Tim Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

Apart from Christ, humans are irretrievably alienated and separated from God because of their sin.

Once humans believe in (that is, receive (place their faith in) Christ's atoning death and resurrection as the only means that God has provided for them to be forgiven of their sins, and to receive eternal life in God's presence, they become children of God -- no longer estranged or under judgment, but accepted as a member of His family as a result of being "born again" (John 3:3) as His children through their faith.

August 01 2022 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

John Appelt Supporter

Two concepts are in John 1:12. First, is the receiving of Jesus by believing in His name. This is the same as birth into God’s family, John 3:5, 7, I Peter 1:23, I John 5:1. In John 1:13, John continues to explain the nature of one being born, which is not by human lineage, not even by wishful thinking, nor even by human persuasion, but being born of God. Paul calls this justification, Romans 3:24.

The second, is the legal or legitimate right, honor, or authority (the same Greek word “exousia” is in John 5:27, 10:18, 17:2, 19:10-11) to become the children of God. Paul describes this as “adoption,” Romans 8:15, 23, Galatians 4:5, Ephesians 1:5. 

“Adoption” is literally “son-placement,” (Greek “huiothesian”). “Son-placement” is not the same as what is called adoption today. It is called “adoption” since there is no modern concept equivalent to it. In his “Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words,” W. E. Vine noted that, 

“Adoption is a term involving the dignity of the relationship of believers as sons; it is not a putting into the family by spiritual birth, but a putting into the position of sons.” 

In New Testament times, a family without an adult male heir or one capable to manage the inheritance would look outside the natural family for someone to take on this task. The chosen adult would receive privileges of the new family with complete rights to the inheritance as one of the natural heirs. In this sense, the Roman emperor Julius Caesar adopted his grandnephew, Octavian, later known as Augustus Caesar, to be his successor, who in turn adopted Tiberius to be his successor. 

The privilege of adoption is bestowed after one believes in Jesus and therefore distinct from salvation. This is the same principle in Galatians 4:5, which speaks of Christ who came “to ‘redeem’ those who were under the law, so that we might ‘receive adoption’ as sons.” Adoption is not the same thing as birth nor is it a metaphor of salvation. Birth and adoption are separate and distinct truths occurring at different times. 

“Birth” places one into God’s family, but “adoption” gives a unique privilege to that one. This was made possible by God sending forth His Son, Galatians 4:4-5, and it was prearranged by God through Jesus Christ, Ephesians 1:5. The believer is promised freedom, Romans 8:15, and the future “redemption” of the body, Romans 8:23, and an inheritance, by the pledge of the Spirit, II Corinthians 1:22, 5:5, Ephesians 1:13-14. While the position belongs to every believer, it will be fully realized when Christ gathers His own. 

Adoption is also the proof of God’s great love, I John 3:1-2, when He calls believers the “sons of God.” The “us” and “we” in these verses are believers already. John rejoices in the privilege believers have because of the Father’s love. 

John 1:12 states that the Lord gives the authority for believers to have the special privilege to become the sons or children of God.

August 05 2022 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht Supporter Arizona Bible College graduate and Dallas Seminary graduate

Good question, ANNE LOUISE!

John 1:12-13 gives us the marvelous promise of God that anyone who receives Christ will be born again and enter the family of God! John says more about this new birth in John 3, but he points out here that it is a spiritual birth from God, not a physical birth that depends on human nature. —Wiersbe

The VOICE Bible puts it this way:
"But for all who did receive and trust in Him, He gave them the right to be reborn as children of God.; 13 He bestowed this birthright not by human power or initiative but by God’s will."

And the Amplified Bible, Classic Edition, has: "But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power,  privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name." (Emphasis, mine)

John 1:12 speaks of the children of God. Unlike the people who rejected Him (John 1:11), those who accepted Jesus as Messiah are the true “children of God” (compare Jn 3:3-8; 1 John 5:1).

The phrase, "believe in his name," is a particular idiom for faith in Christ used in John’s Gospel and 1 John (1 John 5:13).

—Faithlife Study Bible 

"He Gives The Power" (Roger M. Hickman's hymn)

Jesus came to earth by a lowly birth,
Gave Himself as an offering of matchless worth;
To His own He came in His Father’s Name,
But they scorned to receive Him their King.

Refrain

But as many as received Him to them He gave the power
The power to become the sons of God;
But as many as received Him to them He gave the power
To become the sons of God.

August 08 2022 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Leslie Coutinho Supporter

John 1:12: 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: 

Abram, who was then called Abraham by the Lord, “Rejoiced to see Him,” and received Him, that is, our Lord Jesus. (John 8:56) The Lord appeared unto him with two men in the plains of Mam’-re, which is in Hebron, where Abraham built an altar unto the Lord. Abraham, then, said to the Lord, “If I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away.” And the Lord said, “So do, as thou hast said.” He then fetched water for them to wash their feet and to rest themselves under the tree. He then brought food and set it before them, and stood by them, under the tree, and they did eat. (Gen13:18/17:5/18:2,4,8) Moses went through the same for he witnessed, when he was on the mountain of God in Ho’-reb. An angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire, from the midst of the bush, and God the Father called out to him from the midst of the bush. Moses was told to beware of this angel and obey his voice, for “My name is in Him.” Moses, when he hewed two tables of stone, like unto the first, the Lord spoke unto Moses the commandments. The Lord then said unto Moses, “Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel.” Moses was with the Lord forty days and forty nights, and he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments. (John 5:46, Exo 23:21, Exo 34:27-28) 

Every child of God who is given and receives the wisdom of understanding will discern in the “right spirit to be born again.” For they shall then be baptized to be born out of water, that is, to be born again to become the children of God. “Who are then given the power to see the kingdom of God,” that is to discern with the right spirit. For one who has been given God’s wisdom to receive Him, our Lord Jesus, shall see the “True Light.” He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. (John 1:10,13,3:3) This wisdom leads one to control their tongue and not to be masters, teachers, for then thou shalt not offend in word, and shall be a perfect man who can bridle the whole body. The one who does not offend in words, who is spiritual, shall restore one in the spirit of humbleness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. (James 3:1-2/Gal 6:1) For they who received Him, He shall give the power to become the sons of God, for they are born not of the will of men but of God to be revealed through Him, in the right spirit. 

There was a woman who prayed to God the Father only, who was then revealed by the sons of God, the disciples, who then believed and were revealed through Him, “In His name” given unto her. (John 1:12) This woman, who was Lyd’-i-a, who worshiped God the Father, whose heart the Lord opened, who attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. (Acts 16:14) When she and her household were baptized, the disciples were told to abide in their house. When they abode with them, there was a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination, who brought her master’s much gain by fortune telling, came over to her place. This damsel, having an unclean spirit in her many days, followed the disciples. Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the unclean spirit, "I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ, come out of her." The unclean spirit came out at the same hour, which then led her to see the way of salvation. (Acts 16:16-18)

Psalm 91:11-13: For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all the ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

3 days ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report