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Ring of Truth provides 366 daily ‘proofs’ that the Bible is consistent throughout from Genesis to Revelation, and relevant for our lives today!
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John 1:12
“Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God.”
Part of His family – “Children of God”.
If we really understood this verse and put it into practice, the Church, and indeed the world would be a vastly different place. I believe we need to ask ourselves five questions in order to understand this verse.
Who is God?
What does it mean to “receive Him”?
What does it mean to “believe in His Name”?
What does a “child of God” look like?
Am I really living like a “Child of God”?
Who is God?
John begins His Gospel in a very unique and dramatic way. It is suggested that when John was about to write it, his disciples asked the ‘old man’, “Matthew started with Abraham and Luke with Adam, so which is right – when did it all begin?” He closed his eyes, leant back and said, ‘Way back. Way back beyond Abraham, way back beyond even Adam. “In the beginning (there, right before the creation, before the beginning of everything) was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God”’ (John 1:1).
John’s choice of term “Word” for Jesus can be very helpful. It certainly was for his readers and hearers. John joined Greek and Hebrew thought together. The Greeks personified reason and thought; the Jews personified speech. To the Jew, speech was power. God spoke and it was done.
“God said, ‘Let there be light’… and there was light” (Genesis 1:3).
“So is My Word … It will not return to Me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11).
God’s Word was like an arrow; it had to go and hit the mark, but it was also dynamic in that it accomplished the purpose. That is why we read of the power of the tongue – it brings blessing or curse, life or death (see James 3:1-12 & Proverbs 18:21).
The Greeks considered the world run by ‘Reason’, so John took both ideas and joined them together. The ‘creative all-powerful Word’. Also, for those who ‘struggle’ with the fact that the ‘Son’ of God is as old as the ‘Father’ – if we change the idiom to ‘Word’, longevity of life is no longer an issue. Jesus, the Word, and God, the Father, are equally eternal – past, present and future.
Who is God? Jesus is God. Who is Jesus? Jesus is God. Totally beyond time and space – totally unique – totally Holy, Holy, Holy. Creator and Saviour of the Universe and yet the One who appeared on earth in human form – as a Son.
What does it mean to “Receive Him”?
I think the best picture is that of a sponge and water. As a sponge ‘receives’ water, it is completely transformed. It changes from being dry, hard, brittle and inflexible to soft, pliable and useful – transferring water from one place to another or helping to use the water for cleaning, etc. When we “receive” Jesus, we have to change – be totally transformed and ‘full’ of Him. So full of Him, He oozes out all over – everywhere we go. Once a sponge has ‘received’ water, there is absolutely no room for anything else. So with us – there should be ‘no room’ for selfishness, self-centredness, selfish ambition, self-preservation or sin. We continue to give over everything to Him until He becomes Lord of All.
What does it mean to “believe in His Name”?
To live ‘by faith’ – thus ‘pleasing’ God (see Hebrews 11:6). To know and understand the plan and purposes of God. To live in harmony with His heartbeat. It is not just a mental assent but also an outworking of a life totally dependent upon the Power and Authority of that Name. The Name which is above every other name. To live in total submission to that Name for salvation, self-worth, security, significance, and life itself. To live in the power and authority of that Name. The Resurrection Power of Jesus. The Name is not magical – but the Name totally represents the Person. The Person with Total Ultimate Authority in Heaven and on Earth.
What does a “child of God” look like?
Jesus. Someone who lives like Jesus, thinks like Jesus, has the same motivation and priorities as Jesus, and walks like Jesus. Someone who has totally surrendered his or her life and ambitions to the Lord Jesus Christ. Someone who takes the Spirit of Jesus wherever they go (whether they like it, know it or not). Someone who is totally aware of his or her calling, status and destiny.
They have no fears because their Father is God. They have no selfish ambition. The only thing that matters to them is the extension, not of their kingdom but of the Kingdom of God. They don’t live as one belonging to this world; they live as one belonging to a better world. They are eternal optimists because they know they are just passing through and God has already won the victory. And guess what? They never stop being His children. (Because you can never stop being the son or daughter of your father. Neither biologically nor spiritually.) They also look at other people and see them as God sees them, with unlimited potential.
So. Are you a “Child of God”?
The last question is, of course – Am I really living like a “Child of God”?
Only God and you really know the answer to that one.
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