Thank you to John for this week’s MWB
I am very grateful for medical science and expertise – one of God’s gracious gifts to human beings. My wife and I had our flu and Covid jabs this morning. We believe in vaccinations.
But what does it mean to believe in Jesus Christ? In the first chapter of John’s gospel we read:
John 1:11-13
v11 He (Jesus, the Eternal Word) came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
v12 But to all who received him, to those who believed into his name, he gave the right to become children of God –
v13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
The wonderful statements here describe Christian faith in three ways:
a) Receiving Jesus
Tragically, when Jesus walked this earth most of his own people did not accept or receive him (v11). Jesus wept over Jerusalem because they did not realise who he really was (Luke 19:41-44). Indeed, “the world did not recognise him” (v10).
But in God’s mercy the door of faith is still open to all who will receive Jesus (v12), irrespective of their IQ or age or gender or race or social status or religious background.
b) Believing into his Name
“Into”, or “on to”, is a literal translation of the Greek word used here (and in several other places in the gospel, (e.g. John 3:16). This highlights the fact that believing in Jesus Christ is active, not passive. It is not just a matter of “ticking the boxes” mentally. James has a scathing comment for those whose belief is merely intellectual assent: “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that – and shudder.” (James 2:19).
Believing into the name of Jesus means accepting who Jesus really is – God the Son. It means submitting our whole life to him as Lord. It means trusting and obeying him every day.
c) Becoming God’s Children
God’s purpose for all of us is that we belong to his family. He wants us to have the closest possible relationship with him; to know him and be known by him, through the Lord Jesus Christ. This cannot happen by our own efforts or good deeds or religious observance (v13). Only God can bring about this new birth. Then we can cry to him “Abba! Father”; and the Holy Spirit assures us that we are his dearly-loved children (Romans 8:15-16).