resurrection, was that he limited the Greek word gennao to the definition of "begettal." Says Tkach, "Mr. Armstrong RESTRICTED the meaning of the Greek word gennao to 'begettal.'" But is that really true? Tkach claims that Herbert Armstrong erred by changing the definition of the Greek word gennao to "conceived," in the English language, which has a limited meaning, and never refers to "birth." But, Tkach admits, the original Greek word gennao does mean "begotten," as well as "born."

What's going on, here? Why all the double-talk and confusion over words? The apostle Paul warns us:

"If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an UNHEALTHY INTEREST IN CONTROVERSIES AND QUARRELS ABOUT WORDS that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt minds, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain" (I Tim. 6:3-5).

Joseph Tkach himself admits that in Matthew 1:20 the King James Version translates the Greek word gennao as "conceived." The angel told Joseph, "Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is CONCEIVED in her is of the Holy Spirit."

Now, since the Bible translators themselves so translated the Greek word gennao, how on earth can Joseph Tkach, in this same article, accuse Herbert Armstrong of using the "term as if it were a counterpart of conceived"? Tkach then argues, "Beget is not the same as conceive." This is pure DOUBLE-TALK! Tkach has shown us how the Bible itself renders the Greek word gennao as "conceived." So what is the world is he arguing about? He is picking a fight with Herbert Armstrong OVER MERE WORDS -- the very thing the apostle Paul warned us to BEWARE OF!

Tkach admits in his article that the Greek term gennao can be rendered "begotten" as well as "born." He seems to imply, however, that Herbert Armstrong didn't know the term could, at times, be translated as "born." I find that very difficult to believe. In fact, I think this is just another Tkachism -- a lie. Herbert Armstrong was very familiar with the use of Bible Concordances. Therefore, he must have know that the Greek word gennao could be translated BOTH ways, and would therefore have to be understood BY ITS CONTEXT! To accuse him of not knowing this is a LIE! Notice! Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, number 1080 in the Greek dictionary section, says of the word gennao:

"gennao...to procreate (prop. of the father, but by extension of the mother); fig. to regenerate: bear, beget, be born, bring forth, conceive, be delivered of, gender, make, spring."

It is ludicrous and disingenuous to suggest that Herbert Armstrong, the leader of the Worldwide Church of God, and who set doctrine in the Church, was ignorant of the full range of meanings of the Greek word gennao! Yet, Tkach insists:

"Mr. Armstrong knew that gennao is often translated in the King James Version as begotten. But because begotten is used of the Father, Mr. Armstrong used this term as if it were a counterpart of conceived. Begotten is an archaic word in English, and Mr. Armstrong WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS MISUNDERSTANDING OF ITS DEFINITION" (ibid., p. 6,"Personal," emphasis mine).

That assertion, my friends, is pure nonsense! In his attempt to shrink Herbert Armstrong down to his own size, Tkach accuses him of ignorance and misunderstanding. The truth is that Tkach himself never graduated from a college or university, and was a high school drop out, and it is he who is not familiar with the Greek language and meaning of words, so his surrogate writers and assistants must write these convoluted, involved paragraphs with their devious reasoning and absurdities, for him!

Proof that Herbert Armstrong and the Church of God knew and understood the range of meanings of the Greek word gennao is given in the OLD, original (and best) Ambassador College Bible Correspondence Course Lesson, published by the Church in 1958, Lesson 16, entitled "What it means to be 'BORN AGAIN'!"

All those who have been confused by the new Church teaching on "born again" should read this powerful and succinct old Bible Course Lesson. This Lesson also points out the extreme spiritual DANGER involved in embracing the concept that true Christians are already "BORN AGAIN" when they accept Christ! Notice! Read this, and WAKE UP!

"Don't Be a Miscarriage!

"Here is the TERRIBLE CONSEQUENCE OF BELIEVING that people are already 'born again' because some preacher says so. Instead of growing as unborn babes need to do in order to come to birth, those who trust in a false new birth believe that there is NO NEED OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH NOW OR 0BEDIENCE to the commandments because they think they are already 'saved.' When the resurrection comes such people will not be there! They have not grown or developed into the stature of Jesus' character by obeying the commandments of God.

"Do you want to follow the broad way and perish, like a MISCARRIAGE of a foetus -- a child that is conceived, but never born?

