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Thoughts on Today’s Verse…
We live in a time and culture obsessed with individual rights. “It’s my right to ___.” Just fill in the blank. But none of us has the right to be God’s child on our own merit, status, or position. God’s grace gives us that right. This right came to us at great cost to God. Jesus came to earth, lived, died, and was raised from the dead. We receive this grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-10). God gives us new birth as we trust in Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9-10). And we get to be baptized into Christ Jesus and share in his death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:3-14). We are born a new child of God through the power of the Holy Spirit (John 3:3-7; Galatians 3:26-29; Titus 3:3-7). To be born of God, to be born from above, to be born “again” (John 3:3-7) means we are adopted as children into God’s family with all the rights of heirs and as co-heirs with Christ Jesus (Romans 8:14-17; Galatians 4:1-7).
My Prayer…
Abba Father, thank you for including me in your family. May my life today reflect your influence, character, mercy, holiness, compassion, righteousness, and love. I want to be like you, my Father. So just as I was born into your family by the power of the Holy Spirit, please fill me with your Spirit today so that I will reflect you in all I do and say this day. I want to be a child that reflects my Father’s nature. In the name of my older brother Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Bible References
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:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
VERSE OF THE DAY
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John 1:12-13
Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God – children not born of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
Such a clear gospel message in our verses today! Jesus Christ offers Himself to all who believe in His name, and those who do so, He has given the right or authority to become His own blood-bought children. We are not saved by good works, church attendance, doing our best, or giving money to the church, while these are godly and obedient things to do, they do not have the power to bring about the salvation of our soul. That is done by faith in Christ and His blood shed for us on the cross at Calvary. That makes atonement to God for our sins.
It is the only payment He will accept.
Romans 8:17 tells us that we are joint-heirs with Christ before God. What a glorious position we are in before our holy and righteous God because of the work of Christ!
To become a child in a physical sense one must be born. So it is with becoming a child of God, there must be a second birth, one must be “born again”. Verse 13 tells us first how this does not happen, it does not happen by natural descent or blood; in other words just because you have christian parents, this does not mean you are automatically saved. Salvation is not passed down through the blood lines.
Next it tells us that it is not by human decision or will of the flesh; a person does not have the power in our own flesh to become born again in Christ, although one must be willing to place their faith in Christ, it is the work of the Holy Spirit that does the saving.
Lastly we are told it is not of the husband’s will or the will of man; no other person can save us, not a pastor, teacher, earthy parents…etc. No matter how much they may want us to be saved, they have no power to save our souls.
The answer to our salvation is in the last three words of our passage…. “but of God”! Our new birth does not rest with anyone or anything other than God Himself. Are you resting in Him today? If not please do so before it is forever too late. He loves you and wants you to be with Him for eternity but the choice is yours.
Acts 16:31… “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved!”
Thank You Jesus for loving me and coming to this earth to pay my sin debt before God with Your precious blood. I love You so my Redeemer and give You all praise this day my King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Amen!