John 1:12,13–The Sons of God 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: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. It is a common idea that all men are God’s children, irrespective of how they live or what religion they follow. There is a sense in which we are all “his offspring” (Acts 17:28) in that God made us all. But that does not mean that we are blessed with salvation or entitled to call upon God as our Father. In fact in a state of sin we are “children of the wicked one” (Matt.13:38). We must become children of God through adoption. To adopt is to take an alien child into one’s family and to treat him as one’s own son. This is what the Lord does for His people in an act of His free and sovereign grace. Adoption is a “power” or privilege given by Christ to believers only. These are they who “receive” him, in contrast to the Jews who in the main “received him not” (v.11). By faith a sinner receives and rests upon Christ alone for righteousness and everlasting salvation. But why do some sinners believe the gospel and others not? It is after all one gospel, addressing different individuals but showing them that they each have the same basic need before God and calling each to repent and believe in the Saviour. What makes the difference? John tells us that the sons of God must be born. If you are ever to savingly believe in Christ and become a true child of God you must be regenerated. This is the source of salvation as we enjoy it in our experience. How many go wrong here! The apostle gives us sound teaching on this vital subject. We learn that men do not inherit new life. We are not regenerated “of blood.” Many think that what matters in salvation is a physical connection with the people of God. The Jews were prone to this. Their boast was, “Abraham is our father” (John 8:39). They forgot that only those of faith are the true children of Abraham and blessed with him (Gal.3:7-9). To have godly parents is a good thing but it does not guarantee salvation for us. We rejoice in God’s covenant, made with believers and their seed, but we are all responsible to follow the Lord, to personally confess our sins and to exercise faith in Jesus Christ. Men do not initiate new life. We are not born again “of the will of the flesh.” Arminians or ‘free-willists’ teach that a sinner must decide for Christ and then he will be given new life by God. But all that can come from our flesh is “the works of the flesh” – that which is sinful and corrupt (Gal.5:19-21). Since the fall we are “of the earth, earthy” (1Cor.15:47), spiritually dead in trespasses and sins. Nature cannot produce supernature. There must be a divine intervention. As Jesus Christ stood before the tomb of Lazarus and cried, “Lazarus, come forth” (John 11:43), so He must now send His Spirit into the hearts of sinners to give them life; He must awaken them by His own voice in the effectual call of gospel. Men do not impart new life. We do not receive a new heart “of the will of man.” There are some churches, especially the apostate Church of Rome, which believe they can effect regeneration by the sacrament of baptism. It is Rome’s belief that baptism gives grace to a child. When her so-called ‘priests’ administer baptism with the will or ‘intention’ of doing what the church intends then the water sprinkled upon the infant will wash away original sin and give the soul new life. But Nicodemus was told, “The wind bloweth where it listeth...so is every one that is born of the Spirit” (John 3:8). No, regeneration is not in man’s gift at all. The sons of God are born “of God.” They are born “from above” (John 3:3[mg]) as the Holy Spirit is sent upon them in sovereign, gracious power. Salvation is of the Lord. Have you sought it from His merciful hand? Have you called upon God?