"Or do you believe what Jesus said, that, once 'converted,' or begotten by the HOLY SPIRIT, that you need to grow by every word of God which CLEANS YOU UP SPIRITUALLY just as water cleans you physically (John 3:5; Eph. 5:26), so that you will finally be born of God and inherit the Kingdom?" (p. 3).

This is serious business -- make no mistake! To believe incorrectly about the "born again" question is no mere idle "play on words." Joseph Tkach's new doctrinal teaching is not a mere "difference in explanation." It goes to the HEART AND CORE OF BIBLICAL CHRISTIANITY! IT IS A SUBTLE SUBVERSION OF THE TRUTH -- A PERVERSION OF DIABOLICAL DIMENSIONS GUARANTEED TO LEAD THE UNSUSPECTING STRAIGHT INTO HELL FIRE!

Some of you people reading this article need to WAKE UP -- shake yourself awake, and rub the sleep from you eyes, and dash your face with a pan full of water! How can I jar you out of your confident, foolish lethargy?

The common idea of being "born again" at the moment of conversion or acceptance of Christ is FALSE! If you imbibe it, you imbibe spiritual POISON -- and the bite you take could be FATAL! Says the old Correspondence Course:

"'Born Again NOW' a False Teaching

"Because Jesus made the new birth the essential to entering the kingdom of God, SATAN has his churches and his ministers preaching COUNTERFEIT 'new births' to deceive the people, and to make the true way appear false (II Cor. 11:14,15).

"Masquerading as ministers of righteousness, they have DELUDED MILLIONS -- not the few, but the millions -- into accepting and appropriating Jesus Christ, shedding a few tears and believing in a superstitious 'born again' experience.

"Some make it a little more involved by working up an emotional ecstasy which is interpreted to mean 'regeneration,' 'sanctification,' 'baptism of the Holy Ghost,' and a 'new birth'!

"Whatever the slight doctrinal differences, the devil has the CHURCHES UNIVERSALLY DECEIVED INTO BELIEVING that Christians are already 'born again,' that everything is all set. There are 'NO WORKS,' as the saying goes. No need to obey God! There is no need, preach the false ministers, to obey God's commandments because you are already regenerated.

"This is Satan's clever method of beguiling the people into forgetting the real purpose of the Christian life and rejecting the only way to be born again" (Lesson 16, "What It Means to be 'Born Again'!", p. 3-4, emphasis in the original lesson).

The massive change in the "born again" doctrinal emphasis, as Joseph Tkach has perpetrated it, with his aides and doctrinal upstarts, is a DIABOLICAL DECEPTION! It is based on a tissue of fabrications, half-truths, distortions, and misunderstandings and misinterpretations, and out-right LIES and subtle inuendoes! Tkach tries to paint Herbert Armstrong as "ignorant," and "not aware." Balderdash! Falderol! Foolscape and bushwah!

Either Tkach himself and his coterie of false ministers are ignorant, and "not aware," or else they are deliberate and diabolical DECEIVERS OF THE DEVIL, doing their utmost to un-do the very End-Time Work of YEHOVAH God and to destroy as many of YEHOVAH's people who willingly listen to them and subject themselves to them! WOE unto them! And WOE unto the MINISTERS who follow them, sleepily, in their serpentine and convoluted ways! Surely, YEHOVAH's WRATH will shortly be poured out on the whole rotten kit and kaboodle of them!!!

The basic, underlying truth about the "new birth" is given by Yeshua the Messiah, in his secretive meeting with Nicodemus, a leading Pharisee among the Jews. Let's read the account. It is found in the third chapter of the gospel of John. Notice!

"Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night, and said, 'Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.'

"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 WHO IS BORN OF THE SPIRIT'" (John 3:1-8, NIV).

This, of course, is the key passage in the New Testament about the "new birth." Notice it carefully. Those who say that they are "born again" when they "accept Christ," and begin the "conversion" process, COMPLETELY OVERLOOK or DISTORT this plain and clear passage of Scripture!

Notice! Yeshua explained here that the physical birth of a human baby is a TYPE of the "new birth." He clearly stated that a baby born of a human fleshly mother is also human, of the flesh. Everybody knows the truth of that statement. Babies are human, just like their mothers and fathers. Flesh begets, and gives birth to, that which is also flesh. The birth of a human baby is an amazing, incredible, breath-taking experience.

