Untitled Sermon

Sermon

(ESV): But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

(ESV): But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

To receive Christ is not like passionately receiving a letter in your mailbox. Instead, it means to welcome him (based on his substitutionary atonement) like one who welcomes a guest into his home. Those who do so are adopted into the family of God as his children. To believe in Jesus’ name is to believe in his person (who he is) and work (what he has done). When someone receives and believes in Jesus for the free gift of eternal life, he undergoes a supernatural birth, the impartation of spiritual life. He is born of God. What users would call being “born again”.

What is the goal for the listeners after hearing this? What does God want them to take away when they walk out the door? They should know the true meaning of being saved. They should be confident in their salvation.

What should they do? Look back on markers in their lives where they can be sure that God directed them and put them in the direct position to be saved.