Christ's Extended Invitation to Join His Family
John Hester
Journey Through the Gospel of John • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Introduction
Introduction
This morning we continue our study of John 1. Already, we have learned that the Jesus Christ was much more than a mere baby boy born in Bethlehem. He is God. He is Logos, the eternal, pre-existent Word by which all things were created.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
He is also Life.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
And, as we also have learned, He is the True Light which overcomes all darkness.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
These three characteristics of Christ as God are repeated throughout this great gospel account.
We also learned that John the Baptist was not the True Light. He was simply a lamp used by God to bear witness of the True Light. It is the same duty that God gives to each believer. We are to bear witness of the True Light, the Lord Jesus Christ.
In today’s text, the Holy Spirit turns our attention to a very sad and tragic reality. However, as we will see, this tragedy is something God turned into the greatest hope ever.
Look with me at our text which is John 1:9-13
9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
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:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
As we pick up where we left off, the Holy Spirit states that Christ is the True Light which lights every man that comes into the world.
Now, just so everyone is clear about this, this verse does not teach that every person is born with the Light, Jesus Christ, already within them. Instead, what it teaches is that God gives each person the faculties of reason and comprehension. Praise God that He made us unique and different from the animals. He created us with minds that are capable of understanding and perceiving things that are both physical and spiritual. In fact, God’s Word often appeals to such abilities. The entire chapter does just that. Consequently, any person with a sound mind can pick up the Word of God on their own, read it, and it understand it to a certain degree. If they read it often enough they will come to know the gospel and their hearts soften to the Holy Spirit’s conviction drawing them to believe it. That is what we know as the Light lighting every man who comes into the world.
The next verse brings us to that sad and tragic reality that I spoke of a few moments ago. Note verses 10 and 11.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
The phrase “He was in the world” speaks to the truth of Christ’s incarnation. Christ, who is God (Logos, Life, and Light), came into the very world that He created. Note that the verse states once again that “the world was made by him.” Now comes the great tragedy. He was in the world that He created, but that very same world “knew him not. “ The word “knew” means they had no knowledge of Him.
Think about it. The day Christ was born into this world only a handful of people knew. And for that handful of people, they would not have know or cared had not God revealed it to them. There were the shepherds in the field. How did they know? God’s angelic host revealed it to them. Had the angels not announced His birth, these shepherds would have spent a normal evening tending sheep completely unaware that just a few miles away God Himself entered the world. As for the wise men, they only knew because God gave them a star in the sky. Outside of the shepherds, Mary, Joseph, and the wise men, who else knew? There was Zacharias and Elisabeth, the parents of John the Baptist. What about the rest of the world? No one else knew or cared. The greatest event to ever occur in history happened on a night in a small town of Bethlehem while the rest of the world went about its business with no clue what was happening.
However, verse 11 of our text states a greater tragedy.
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
Note the preciseness of the Holy Spirit’s words here. Verse 10 says “He was in the world.” However, now, in verse 11, the Holy Spirit states “He CAME unto his own.” The word “came” offers more than He arrived as we so often understand it. He came to His own with the intent of offering Himself as their Saviour. The greater tragedy is this. For centuries, God prepared Israel for His coming. Throughout the entire Old Testament there is prophecy after prophecy given which told of Christ’s coming. Here are just a few that directly announce Christ’s coming - Gen. 3:15; Deut. 18:15; Psa. 89:20; Isa. 2:2; 28:16; 32:1; 35:4; 42:6; 49:1; 55:4; Ezek. 34:24; Dan. 2:44; Micah 4:1; Zech 3:8. There are prophecies in the Old Testament that gave details of His coming. For example, the Old Testament tells us where He would be born. Micah 5:8 specifically says in Bethlehem. Even the coming of John the Baptist as Christ’s forerunner is prophesied in several Old Testament passages. Here is my point! Of all the people in the world who should have been prepared for His coming, it should have been Israel, God’s own people. He came to His own offering Himself, and yet, the sad reality is “His own received him not.” Such was the greater sin of Israel. It is one thing for Him to be in the world and the world not know. It is quite another to know that He is coming, have Him come, and then willfully reject Him.
There are places within Scripture that IF God had remained silent there would not be much hope for humanity. This is one of those occasions. If God had given us verse 11 and nothing more was written, all hope would be lost. He was in the world and the world knew him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not. Silence. No hope. All of us would stand condemned.
Praise God that He did not stop there!
Note verses 12 and 13.