A new baby is produced by a process which begins when a "seed" of the father's sperm unites with the mother's ovum or "egg" cell in the mother's womb. That "union" begins a new life, which then grows within the womb for about nine months, developing all the features of a human baby -- arms, legs, torso, feet, hands, fingers, eyes, ears, brain, mouth, and even hair! At the right moment, when the process is complete, birth pangs begin, contractions set in, and the mother "delivers" a new baby into the world!

Even so, Yeshua said, is the spiritual birth. But that which is finally BORN OF SPIRIT, He said, will also BE COMPOSED OF SPIRIT-- just as the physical, human baby is flesh, like his human, physical mother.

Was Yeshua here talking about the mere "begettal" of a Christian by the spirit of the Father at conversion? Not at all! Although this process begins, even like physical babies, with the "seed" of the holy spirit begetting a new "baby" by uniting with the spirit essence in our human minds, following this CREATION of a "new creature" -- a new "son of God" -- there must be growth and the process of development spiritually, UNTIL we are ready to ultimately be literally BORN OF YEHOVAH GOD -- BORN OF SPIRIT -- at which time we will be COMPOSED OF SPIRIT!

Yeshua said plainly, "The Spirit gives birth to SPIRIT" (John 3:6). He then went on to explain that the spirit birth is just as real as the physical birth, but the new spirit being so born is "like the wind" which we cannot see. It is very real, and can be very powerful, but it is invisible. We don't know where it comes from or where it goes, but we notice it by its effects. A powerful wind can blow down trees, tear the roofs off houses, destroy buildings -- as a tornado or hurricane does. Yeshua said, of everyone who is literally "born again," "So it is with everyone BORN OF THE SPIRIT" (John 3:8).

Therefore, if you have been "born again," then YOU SHOULD BE INVISIBLE -- LIKE THE WIND! Are you?

If you have really been "born again," at this very moment, you should be a powerful, invisible presence. You should be COMPOSED of "spirit." Are you? Or are you still flesh and blood?

If you are still flesh and blood, then in no way have you been "BORN AGAIN," OR "BORN OF THE SPIRIT"!

Herbert W. Armstrong used to test people in this regard, by using the "hat pin test." He would suggest that they take a hat pin, and stick themselves with it. If they felt the pain, or if they bled from the pricking of the pin, then that proved they were still flesh and blood, and therefore NOT YET BORN AGAIN!

Rather, as the Bible shows repeatedly, if you are a true Christian, then you have been BEGOTTEN by YEHOVAH God's spirit -- but not to be "born" until the resurrection!

At this time, we have not yet received ALL of YEHOVAH's spirit, and have not yet become spirit beings, but rather we have received a "seed" of YEHOVAH's spirit, as a begettal. The Scriptures state, "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were SEALED with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the EARNEST of our inheritance UNTIL the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory" (Eph. 1:13-14).

At this time, we are BEGOTTEN of YEHOVAH God, but not yet "born" of Him. The apostle James declares, "Of his own will BEGAT he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures" (James 1:18). How plain! During this life, we are not "born of God," but we are "begotten" of Him. As the apostle Peter writes, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath BEGOTTEN US again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (I Pet. 1:3).

Some have misunderstood this subject because of an erroneous translation in I Peter 1:23, where we read, "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever." The Greek word translated "born again" here is anagennao, and means literally "begotten again," "to beget, or bear, again." At this time, therefore, we are BEGOTTEN again -- that is, this time by the spirit of YEHOVAH God, as contrasted with our original physical begettal. We are now begotten of "incorruptible SEED," that is, the spirit of YEHOVAH, the word of YEHOVAH God.

As we now grow in grace and truth and spiritual power and strength, the MIND of the Messiah is formed more and more in us. As Paul wrote the Galatians, "My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be FORMED in you" (Gal. 4:19). Today, we are "led of the Spirit," but we are not yet composed entirely of Spirit (Gal. 5:18). We are to "live in the Spirit" and "walk in the Spirit," but we are not yet made out of Spirit (Gal. 5:25). We are commanded to bring forth the "fruit of the Spirit" which is "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance" (Gal. 5:22-23). We do not yet do these things automatically. We must struggle and fight against our fleshly desires and bodies, and bring them into subjection to the spirit of YEHOVAH God (Gal. 5:19-21). This is a battle, a life-long struggle, and of itself PROVES that we have not yet become "BORN AGAIN"!

