>> “I have been a born-again evangelical Christian for 50 some years” <<
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Nobody but Yeshua is ‘born again’ yet.
The “Born Again” he referred to was the changing of our corrupt bodies into incorruptible flesh. That rebirth happens at the last trump when he comes in the cloud with his angels.
It only happens for “Those that endure to the end.”
What is enduring? - It is keeping faith and his commandments each and every minute of every day, which one can only do if he has traversed the Mikva of the Ruach Kodesh. (the baptism of the spirit in modern English)
What are His commandments again?