Some of my brethren take the view, as C. I. Scofield, that no one was born again till after the death of Christ, or not until Pentecost. It is a minority view. Can it be proven that some were born again before the death of Christ? Yes. Notice the words of John.
"He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1: 11-13)
Clearly the reference to those who "received" Christ and who "believed" on his name are those to whom Jesus presented himself during his earthly ministry, before his death on the cross. What does John say about them? He says they were "born of God," therefore people were born again before the death of Christ. To affirm that John is saying that the people who received Christ, and believed on his name, during Christ's ministry, were not born again till after his death, is to miss the point of John. John affirms that they who received him were born of God, at the point they received him, and not years after they believed!
"Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him." (I John 5: 1)
Did John not affirm that some received Christ and believed on his name while he was here in the flesh, and before his death? Certainly! Were they not then born again?
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