As Paul wrote, "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 I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do....For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the BODY OF THIS DEATH [his fleshly body, showing he was still flesh and blood, and not yet truly BORN of the Spirit]? I thank God [I shall be delivered] through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom. 7:18-25).

We are not yet composed of spirit, and therefore perfect, and possessing perfect self control and complete righteousness, so that it would be impossible for us to sin. We are still flesh and blood, and can still fall or stumble into sin. That's what Paul is talking about here! However, when we repent of our sins, and believe on the Messiah as our Saviour, and are baptized, YEHOVAH God GIVES us of His holy spirit as a begettal (Acts 2:38).

As Paul writes, "But ye are not in the flesh, but IN the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be IN you, the BODY IS DEAD because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell IN you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies [in the future!] by his Spirit that dwelleth in you" (Romans 8:9-11).

Paul goes on, "For as many as are LED by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God" (verse 14). Once we receive YEHOVAH's holy spirit as a begettal, we are then considered true sons of YEHOVAH God. We become His children, not yet born, but fully begotten. "And if children, then heirs; HEIRS OF GOD, and joint-heirs with Christ"(Rom. 8:17). Paul continues, "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the MANIFESTATION OF THE SONS OF GOD" (Rom. 8:18-19).

Do you get it? Our "NEW BIRTH" does not occur when we are "begotten" of YEHOVAH God, but rather when we are made INHERITORS of YEHOVAH GOD -- WHEN WE BECOME COMPOSED OF SPIRIT, JUST AS HE IS SPIRIT -- WHEN WE RECEIVE HIS GLORY -- when the world witnesses the awesome "MANIFESTATION OF THE SONS OF GOD" at the coming of the Messiah, at the resurrection!

Paul himself put it very plainly. He wrote to the Corinthians, "There is a natural body [which we now have], and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul [nephesh, or body or physical being]; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and AFTERWARD that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy [born of the flesh]: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy; and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, WE SHALL ALSO [future tense!] BEAR THE IMAGE OF THE HEAVENLY" (I Cor. 15:44-49).

We are plainly NOT YET "BORN AGAIN"! Rather, we SHALL bear the image of the HEAVENLY -- be GLORIFIED -- when we are truly BORN AGAIN!

Paul goes on, explaining, "Now this I say, brethren, that FLESH AND BLOOD [such as we still are, today!] cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption" (verse 50). When we are born of YEHOVAH God, however, we will be spirit -- and we WILL inherit the Kingdom of YEHOVAH God!

As Paul says: "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be CHANGED, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be CHANGED" (I Cor. 15:51-52).

As Christians, therefore, we are to "put off concerning the former conversation [conduct] the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be RENEWED in the SPIRIT OF YOUR MIND" (Ephesians 4:22-23). Now, with the help of YEHOVAH's holy spirit, we are to put down the pulls of the flesh, and OVERCOME lusts and illicit desires, and "grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are SEALED unto the day of REDEMPTION" (Eph. 4:30).

Do you grasp the difference? Today we are BEGOTTEN of YEHOVAH God -- SEALED with His spirit. Tomorrow -- at the resurrection -- THEN we will be BORN of YEHOVAH God -- literally -- THEN we will BE COMPOSED OF PERFECT, INCORRUPTIBLE SPIRIT!

There is obviously a BIG, yawning, huge, tremendous CHASM, a wide GULF, between being "begotten" of YEHOVAH God, and finally being literally BORN of YEHOVAH God!

As "begotten" children of YEHOVAH, we can stumble, fall, and even fall away from the truth. We could become a spiritual ABORTION, or MISCARRIAGE, and perish in the lake of fire, if we turn away from the truth of YEHOVAH God and begin living in error, sin, and wickedness!

The apostle Paul knew that even he could fall away. He wrote, "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so FIGHT I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway " (I Cor. 9:24-27).

The whole concept that Christians are already "born again" makes this kind of Biblical passage meaningless. It destroys the very heart of the gospel. It vitiates and nullifies the many Scriptures that say ONLY THE OVERCOMERS will inherit the Kingdom of YEHOVAH God! (Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 26-27; 3:5, 12, 21).

