Go! And Be Born Of God - John 1:12–13 Series

Go! And Be Born of God - John 1:12–13

Introduction: The Power to Become

Imagine for a moment standing before the gates of a glorious palace—not as a tourist, not as a servant, but as a child of the King. That’s not fantasy. That’s the promise of the Gospel.

There is a powerful truth at the very heart of our Christian faith—a truth that transforms identities, restores the broken, and gives eternal hope: we can become children of God.

Let’s read together the life-giving words of John 1:12–13 from the New Living Translation:

John 1:12–13 (NLT): “But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.”

This is the Word of God. This is the core of the Gospel. And this morning, we’re going to explore what it means to Go! And Be Born of God.

I. The Divine Invitation: “To All Who Believed…”

The Apostle John is writing to reveal the identity of Jesus as the eternal Word, the Logos—the One who existed from the beginning (John 1:1). And in this passage, he shifts from the universal tragedy—“He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him” (John 1:11)—to the astounding hope: But to all who did receive Him, a doorway is opened.

The Greek word translated “receive” is lambano (?aµß???), meaning to take hold of, to seize, to accept with a deliberate and personal choice. And the word “believed” is pisteuo (p?ste??), denoting more than mental assent. It implies trust, reliance, full confidence.

So this is not passive. It is personal and transformational.

Charles Stanley: “Salvation is not a reward for the righteous; it is a gift for the guilty.”

Amen to that! Church, we don’t come to Jesus with our spiritual CV; we come with empty hands, and He fills them with grace.

Have you seized the invitation? Have you accepted Jesus, not just in word, but in will, in walk, in worship? This isn't just about religion—it’s about a relationship. A choice. A change.

There’s a story of a young orphan adopted by a kind and wealthy man. At first, the boy slept on the floor, hid food under his bed, and trembled when spoken to. It took time, but slowly, love rewrote his identity. He stopped living like an orphan and began to live like a son.

Church, are you still living like a spiritual orphan—trying to earn love, trying to survive? Or are you living like a beloved child of God?

II. The Right to Become Children of God

The word “right” here is the Greek exousia (????s?a)—meaning authority, liberty, or delegated power. This is not entitlement we earn. It’s a gift of authority from God Himself.

Galatians 3:26 (NLT): “For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”

Paul reinforces what John declared: Faith in Jesus births a new identity.

Tim Keller: “The only person who dares wake up a king at 3 a.m. for a glass of water is a child. We have that kind of access.”

Keller captures the intimacy. You are not just saved—you are welcomed, wanted, and known.

To be a child of God is to be adopted into His family (huiothesia in Greek).

Romans 8:15 (NLT): “So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, ‘Abba, Father.’”

Abba is Aramaic. It’s Daddy. Tender. Trusting.

God doesn’t just forgive you—He fathers you. When we receive Christ, He gives us His name, His Spirit, and His inheritance.

III. Not Born of Flesh, But Born of God

John contrasts physical birth with spiritual rebirth. “Not of human passion or plan” (NLT) indicates that this birth is not biological or man-made.

The Greek verb “to be born” here is gennao (?e????), often used to speak of regeneration—a spiritual rebirth. This mirrors what Jesus tells Nicodemus:

John 3:3 (NLT): “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

To be born again (anothen, from above) is to be supernaturally remade.

R.T. Kendall: “You may be a regular churchgoer, you may be moral and upright, but if you are not born again, you are not saved.”

That’s heavy, but true. Church attendance is good. Morality is good. But only rebirth through Jesus Christ brings salvation.

Think of a caterpillar. It doesn’t become a butterfly by walking straighter—it must be transformed from within. So must we.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT): “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”