John 1:10-13 - The Right to be Children of God

John 1:10-13 

10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His sown, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 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, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Message: The Right to be Children of God

Time: Jesus' disciple John, the brother of James, the son of Zebedee was one of the inner circle of Jesus' most trusted companions. It's most likely that John wrote his gospel while he was in Ephesus, and that he wrote it for an audience that lived outside Palestine, perhaps in Asia Minor. John appears to have had in mind members of a Jewish community who had come to believe that Jesus was the Messiah, but who had continued to worship in the synagogue. John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

What the Lord is Saying: I kind I ran through the last lesson. It was an important one, but I didn't give it the time it needed. The first 5 verses of the chapter served as an introduction, showing us all that Jesus while new to the people that are seeing Him is not new and was with God at creation. Quite the bold statement. And further more that the Word (Jesus) is God. In verse 6, John comes on the scene and yet all of the focus by the write John is not on John the Baptist but rather on Jesus. There really is only a short description of John: (1) sent from God; (2) a witness (though, verse 19 on will have a little more information about him). So of the two items that are mentioned both are about God. I've always sort of wondered, how is it that John knew about Jesus? I can't find it mentioned, but either way, like many of the prophets, we do not know much about them other than that they are "sent from God." 

The previous lesson, brief about John, introduces Jesus as the Light. And the Light is meant to be believed. All people are meant to believe through him. So the focus is not simply to believe, but believe through him. The light illuminates God and so we believe God through the Light, through Jesus. We are enlightened by this Jesus, this Light, the Word. There has never been someone like the Light, like Jesus and so for good reason, there is a forerunner. 

We learn much about the Light now in these verses of 1:10-13:

• He was in the world
• The world was made through Him 
• The world did not know Him

Not simply the World did He come, but also His own. There is a contrast between the World and His Own. His Own are a subset of those in the World. And yet even among His own there were those that did not receive Him. 

There is a tone of sadness now which hits us. There is the Light to the World, but they don't know Him and now to His own, some do not know Him. This seems to be a mark on the Jewish people. Many of His own, His called ones, do not know Him. Granted, one day they will, but for too long, many do not. 

But many do. And to these he gives them the right to become children of God. 

Followers of Jesus are just that followers or Christ-bearers or Christians and they are in contrast to those in the Word, the Secular. 

This own, these many are born of God. They have a foundation they have come from. A child does not choose His parents or choose to be born. A child is born. Interesting that John uses this language of being born. There are those born of blood; those born of the flesh, born of the will of man. Those are all present in our world, but there are some born of God. 

This is a very significant set of verses for it points us toward the idea that we are chosen. We do not choose God. He chooses His children. His own are given the right to be Children of God. 

Summary: God calls many of His own to be born of God, as his Children - those that receive Him. 

Promise: To be born again is an act of grace alone, and only God can bring us to new spiritual life. The evidence that we have been born again is that we believe in Christ.

Prayer: O heavenly father, Great is Your name. You God choose us and we are your children through receiving You. But I am born again, born anew because You being my Father. Thank you Father God. Thank you for the special birth You have given me. You have allowed me to Know You and so be with you for all eternity. It is sad Lord to see those in the World not born of You. I have sorrow for them and yet rejoice in those that are born of You God. Jesus is the Light. For God so loved the world. What a great gift has been given me. I don't understand, but remain so thankful for what You have done for me.