Riff's Christian Journal

A single verse of scripture can be read on its own and one can derive a certain meaning from its words. However, when read in their context the meaning most often changes and the true meaning comes to light. A good example is John 1: 12

John 1:12 KJV – 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:

Just using this verse one could say that all who receive Jesus and believe on His name, God would make them His children, but is this what the verse means?

Let’s see this verse in its context from John 1: 10 – 13

John 1:10-13 KJV – He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

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

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons (children) 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.

Jesus had come into His world and no one received Him or believed on Him. So what happened? The answer is found in verse 13 which explains, and makes clear, what verse 12 really means.

Verse 13 begins, “which were born” – born again. When someone is born again they become a child of God. In addition, the word “will” in verse 13 actually means determination or choice. We are told that being born again did not happen because we are born into a Christian family ( not of blood )nor by the will of the flesh ( determining or choosing to do good works ) nor by the will of man ( determining to receive Jesus and choosing to believe on Him ). We are born again by the will of God.

When reading verse 12 in context it is easy to see, by verse 13, that one is made a child of God – born again – first by God. Then the one born again receives Jesus and willingly believes on Him according to the will of God, and not by the will of man.

So you can see that reading a verse by itself will not reveal the true meaning of it without reading it in the context in which it was written.