John 1:12-13 - Homiletics

The grace of adoption.

The Jews might boast themselves of being children of Abraham, but Christ gives his disciples the far higher privilege of being sons of God.

I. THE NATURE OF THE RIGHT OR PRIVILEGE ENJOYED BY TRUE BELIEVERS . "As many as received him, to them gave he the right to become the children of God."

1 . It is more than creation—sonship. It is more than the relationship of God as a Father to all men as rational and moral creatures; that sonship belongs to all men by virtue of their birth.

2 . It is more than the restoration to man of his original relation with God before the Fall.

3 . It is a new relation, involving a new filial standing and a new filial character, and has for its blessings freedom of access to God, deep fellowship with him, a sure interest in his fatherly care and discipline, and a well grounded hope of enjoying the inheritance of sons.

4 . It originates in the free grace of God ; for we are "predestinated to the adoption of sons" ( Ephesians 1:5 ). "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God" ( 1 John 3:1 , 1 John 3:2 ). We are said to "receive the adoption of sons" ( Galatians 4:5 ).

II. THE CONNECTION OF ADOPTION WITH THE PERSON AND MEDIATION OF JESUS CHRIST . Though the Father adopts ( 1 John 3:1 ), it is the Son through whom we become sons of God. In virtue of his Mediatorship he gives the right to it. God predestinates us "to the adoption of sons by Jesus Christ" ( Ephesians 1:5 , Ephesians 1:6 ).

III. THE ADOPTION IS EFFECTED BY REGENERATION ON GOD 'S SIDE , AND BY FAITH ON MAN 'S SIDE . Faith is the first and immediate effect of regeneration. Faith may be mentioned before regeneration, because it is, so to speak, that element which is nearest to man, and that clement by which man has his first point of contact with Christ; but there can be no faith till it be given by God's Spirit in regeneration ( Philippians 1:29 ).

1 . Regeneration is necessarily connected with the entrance of sinners into evangelical sonship. "Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." The Jews might believe that they were sons of God by descent from Abraham, or from human parents in direct descent from the patriarch. The apostle says that believers are born:

2 . The evangelical sonship is effected on man ' s part by faith in Christ. "Even to as many as believe in his Name." There are other testimonies to the fact. Believers become "children of God by faith in Christ Jesus" ( Galatians 3:26 ). "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God" ( 1 John 5:1 ). There is no sonship to God without living faith in the Son of God.

(a) It is not a mere belief of the truth, though this is essentially implied in it.

(b) Nor is it a belief of the fact that "Christ died for me, " or any such proposition.

(c) It is trusting in a Person. We believe on Christ for salvation.