Seven Aspects of Our Relationship to the Lord

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: John 1:12 (NKJV).

INTRODUCTION: This verse tells us clearly how we can become children of God. It is not by good works, not by church membership, not by doing one’s best—but by receiving Him, by believing in His Name.

The Greek root word translated “received” here it carries the sense of accepting (lambano). To receive Jesus is to welcome and acknowledge him as our Savior and Lord.

Being born of God makes us spiritually alive and joins us with God’s family (1:12). The question then becomes, Have you received Christ in order that he can make you a new person? God makes this fresh start in life available to all who believe in Christ.

Chrysostom, a fourth-century monk and theologian from Antioch, noted the contrast between the bread and life referred to by Jesus in John 6:32–33. Chrysostom said that manna gave nourishment (trophe) but not life (zoe). Manna nourished physical life (bios), but it did not give spiritual or salvation life (zoe). Salvation life comes from the true bread, the One who came down from heaven.

The new birth comes only to those who believe. To believe in Jesus’ name is to believe in his person—who he is and what he represents.

WE ARE:
1. CHILDREN (Rom. 8:16)
God is our father (Matt. 6:9)
God pities his children (Ps. 103:13)
God is a father to us (2 Cor. 6:18)

2. DISCIPLES (Luke 14:33)
Condition of Discipleship (John 8:31)
Connection with Jesus (Matt. 8:23)
Confided in by Jesus (Matt. 20:17)

3. SERVANTS (Rom. 6:22)
They are willing servants (Ex. 21:1-6)
They honor the Master (Mal. 1:6)
They shall be as their Lord (Matt. 10:25)

4. FRIENDS (John 15:15)
They are like Abraham (James 2:23)
They are called friends of Jesus (John 15:15)
They do what they are commanded to do. (John 15:14)

5. BROTHERS (Matt. 12:50)
They are Brothers by Blood (1 Peter 1:18, 19)
They are born from above (John 3:3)
They are sons in the same family (John 1:12)

6. AMBASSADORS (2 Cor. 5:20)
Represent another country (Heb. 11:16)
Represent a King (John 17:18)
Represent a great cause (Mark 10:28)

7. HEIRS AND JOINT HEIRS (Rom. 8:17)
Heirs together of grace (1 Peter 3:7)
Heirs according to hope (Titus 3:7)
Heirs of the kingdom (James 2:5)

CONCLUSION:

• How men receive Christ. They “believe on His name.”
• The results of receiving Christ. A person is given the power to become a child of God.
• The word power (exousian) means both power and right or authority.
• The word sons (tekna Theou) means children of God.
• The words to become (genesthai) mean to become something a person is not.
• When a person receives Christ into his life (as Lord), Christ gives that person the power and right to become something he is not—a child of God.

Saving faith is simply taking God at His word. Someone asked Charles H. Spurgeon how he knew he was saved. He replied, “Jesus promised that if I would believe in Him He would save me. I have trusted in Him. A gentleman keeps his word. My Savior is a gentleman.”

Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 (NKJV).

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