How does 1 John 5:1 connect with John 1:12 about becoming God's children? Shared Truth in Two Verses • 1 John 5:1: “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of Him.” • John 1:12: “But to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” • Both verses state that faith in Jesus Christ is the single, God-given doorway into His family. “Born of God” and “Right to Become” • “Born of God” (1 John 5:1) pictures an actual spiritual birth—new life imparted by God’s Spirit (John 3:3, 6). • “Right to become” (John 1:12) adds the legal dimension—God grants full standing and privilege as His children (Galatians 4:4-7; Ephesians 1:5). • Taken together, the believer is both spiritually regenerated and legally adopted. Nothing is missing; the relationship is complete. Faith Is the Key that Unlocks Both Realities • Believe = “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ …” (1 John 5:1). • Receive = “All who received Him … believed in His name” (John 1:12). • Same action, same Savior, same result: immediate entry into God’s household. Family Marks—Love and Obedience • 1 John 5:1 goes on to show a practical test: “everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of Him.” • True children resemble their Father (Matthew 5:44-45) and love fellow siblings (1 John 3:14-18). • Obedience flows from this family bond (1 John 5:2-3). Assurance Anchored in God’s Promise • John 1:12 guarantees the “right”—a finished, legal fact. • 1 John 5:1 speaks of new birth—a living, current reality. • Both are grounded in God’s unchanging word; therefore assurance rests on His character, not on fluctuating feelings (Romans 8:15-17; 2 Timothy 1:12). Living Out Our Sonship • Walk in newness of life (2 Corinthians 5:17). • Enjoy intimate access; call Him “Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15). • Display family likeness through love, holiness, and truth (Ephesians 5:1-2; 1 Peter 1:14-16). Summary Snapshot • John 1:12 shows how we enter God’s family—by receiving and believing in Jesus. • 1 John 5:1 describes what happens—God causes a new birth that unites us to Him and to every other child of His. • Together they present a complete, literal picture: faith in Christ produces both legal adoption and spiritual regeneration, securing our identity forever as God’s beloved children. |
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