Power Given to Become the Sons of God - John 1:12

John the apostle wrote how Jesus, “was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not”, and in chapter one and verse twelve of his book, John shared, “as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God” where we read:

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God,

even to them that believe on his name:

The verse reads, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, ...” John began with the words, “But as many as received him” or “however, nevertheless, notwithstanding and moreover for all and whosoever lay hold of, claimed, procured, associated with and attended to Jesus”, “to them gave he power” which means “to the people who received Him, Jesus granted, bestowed, furnished and supplied ability and strength” “to become the sons of God” or “to happen as, arise, appear, be made and finish as the children belonging to the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”. John shared how anyone who “accepts and lays hold” of Jesus will He grant the ability to be the “children” of “God”.

The verse continues, “... even to them that believe on his name:” John added the words, “even to them” which means “indeed toward the people” “that believe” or “who trust in, rely upon and cling” “on his name” which means “upon everything which the name of Jesus covers including the thoughts or feelings of which is aroused in the mind by mentioning, hearing and remembering”. John shared that the “power” to be the “children of God” will be granted to people who “trust in, rely upon and cling to” Jesus.

When we think through John's words in this verse, we discover the key to having a personal relationship with God. People who “receive, accept and associate” with God's Son Jesus, will be granted the ability to be His “children”. All people are God's creation, but only those who “receive” His Son Jesus are His “children”. Jesus said, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (See John 3:3), and though a person is “born” physically, there remains the need to be “born” spiritually to have a familial relationship with God. Those who are wise will carefully consider how important it is to “receive” Jesus to become the “children” of Almighty God.

Next time John shares how these “sons of God”, “were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".