Born of God, children of God

John 1:12-13 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. These verses were written in contrast to the previous statement about Jesus coming to His own, meaning the nation of Israel, and their not receiving Him. As we know, they not only didn’t receive Him, they killed Him. They declared Him an imposter and a demonized fraud, which John revealed later in his gospel. In contrast to the children of Israel are the children of God, described in verses 12-13. First, they received Him by faith as they believed in His name. In the minds of John’s readers, that meant they trusted in the works of Jesus. A child derives his identity and his name from his father. John recorded Jesus saying that a son does the works of his father (John 8:38). When Jesus asked Peter about His identity, Peter declared Jesus to be the son of God (Matt. 16:16), understanding Jesus’ works to be the works of His Father. Those who believed Jesus to be the Son of God, doing the works of the Father, received Jesus for who He said He was. Second, God gave those who received Him through faith the right to become His children. That right of sonship wasn’t something they earned. It was a right given when God regenerated them. So the right was received by virtue of new birth. Third, those who received Him and believed in His name did so because they were born of God. John made it clear that this birth wasn’t by natural means. He explicitly said it was not a right they obtained because of their physical heritage. They weren’t born into it through their earthly parents. They also didn’t receive the right to be a child of God because of a choice they made of their own wills, meaning the faith they had was not produced naturally apart from God’s power. Furthermore, the right to be children of God was not conferred upon them by an agency of man. Someone didn’t simply declare that these people who received Jesus were God’s children. No, as many as were born of God, the spirit of life in the son of God was given to them, and they believed in His name and received Him. Not by choice, but by the transforming, regenerating power of the Spirit of God according to God’s choice. The apostle Paul put it this way in Romans 8.2. “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.” John had said that in Jesus was life (vs. 4), so when God gives birth to His children, He gives them His life, His Spirit, the Spirit of the Son, the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit creates new life in someone, they believe in Jesus’ name and receive Him. Thus, they are children of God. If this experience is yours, then you know that in receiving Jesus, you have received His life. The assurance that God gave you so you know you are rightfully God’s child is faith in Jesus as the Son of God, sent to do the Father’s will and works on your behalf. You were born again, not to live for God. You were born again so Jesus might live for you! The Son of God was born again in you. He first came into the world in Israel. Now He has been born anew in you, the new Israel of God. The earthly Israel did not receive Him, but as many as are in the new Israel, have received Jesus as the Light and Life of the world. As we live to love with Jesus, we testify to our birthright and love in His name for the glory of God. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of “giving it forward,” so others may be encouraged to turn their hearts to God and live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.