05/26/26

John 1:12-13 John has just testified that Jesus came to the world that was His own, and His own people did not accept Him. But, says John, “As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” This is a foundational verse in the New Testament that describes how an individual enters into a personal relationship with God. Let’s break this verse down into three primary actions and results. In contrast to those who rejected Him, “receiving” Jesus involves a personal, active welcoming of Him as Lord and Savior. The Greek term for “receiving” implies “to take hold of” or “to seize” rather than just passive acceptance. It is to those that “God gave the right” to become His children. Many translations (such as the KJV) use the word “power,” but modern scholars often prefer “right,” “authority,” or “privilege.” This is a legal right granted by God, not something earned through human merit or lineage.

Therefore, this right grants the believer a new status as a “child of God,” moving them from an outsider or “spiritual orphan” into a member of God’s family. However, we must not forget that “Believing” serves as the descriptive parallel to “receiving.” To believe in His name means to trust in the total reality of who Jesus is—His character, authority, and work. This is not merely intellectual agreement but a “transaction of the heart” that results in the surrender of one’s life to His control. They also serve as a theological explanation of the “new birth” mentioned in verse 12, where those who believe in Jesus are given the right to become children of God. This focuses on the origin of this spiritual identity, emphasizing that it is a supernatural act of God rather than a result of human effort. 

They also introduce three specific human ways that cannot produce it: First, “Not of blood“: Spiritual status is not inherited. Having a godly heritage or being a physical descendant of a Christian father or mother does not guarantee a relationship with God. In the ancient world, “blood” (plural in Greek) often referred to lineage and racial privilege. Second: “Nor of the will of the flesh.” This refers to natural human desires or physical impulses. It highlights that no amount of personal striving, emotional effort, or human instinct can bridge the gap to become a child of God. And third: “Nor of the will of man“: This points to human volition or the decisions of others. No other person—such as a parent, a husband, or a religious leader—can “will” someone into God’s family. No, it is only “Of God.” This final phrase provides the positive contrast. Spiritual life is a supernatural work initiated and completed by God. It is often described as “regeneration,” where the Holy Spirit imparts new life to those who believe. 

What theological implications do we see in these verses? They teach us that salvation is a gift of grace—not earned—by which believers are adopted into God’s family, transforming their status from sinners to children of God through faith in Jesus. This new life is a spiritual, supernatural birth (“born of God”) rather than a natural, human, or intellectual achievement. The primary blessing of the gospel is not just forgiveness but being welcomed into God’s household as His children, which grants believers a new familial identity and intimacy with God. As children born of God, believers are called to reflect His nature, having been changed from the inside out and empowered by the Holy Spirit to live a new life. These verses also highlight that while God creates all people, a saving father-child relationship is accessed only through faith in His Son, Jesus the Christ.