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:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Here is the main point of this text and our message today. God wants you and I to know that His offer still stands. Yes, He came. Yes, the world had no idea of His arrival. And, yes, Israel rejected Him. Yet, in spite of all this, God’s grace shines through. The first phrase of verse 12 is our blessed hope.
BUT AS MANY AS RECEIVED HIM!
Another way to read this is by reading other similar passages in the New Testament. Such passages as...
John 3:16 (KJV 1900)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Romans 10:9–13 (KJV 1900)
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
The key word in both of these passages is “whosoever.” The word “whosoever” is synonymous with the phrase “as many as received him.” Christ, who is Logos, Life, and Light, came into this world for “whosoever” will receive Him. His offer of a personal salvation stands for anyone who will embrace it. No matter the darkness in your life this morning, Christ came as the True Light which overcomes any amount of darkness. He stands ready to enter your life this morning IF you will RECEIVE Him. How do we receive Him? The answer is in our text.
First, you must...
Embrace God’s Offer!
Embrace God’s Offer!
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:
The world knew Him not and Israel flat-out rejected Him. However, Christ’s offer still stands for whoever will open their heart to Him. His offer is this.
If you will receive Him, He will give you the great honor of being God’s child. Did you see that?
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:
The word “power” means having the privilege of being an exclusive member of the greatest family in the history of the universe - God’s family. Each person who receives this offer gets VIP membership! You become a “son of God.” The word “son” simply means a child of God. This is a fact taught throughout the New Testament.
Romans 8:14 (KJV 1900)
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
2 Corinthians 6:17–18 (KJV 1900)
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Galatians 3:26 (KJV 1900)
26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 4:6 (KJV 1900)
6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
1 John 3:1 (KJV 1900)
1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
I stand before you this morning to inform you that IF you RECEIVE Christ, you automatically become one of God’s children. In fact, there is further evidence from Scripture that we become “joint-heirs” with Christ as we are adopted into God’s family.
Go back with me to Romans 8 and note the entire context of that passage.
Romans 8:14–17 (KJV 1900)
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Here is something wonderful that happens when any person accepts Christ’s offer. The moment we truly believe in Him is the same moment He places His Spirit within us. In that very same moment, we become His children. If we are then His children, the promise is that we are also “joint-heirs with Christ.” What a wonderful blessing that can only come from God!
For this reason, what do we have to fear? We have nothing to fear. Remember I said earlier that Christ comes as the True Light who overcomes any darkness. The great thing about accepting Christ’s offer is He overcomes the darkness created by bondage and fear. Thus, as children of God, we are no longer controlled by the darkness of this wicked and evil generation. No, instead, we are free to live for Christ and serve Him knowing that we are permanent members of His family and will enjoy all of eternity as such.
This is a point that I could literally dwell on for several messages. However, I think you get the point. Christ came. The world knew him not and His own recieved Him not. However, the story did not end. Christ did not just go back to Heaven knowing that He was rejected. No, He stayed, He endured the cross, and He rose again. After that, He went back to Heaven. He fulfilled His mission. He made it so that as many as received Him they too could become the children of God.
There is one simple question this morning.
Have received Him? If not, are you willing to embrace His offer? Will you open your hear to Him this morning?
Here is the second point of the text and our message this morning.
The first is we must Embrace His offer. How does a person EMBRACE and ACCEPT His offer?
You must...
Believe Christ is the Only Way!
Believe Christ is the Only Way!
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:
His offer is this. Receive Him and He will allow you into His family as one of God’s children. However, for you to receive Him, you must BELIEVE Him!
I said this last week in my message. Christ is no longer here physically. He left earth shortly after His resurrection. The disciples watched as He physically ascended into Heaven. However, we so often miss the fact that Christ Himself stated that God is a spirit and must be worshipped in spirit and in truth. In a physical sense, we cannot receive Christ because He is not physically here. However, in a spiritual sense, we can. That is why Scripture emphatically pushes the notion of believing. Believing is faith. They are synonymous. Note how they are interchanged in Hebrews 11:6
Hebrews 11:6 (KJV 1900)
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
It takes “faith” to please Him. Faith means that a person must “believe” that he is, and he is rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Now we are getting into the realm of the spiritual. Faith is not a physical action. Faith and belief take place within the mind and heart of a person. It is not anything we can see, but it is something we all know and understand. Every person places their faith and their belief in something. We often place our faith in many different things. For example, you placed your faith in the seat your sitting in this morning. Some of you without even thinking about it. You placed your faith in your car to get you here this morning. You trusted it would start by placing your key in the ignition, turning it, and driving here this morning. In a similar fashion, but on a much larger scale, Christ simply says to each person must “believe (have faith) in me.”