If you are already "born of God," or "born again," then you "have it made." You are already perfect. You cannot lose your salvation. But the word of YEHOVAH God says NONE OF US is guaranteed salvation. Yeshua the Messiah himself warned, "But he that shall ENDURE TO THE END, the same shall be SAVED" (Matt. 24:13).

Yeshua did not teach that all we have to do is "believe" on him, and then we are "Born Again!" Rather, he stated powerfully: "IF you will enter into life, KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS" (Matt. 19:17). Yeshua also told his disciples, "STRIVE to enter in at the strait gate: for MANY, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able" (Luke 13:24).

The Greek word for "strive" in this verse is agonizomai, and literally means, "struggle, literally, to compete for a prize, to contend with an adversary, to endeavour to accomplish something; to FIGHT, LABOR FERVENTLY, STRIVE" (Strong's Exhaustive Concordance ).

The concept that you are already "Born Again" is a powerful tactic of Satan the devil to distract people, to make them think they have salvation "all locked up," that there is no effort required, no "good works," but all they have to do is keep on believing, and even that is assumed to be automatic -- because, along with the "born again" doctrine goes the concomitant doctrine of "once saved always saved."

But the Bible itself says no such thing! The only time we will have a "lock" on salvation is when we are CHANGED, RESURRECTED, and IN THE KINGDOM of YEHOVAH God, literally BORN OF THE SPIRIT!

Until then, as Paul writes, "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth TAKE HEED lest he fall" (I Cor. 10:12). As Paul told the Philippians, now, in this life, "Work out your own salvation, WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING" (Phil. 2:12). Peter tells us to "give all diligence" to add to our faith virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindess, and love. He adds, "For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is BLIND, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his own sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, GIVE DILIGENCE TO MAKE YOUR CALLING AND ELECTION SURE: for IF ye do these things, ye shall never fall" (II Pet. 1:4-10).

Paul also wrote, "How shall we escape, if we NELGECT so great salvation?" (Heb. 2:3). "Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, LEST at any time we should let them SLIP" (Heb. 2:1).

It is possible to be enlightened with the word of YEHOVAH God, and then to depart from the truth. It is even possible to receive the gift of the holy spirit, and then to lose it! As Paul again was inspired to warn us: "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame" (Heb. 6:4-6).

Paul explains later, in this same book of Hebrews, "For IF WE SIN WILLFULLY after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries" (Heb. 10:26-27).

When we are finally born of YEHOVAH God, we will be SPIRIT BEINGS, just as YEHOVAH is! We will be just like Him! As the apostle John wrote, "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be LIKE HIM; for we shall see him AS HE IS" (I John 3:2). And how is he, today? He is glorious with his face shining like the SUN in its strength (see Rev. 1:11-17). He is the express image of the GLORY of the Father (Heb. 1;1-2). when we are literally "Born Again," we will look just like he looks!

The apostle Paul wrote about this. He declared: "...we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall CHANGE OUR VILE BODY, that it may be fashioned LIKE UNTO HIS GLORIOUS BODY, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself" (Phil. 3:20-21).

Joseph Tkach, leader of the Worldwide Church of God, has now embraced the common Protestant identifying concept that Christians are "born again" when they accept the Messiah. In so doing, he has negated the entire testimony of the Word of YEHOVAH God, and plunged lock, stock and barrel into the barnyard of lies foisted off on this world by Satan the devil, who has "deceived the whole world" (Rev. 12:9). Obviously, Joe Tkach does not believe the Protestants are deceived on this matter -- that millions of Protestants are right!

Thus he calls the Messiah and the Word of YEHOVAH God a "liar" because they say the whole world, or the Christian-professing world as a whole, are "DECEIVED"!

He claims that Herbert Armstrong was all wrong. He says that the Church has been wrong all these years for teaching that the "NEW BIRTH" does not occur until the resurrection! He is rejecting the Word of YEHOVAH God and whole-heartedly embracing PROTESTANT ERROR and Satanic subtle deception and a "DOCTRINE OF DEMONS"! As the apostle Paul wrote:

"But the (holy) Spirit distinctly and expressly declares that in latter times some will TURN AWAY from the faith, giving attention to DELUDING AND SEDUCING SPIRITS and DOCTRINES THAT DEMONS TEACH through the hypocrisy and pretensions of liars whose consciences are seared (cauterized)..." (I Tim. 4:1-2, Amplified ).

