Actually, Thomas, it's both. We begin born again and, if we remain faithful and steadfast, we end up born again. The thief on the cross was born again, and even though he died before he had a chance to develop the holy traits of character God implanted in him, he will be in heaven. We know this is true because Jesus said no one can enter heaven who hasn't been born again. Jesus will not change the thief's character when He returns, thus it was obviously changed the moment he was born again on the cross. It was a thorough and radical change, to say the least.

ML 250
This sanctification is a progressive work, and an advance from one stage of perfection to another. {ML 250.4}

AA 561
Sanctification is the result of lifelong obedience. {AA 560.3}

RC 48
The Scriptures plainly show that the work of sanctification is progressive. When in conversion the sinner finds peace with God through the blood of the atonement, the Christian life has but just begun. Now he is to go on unto perfection, to grow up unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. (RC 48)

ML 249
Every living Christian will advance daily in the divine life. As he advances toward perfection, he experiences a conversion to God every day; and this conversion is not completed until he attains to perfection of Christian character, a full preparation for the finishing touch of immortality. (ML 249)

Old Tom: Your view seems to be that our characters are perfected in an instant, the moment we believe in Christ. I was asking for some SOP statement to that effect.

Mike: Remember, Jesus was born morally perfect (complete), and He became morally perfect (mature) as He grew from childhood to manhood. It’s the same way for born again believers. They are born again morally perfect (complete), and they become morally perfect (mature) as they grow in grace. So long as we are walking in the Spirit and mind of the new man we advance from one stage of perfection to another, from glory to glory – not from greater sins to lesser sins. And, eternity isn’t long enough to exhaust our potential to mature in the fruits of the Spirit.

New and improved Tom: Making a comparison between Christ as He was born and a born again believer is a rather odd comparison since there are more differences than similarities by a long shot. For example:
1) Christ never sinned.
2) Christ was divine.
3) Christ was a baby.

To say that believers are born again "morally perfect" is a strange use of words. You redefine "perfect" as "complete" which is OK for Greek, but a rather odd use of the word in English. Does it mean anything different than merely saying that born again believers are converted and in harmony with God? I think that's a lot easier to understand, and something everyone would agree to (as well as being Scriptural).

Let's return for a moment to the question of whether one's character is instantaneously made perfect when one is born again. Is this what you believe?

You made a comparison with Christ as a baby. This is an odd comparison to make regarding perfection of character because as a baby Christ had not character, or perhaps more accurately, He had the character of an infant. That's certainly not comporable to the character of an adult, whether born again or not -- they're entirely different things in character (pardon the pun).

The Scriptures say:

quote:

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11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him. (John 1:11)

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If we don't understand that the disciples were born again, we're pretty much destined to miss just about all of what the Gospels have to teach us. The disciples were just like us. The which healed them will heal us, if we recognize we need healing. But as Jesus said, those who are whole have no need of a physician. That is, if we have a false view of ourselves, as the pharisees did of themselves, then we will not avail ourselves of the help Christ longs to give us.

This lack of perception reminds me of a Brazilian hymn: "Sim eis-nos prontos" (Yes, we're ready). It's referring to the episode where Christ asked the question, "Are you ready to be baptized with the baptism I will be batized with?" and they foolishly responded, "yes," not recognizing their true condition. In the hymn we sing, apparently rejoicing in their ignorance, "Yes we're ready," but I can't help but feel that we are no more ready than they were and our blindness is no less than theirs.

Jesus spoke of Peter's conversion, during the Last Supper, in the future tense. Peter was in the "process of conversion" until after the resurrection of Jesus.

Luke
22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired [to have] you, that he may sift [you] as wheat:
22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

5T 570
The Lord wants you and your family to be Christians in every sense of the word and to show in your characters the sanctifying power of the truth. If you had formed such characters, your works would stand the test of the judgment; should the fires of the last day kindle upon your works as they now are, they would prove to be only hay, wood, and stubble. Do not think this severe; it is true. Self has been mingled with all your labors. Will you come up to the high standard? It will be like learning the first principles of what constitutes a Christian character. Christ said to the apostle Peter: "When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." You, likewise, must be converted before you can do acceptable work for the Master. {5T 570.2}

Old Tom: Let's return for a moment to the question of whether one's character is instantaneously made perfect when one is born again. Is this what you believe?

Mike: Sister White makes it clear that God implants within the heart and mind of born again believers all the fruits and righteous attributes of God. These traits of character are perfect. However, like Jesus, like Adam and Eve, we must cooperate with the Spirit of God and nurture, cultivate and develop them, beginning at rebirth and continuing throughout eternity.

New Tom: Does this mean the answer to my question is "yes"?

If our perception of God's character is off, way off say, do you think it is possible for us to have characters which have no defects?