Short Commentary ~ John 1:12

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:”

Jesus Christ came to live among His own people and, sadly, masses rejected Him. The Pharisees, scribes, the city He grew up in, His country, and His own family. Though shut out by the nation as a whole rejected Him, there were Jews and Gentiles who by faith believed on His name and “received” Him as their Savior with more believing on Him after His death.

By “receiving” Him, they accepted Christ as their Savior, which is the very reason Christ stepped out of Heaven and came into the world. Those who acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Son of God, Messiah, Saviour, and Redeemer receive His grace and through His power and strength are pardoned of sin, regenerated (saved), have justifying righteousness and inheritance among the sanctified as well as may more blessings.

Also “to them” who is anyone that believes on and receives Him, Jesus gives “power” or extends the legitimate right, privilege, dignity, and honor to be adopted by God. Men cannot through free will, religious affiliation, church membership, etc. earn salvation or deserve God’s favor of adoption into His family. Through the blood of His Son, Christ, shed on Calvary was that right purchased. It is through His sacrifice the He extends the gift of salvation and the right to be an heir with Jesus Christ. Eternal life is Christ’s to give to those who will receive Him. 

To become a son of God is to be, in the spiritual sense, adopted by God. The most undeserved and distinguished privilege is available to all men and is the highest honor and dignity that a person can possibly acquire. 

Many who walked this earth during the same era Christ did were able to see Him, touch Him, and hear Him. That luxury is not available in this day and time; however, the luxury to believe on His name exists and is a present continuous activity of faith - supreme faith.

“No man can realize his adoption of enjoy the comfort it gives, claim any promises of God or interests in it, until he believes.” Author unknown

1John 3:23 “And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another as he gave us commandment.”

John 20:31 “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”

Spiritual Birth - How it Occurs - Part 1

John 1:12-13 ~

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

Jesus Christ welcomes anyone who will accept Him as their Personal Saviour. Every person who comes to an age of understanding and is capable of making that decision, by his/her own free will, has the "power" to believe that Christ is the Son of God. When we accept Him as the Lord of our life we receive a "new life" from God. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we are changed from the inside out. Our sinful attitudes, desires, and motives are replaced with new attitudes, desires, and motives - good ones.

When we are born (water birth) we have entered into a physical family - that of our earthly parents (verse 13). When we are reborn (spiritually - born again) we enter into the family of God as His child (verse 12).

1 John 3:9(2) ~

"Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God."

The words "doth not commit sin" and "cannot sin" in this verse tells us that a child of God's (born-again believer) does not make it his/her practice to sin. S/he doesn't become indifferent to Father God's moral law. Every believer will still sin; however, they work for victory to conquer sin and not repeat the same offenses to God.