Riff's Christian Journal

There are many verses in the Scriptures that a number of well-meaning Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers will take completely out of context when preaching on them. It seems they do this to support their version of theology that they were taught in studying for the ministry.

The one verse we are looking at today is a good example. This verse needs to be read completely in context to understand fully what it is saying.

Here is that verse… John 1:12

John 1:12  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, to them that believe on his name

At first glance, this looks like it means that anyone who believes on the name of Jesus and receives Him into their life then Jesus will give them the power to become sons of God. Well, how can this be when we are all spiritually dead in our sins and are unable to respond to God in this manor?

Here is the answer. When John 1:12 is read in context of verses 11 and 13, we can easily see that it means something completely different.

John 1:11  He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

The first thing we see is that when Jesus came to His own people they did not believe on Him nor did anyone receive Him. However, we know there were many who did believe on Him and receive Him into their life. So, what changed some people who did not at first receive Him?

Easy, the reason they believed on Him and received Him is this. Jesus “first” had to give them the power to become sons of God.

Verse 13 supports this and explains it perfectly.

John 1:13  Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 

We read here that they were “first” born again “before” believing and receiving Jesus. Being born into a believing family did not give them the right, doing good works did not give them the right, nor choosing of their own will to be born again gave them the right. The only thing that gives anyone the right to become sons of God is by God’s own will, and His alone.

When the Spirit of God makes one alive, they have been given the right to become sons of God and once they are born again they then believe on Jesus and receive Him into their life and confess Him to be Lord. So, lets read all three verses together and you should then be able to see what is being said as God opens up your understanding to receive His Word.

John 1:11  He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 

John 1:12  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, to them that believe on his name: 

John 1:13  Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Here is what we see. Jesus came to His own but no one would believe on Him. However, Jesus did give the right to some to believe on Him and to receive Him.

The only reason the “many” believed on Him and received Him into their life was that they were first given the right to become the sons of God. In other words, they were first born again by the Spirit of God and not by anything that man did to deserve that right. Only God gives this right as He chooses.

This is what these verses are saying. Therefore, you can see that when most verses are read out of context they can be made to say one thing, but when read in the context of what was being said you would see that there is a completely different meaning.

Therefore, what should we all be doing? Trust only in the Holy Spirit to teach you as you read the bible instead of letting someone else read the bible and then tell you what they think; and that goes for what I am saying as well.

There is no better teacher than the Great Teacher Himself.