According to Tkach, Herbert Armstrong did not know that the Greek word gennao could be translated as either "born" or "begotten." That is nothing but a Satanic, bald-faced, diabolical LIE, and I brand it as such!!!

Contrary to Joseph Tkach's assertions, the Old Bible Correspondence Course proves that the Church even back in 1958 KNEW that the Greek word gennao could be properly translated as either "begotten" or "born." We read on page 6 of that Lesson:

"Whatever is born of spirit is spirit, said Jesus. We are not yet born of spirit. We are STILL FLESH AND BLOOD! We are therefore only heirs to the kingdom of God -- I Cor. 15:50.

COMMENT: One Greek word means both 'begotten' and 'born.' The translators unfortunately, at times, selected the wrong one of these two words when translating a Bible sentence, so that the English word 'born' may appear where 'begotten' is intended, and vice versa" (emphasis in the original).

Joseph Tkach also claims that Herbert Armstrong did not understand the real meaning of I John 3:9. In this verse we read: "Whosoever is BORN of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he CANNOT sin, because he is BORN of God."

Yet, we know that all have sinned, and there is none perfect on this earth, including true Christians (Rom. 3:10, 23; 7:14-25), even the apostle Paul himself (Rom. l7:14-25). As Christians, we are to be fighting against sin, and overcoming sin (Rev. 2:26). Sin is a reality -- something which we must face and resist and conquer DAILY!

As Paul wrote, "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, STRIVING AGAINST SIN" (Heb. 12:1-4).

John himself confesses, "If we say that we [Christians] have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (I John 1:8-9).

Clearly, then, when this same John says in chapter 3, verse 9, that a person who is "born of God" does not commit sin, and "CANNOT SIN," the simple and obvious way to understand this verse is that it pertains to true Christians IN THE FUTURE when they shall have been literally "BORN OF GOD." This verse cannot apply to us today, because we can sin -- a simple decision of the mind can lead to sin, which is breaking the laws of YEHOVAH God (I John 3:4). Stealing, lust, murder, hate, Sabbath breaking, dishonoring of parents, coveting, lying -- it is easy to fall into sin of one kind or another. Even telling a "little white lie." Even "stealing" a few pennies, nickles or quarters from somebody else's purse or wallet or piggy bank. The only one who CANNOT SIN is YEHOVAH God -- for it is impossible for Him to sin (Titus 1:2; Mal.3:8). Even angels can "sin" (Job 15:15; I Cor. 6:1-3).

Therefore, I John 3:9 cannot contradict I John 1:8. Christians do sin. One "born of God," therefore, does not refer to a Christian during this earthly existence, but to our future state when we will be incorruptible and perfect spirit beings! Only then will it be true that we "cannot sin." Only then will we become PERFECT!

However, since the Greek word gennao is used in this verse, there is another way we can understand it. As the Amplified Bible has it:

"No one born (begotten) of God [deliberately and knowingly] habitually practices sin, for God's nature abides in him -- His principle of life, the divine sperm, remains permanently within him -- and he cannot practice sinning because he is born (begotten) of God."

In other words, the Greek for this verse can refer to the deliberate and intentional practice of sin, the habitual life of sin -- which no one begotten of YEHOVAH God could do. If one who was begotten of YEHOVAH began to live a life of deliberate sin, which is possible, however, then he would LOSE the spirit of YEHOVAH God -- he would QUENCH it -- and it would leave him, and he would become a spiritual "abortion" or "miscarriage." That is why Paul exhorted us, "Quench not the Spirit" (I Thess. 5:19).

The difference between our condition, now, when we are BEGOTTEN of YEHOVAH God, and our condition when we are in the Kingdom of YEHOVAH God, with glorious spirit bodies, literally BORN AGAIN, is made plain in this same epistle of John, in chapter 5, verse 18. Notice! John asserts:

"We know that whosoever is BORN of God SINNETH NOT; but he that is BEGOTTEN of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not" (I John 5:18).

Clearly, one who is literally BORN of YEHOVAH God, and spirit, does not sin -- to such a person, in the future, when they are glorified and incorruptible, sin will be a thing of the remote past. But, on the other hand, a person who today is living in this flesh, but who has been begotten by YEHOVAH's spirit, such a person will strive to keep himself from sin, just as Yeshua commanded us to do (Luke 13:24). As as long as he remains faithful to YEHOVAH God, striving against sin, the wicked one -- Satan the devil -- will not be able to touch him, or subvert him, or lead him astray!