What must a person believe about Christ? First, you must believe that He is God. Remember Hebrews 11:6 states we must believe that He is. There is where our study of the John 1 comes into play. Many believe that Christ was born, lived, and died. They accept the fact that He was great teacher. However, when it comes to believing that He is God they draw the line and will not cross it. John 1 states emphatically that Christ was more than a great teacher, He is God. He is Logos.
John 1:1-2
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
Entrance into God’s family begins with the simple belief and trust that Christ is God. However, it goes on from there. As Hebrews 11:6 adds, you must also believe that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. In other words, you must not only believe He is God, but must fully accept His promises. For instance, our text today states that Christ has the power to make you a child of God. Do you believe it? Are you willing to place your faith in that promise? If you are willing to open your heart’s door and allow Him into your life believing that He is God and His promises are sure, then, without any hesitation, you become a member of God’s family. However, herein lies the problem with many people.
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
Note in the first passage that we are “believe” with our heart that God raised Christ from the dead. The other passage in Mark speaks to how God views the scope of our belief. We are to love and believe with ALL our heart, soul, and mind. The scope with which we are believe that Christ is God and that overcame death by His own resurrection must include all of our heart, soul, and mind. You must be 100% committed to who Christ is, all that He has done for you, and the promises He has proffered.
In the end, as many as RECEIVED HIM, to THEM, who BELIEVE, He gives power to become a child of God. That is His promise.
Here is the last point from our text.
Belong to His Family!
Belong to His Family!
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:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Belonging to God’s family does not come about man’s way. No matter what men teach or preach, there is only ONE way into God’s family. You must believe on HIS (Christ’s) name.
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
In our text, the Holy Spirit states man’s way of doing things. Entering into an earthly family comes about through birth and bloodlines. Another way into a family is to be married into one. The thought behind the phrases “the will of the flesh” and the “will of man” are arrangements of the flesh or of men. All of these methods are of men. However, entrance into God’s family does not come the traditional way. It does come through human bloodlines, marriage, or through men’s arrangements. No, the only way into God’s family is God’s way. That is the bottom line. Belonging to His family means you have met His requirements for entry. Our righteousness does not meet His requirements.
6 But we are all as an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; And we all do fade as a leaf; And our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Christ, however, fully meets all of God’s demands. He was the only One Who could come and live a sinless life. As the spotless Lamb of God, He was in a position to offer Himself as payment for our sin. That is reason why He came. It is also the reason why John the Baptist upon meeting Christ the first time proclaimed Christ as the Lamb which takes away the sin of the world.
Later, Christ would speak to a Jewish ruler named Nicodemus. In speaking with Nicodemus, Christ made an interesting statement. He said to him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
You might also read this statement by Christ as “Except a man be born again, he cannot become a child of God.” You see being a child of God requires the same thing as entering His kingdom. It requires spiritual birth. Nicodemus was confused. He first reaction was how can a person be born physically a second time. Christ clarified His statement with this.
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Being born of water is physical birth. That is the first birth that all of us have experienced. We are born with physical life, but we are born spiritually dead. Thus, we need to be “born again.” The second birth is not physical, but it is spiritual. That which is “flesh is flesh” and that which “born of the Spirit is spirit.” Thus the requirement into God’s family as well as God’s kingdom is spiritual birth. Spiritual birth only comes via God’s Spirit. That birth only happens when you fully accept Christ as God and as your personal Savior. When you do, you become God’s child. You BELONG to His family!
Conclusion
Conclusion
This morning, Christ extends His invitation to join His family. You can be like the rest of the world. Remember He came into the world and the world knew Him not. You can simply refuse to acknowledge Him. You can also be like Israel. Remember He came unto His own and His own received Him not. You can hear and outright reject Christ’s personal invitation to you. However, if you do, you will remain in the darkness that you now live. The bonds of fear will not be broken. You life will remain the same with no hope of change for you cannot change yourself. Only Christ can bring real change. He is the True Light. He is everlasting Life. He is Logo, Truth. He came as God’s Lamb and willingly sacrificed Himself for you. Now, He stands at your heart’s door knocking. Will you let Him in? Will you believe Him and His promises with all your heart, soul, and mind? Will take Him up on His offer of making you one of God’s children? Our text showed the way. Christ stands here this morning offering you a wonderful gift. Will you take it?