John 1:10-12 – He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 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 begins his book with a revelation of the eternal Son of God and quickly gets to the main point: we must be born again. He clearly points out our greatest need… we must become children of God. This was the message to Jews and Gentiles both. Your beliefs and heritage still leave you in the natural, fallen state in which you were born. No amount of charitable deeds or religious observances will be able to make us God’s children. Being changed into better people, overcoming our shortcomings and sin, does not come from our actions or human will. We can never “will ourselves” into becoming part of a different race that behaves in a more desirable manner. There must be a change, a total change of our nature. John says in verse 12 how it happens. He said that the right of sonship was given to those who believe in the name of Jesus. This is why He came into the world, to offer this incredible privilege of sonship to our fallen race. Once we were children of darkness but we have become children of light. “Sonship” has become our privilege. We who were rascals, scalawags, liars, thieves, and worse are now called sons and daughters. John unveiled the greatness of the Eternal Son and then immediately talks about why He became man; He came to make us children of God. John also begins to go beyond all of the other gospels in these opening verses when he says that, “as many as received Him.” John was describing the new birth. Receiving Christ, not performance or sacrifice or an intricate belief system, but simply receiving Christ. This was the stumbling stone that caused much of the Jewish world to reject Him. He came for ALL, and anyone could receive Christ.
This is the heart of our Christian faith. This is why Jesus came. He came to make a way for us to become sons and daughters. This is a revelation that will change the way you live. Not only do we have privileges as children of God, but we also have access to a relationship with our Heavenly Father.
This is an excerpt from my commentary on John.
1 thought on “YOU MUST BECOME A CHILD OF GOD”
I finished reading your commentary on John two days ago. I will never watch the GOSPEL OF JOHN movie again the same way. It is profound and I learned a lot but what happened to my heart was so much more important and surprising. The hard crust that had built up around my heart began to soften then be washed away! I haven’t cried this much in years. I sense His presence and my love for others has grown. I am praying that everyone who goes to your class will be affected like me. I’m asking my brothers and sisters: make time to read this book AND make time to go to this class. Nothing else matters… it can all wait!