This verse, also, has an alternate rendering. The whole understanding depends on how you render the Greek word gennao, whether as "born" or as "begotten." Therefore, these Scriptures MUST be interpreted in the light of the clear statement Yeshua the Messiah made in John 3, where He said not only that we must be "born again," but that which is "born of the Spirit IS Spirit"-- literally composed of spirit!

Therefore, the verse in I John 5:18 could be rendered: "We know that whosoever is begotten of God sinneth not [does not practice sin]; but he that he begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not." Another possibility, as shown in the Amplified Version, has: "We know [absolutely] that any one born" -- Greek gennao, or "begotten" -- "of God does not [deliberately and knowingly] practice committing sin, but the One who was begotten" -- again, the Greek word gennao -- "of God carefully watches over and protects him -- Christ's divine presence within him preserves him against the evil -- and the wicked one does not lay hold (get a grip) on him or touch [him]."

Whichever way we interpret this verse, therefore, it gives no consolation or encouragement to those who claim that Christians are already "born again"! YEHOVAH's Word does not contradict itself! The "new birth" is yet future and occurs at the coming of the Messiah and the resurrection from the dead!

As Herbert Armstrong used to explain this subject, it was crystal clear and even children could understand it. But now, as Joseph Tkach has butchered, slashed, and hacked away at this subject, it seems nobody in the Worldwide Church of God can understand it any more, not even the local ministers! It has been perverted into gobbledegook -- spiritual horsewash -- unintelligible nonsense! As the old Lesson 6 of the Correspondence Course so plainly explains:

"Much of the confusion about being born again has resulted from misinterpreting the original Greek.

"In the English language we have two different verbs -- to beget, and to be born -- which are used to translate the one Greek word gennao. This Greek word means 'to conceive,' or 'to beget,' and also 'to bear,' or 'to be born.' In order to know which meaning is intended, we must let the Bible interpret the Bible. Since the Bible plainly reveals that Christians can sin now -- in this flesh-and-blood mortal existence -- we therefore know that it is ONLY WHEN ONE IS ACTUALLY BORN OF GOD in the future, at the resurrection, that he CANNOT SIN ANY MORE" (page 8).

It is sad for me to witness the modern mayhem the spiritual butchers and doctrinal pirates of the revised "Worldwide Church of God" are making of the Word of YEHOVAH God, and even the clear and plain and concise doctrines that YEHOVAH put into His Church through His modern apostle, Herbert W. Armstrong. Long proven and cherished spiritual truths are being made to "walk the plank." Truth is being rejected and cast out and the changes are being covered up as if they were inconsequential and merely changes in "explanation." Poppycock! Pishtwaddle! The hoary Panjandrum of Pasadena has done it again. How long will you Worldwiders put up with this nonsense, false doctrine, and follow a man who is obviously leading you into severe error and apostasy?

Before Joseph Tkach took over the Worldwide Church of God, the Church correctly preached that when we are converted, we only receive YEHOVAH's spirit as a begettal (Eph. 1:13-14), and then must GROW in the Messiah (II Pet. 3:18), letting his character become formed within us (Gal. 4:19). We become literally "born of God" or "born again" at the resurrection when we will have bodies like His glorious body (Phi. 3:21). We are not born of YEHOVAH God until we become SPIRIT, even as He is spirit (John 3:5-8). That which is flesh has not yet been "born again." That which is born again will BE "Spirit," even as YEHOVAH is spirit (John 4:24).

But Joseph Tkach now claims to have been "BORN AGAIN"! Says Tkach:

"...we must understand that when the Bible speaks of a person as being 'born again,' it is speaking of Christian CONVERSION, not of the ultimate Christian inheritance" ("Personal," Worldwide News, Jan. 28, 1991, emphasis mine).

Whom will you believe? Tkach? Or the plain words of Scripture? The apostle Jude warns us, "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should EARNESTLY CONTEND for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares..." (Jude 3-4). Are you "contending earnestly" for the truth of YEHOVAH God? Are you on guard against deception?

-- Edited By John D. Keyser.