John 1:12-13

John 1:12-13 – Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

        Believe. That is all it takes. When you are born into the world it is based on the decision and actions of two individuals. Then your lineage is determined by your father and his father and so on.

        When you are born again it is not dependent on anyone else. It doesn’t matter what your father or mother believe, it is up to you. You have to make a decision; you have to decide what you believe. When you believe in Christ your life is transformed and made new, hence the term ‘born again.’ Being ‘Born Again’ is a spiritual birth into the kingdom of God.

        So let’s go back a few steps and look at how this new birth is even possible. Christ paved the way and made it possible, in fact, He is the Way. To sum it up, He came to earth, lived as a man, never sinned, was crucified and buried and then on the third day rose again to conquer sin, death and the grave. Jesus took the punishment we deserve upon Himself. Now it is done, it is finished.

       All that’s left is for you to receive Him and believe in what He did. After that we become God’s children. To truly understand what Christ did for us we must look at how this verse is worded. Notice that it does not say we have the ‘privilege’ of becoming children of God. Once we believe in Christ it becomes our right. We are entitled to it and no one can take it away.

       If you have not made the decision to accept Christ, do it now. Go to Christ. Receive Him and believe in His name and take your rightful place as a child of God.

1 John 3:1

1 John 3:1 - How great is the Love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.

I am a child of God! Every time I say it I receive a new level of revelation to what it means. Think about how much God Loves us to call us His children.

I remember when I had my first son, Tristen. Before he was born I knew I would Love him, but I had no idea how much. Once I had him in my arms I was overwhelmed with how much I truly Loved him. 

I Loved him so much that when we were getting ready to have our second baby it scared me. In my mind I couldn't see how I could Love another child as much as I Loved Tristen.

That, however, is part of the awesomeness of the Love of God. Once Logan was in my arms I knew I Loved him just as much as Tristen. And it wasn’t even that my Love was divided between the two. All of my Love was for Tristen and all of my Love was for Logan. I could truly say that I Loved both of them fully and equally.

It’s hard to understand just how it works and even harder to explain, but that is how God’s Love is for us. He Loves each of us fully and unconditionally.

God doesn't have to split His Love because that is how His Love works. It is greater than we can comprehend. Just know this: when you are in God and God is in you, you do not have to share Him. He is your Father, your Daddy and He Loves you as His child.

John 1:12

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.

“Yet to all who received Him.” John is writing this to everyone. There is no limitations or requirements, just faith. This is an amazing concept and we need to grasp the magnitude of what he is telling us here. “To all who received Him. To those who believed in His name.” He doesn’t cut anyone out. Everyone has the same opportunity to believe. And then comes the truly amazing part, “He gave the right to become children of God.”

As believers we have a right that has been given to us. A right to be a child of God. Sometimes it can be hard to comprehend how we can be a child of God. He is the Almighty, Most Holy, Creator of all things and we are his children. Us, mere men and women have the right to call ourselves children of God. In some circles that may be called blasphemy, but that’s what the Word says, and who am I to argue with the Word.

We need to understand what this means for us and who we are in Gods eyes. Once you believe in Christ you are brought into the kingdom of God, and God sees you as His child. And this Father/son relationship comes with all the benefits any child could expect from his father. In the Word it tells us that we are co-heirs with Christ. A co-heir means we get the same inheritance. So all that Jesus was given is also given to us.

If you are a parent think about your relationship with your children. What is it you want for them? Do you want them to face trouble and hardship? No, there will already be enough of that. Is it your desire to see them struggle through life? Absolutely not!! You want the best for them. It is your desire to see them excel in life and make the right choices and you will do what you can to help them. It is no different with God. Jesus put it this way,  “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:9-11) 

God Loves you and wants to help you and strengthen you, but He won’t force it on you. Just as you can’t force your kids to take your advice or do what is best for them, God won’t force you either. He wants you to choose Him; to come to Him for help; then He will open His arms to embrace you. Open up your heart and mind to Jesus and believe in Him and take your place in the kingdom as a child of God.