THE RIGHT TO BECOME CHILDREN OF GOD
SATURDAY 31
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”
John 1:12 (NKJV)
READ: John 1:1–18
God is the Creator of the whole universe, both human and every other thing in the world. That being said, God is not the Father of every human being, though, He is the Creator of everyone. In our text, it is said that those who received Jesus Christ are the ones given the right or power to become children of God, that is, those who believe in His name (John 1:12).
In the preceding verse, John 1:11, it was said: “He [Jesus] came to His own [things or domain], and His own [people]
did not receive Him.”
The right to become a child of God is given to only those who received Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord (Romans
10:9,10). Fatherhood of God is to those who put their faith in Christ Jesus, those who believe in His name (John 1:12).
What does it mean to receive Jesus Christ? It means when you believe in your heart that Jesus died for your sin and resurrected for your justification, and be reconciled to God (Romans 3:22–26; 10:9,10; 2 Corinthians 5:17–19). Whoever believes that Jesus died for his sin and resurrected that he might be justified, and confessed it with his mouth (Romans 10:9,10), is said to have received Jesus Christ as his Saviour and Lord (1 John 2:1,2).
Such is reconciled to God and has become a child of God (2 Corinthians 5:17,18). Such a person is reborn or born-again according to John 3:3–5. Such has been born of the Spirit (John 3:5,6). This reborn is done through the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. When the gospel or good news of Christ Jesus is heard and the person chooses to put his faith in Christ Jesus, such is reborn or born-again on the inside; the spirit of the person becomes new, a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Whoever has gone through this process or procedure is said to have received Christ Jesus. Such also as from that
point becomes a new creation, a believer, and a saint. The being reborn is not like biological birth; not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God (John 1:13). What does this mean? It means those who are reborn are not born of blood, nor by the flesh, nor the will of man.
The new birth or reborn or being born-again is of the spirit, it is done by the Holy Spirit, not human being. Nicodemus in John 3:3,4, said How can a man be reborn or born-again when he is old? Can he enter into his mother’s womb and be born? But Jesus answered him that the reborn had to be of water and the Spirit.
In other words, the reborn is spiritually done, not of the flesh and blood at all (John 3:5,6). Those who believe in Jesus’ name and confess it with their mouth would have their human spirit reborn or recreated, and they become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Thus, the reborn is done by the hearing of the Word of God, the gospel, which is the water, and the Spirit of God will do the recreation of the human spirit of the person at the moment the confession of faith is made (Romans 10:9–13). If you could understand what is being born-again or reborn or receiving Jesus Christ means through this illustration, take a step now if you have not made the decision before, because tomorrow might be too late.
1 We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
2 For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” BEHOLD, NOW IS THE ACCEPTED TIME; BEHOLD, NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION.
2 Corinthians 6:1,2 (NKJV)
Reflect:
• Have you personally received Jesus Christ and believed in His name, or is this still something you have only heard about?
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