Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Born of God - John 1:12-13

"But to as many as received Him,
to them He gave the right
to become children of God,
even 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."
(vs 12-13)

There are beautiful truths contained in these two verses. Here we find the promise of our adoption in Christ: receive Him and receive the right of sonship. Think about it, we who were naturally born children of wrath, orphans of sin, and absolute enemies of the living God are - through faith in Christ - made sons and daughters and heirs eternal. Is anything more amazing or more precious to meditate upon?

These verses remind us, as Matthew Henry has said, that "grace does not run in the blood as corruption does." Sin is genetically inherited, but grace is sovereignly given!

We cannot earn salvation by our birth right. It is not guaranteed to us because it is owned by our parents. We cannot will it into existance and as John 1:5 reminds us, we never even would want to will it if left to ourselves for the darkness of sin is so deep and its effects so blinding that we cannot even comprehend our need for the Light!

Beloved, salvation is a free gift of God. We are not naturally born children of God - we are naturally born children of the devil - and that is why we must be adopted. We belong to another and must be legally transferred into the guardianship of a new Father. It is Christ who legally seals the deal and makes us His siblings.

Oh, do we think often enough regarding that which Christ has done on our behalf? "The Son of God became a son of man, that the sons of men might become sons of God!" Your adoption is not of your doing but of God's. Your status as His child is grounded in His divine will not in yours. We owe ALL to Him and none to us. May that fact humble our pride and magnify our love for our Father and for our Elder Brother.

Amazed to be His child,
Lori

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