Interviewer: Good evening everyone, and welcome to tonight’s special episode of “Inside The Scripture.” I’m your host, and today, we have a very special guest: the author of the Gospel of John, one of the four canonical Gospels in the Bible. Please welcome him!
(Applause)
Interviewer: Thank you for joining us today. We’re genuinely excited to have you here.
John: It’s a pleasure to be here, thank you for having me.
Interviewer: Now, John, the passage we’d like to discuss today is John 1:12-13. Perhaps you could share with our audience some insights into this particular passage?
John: Absolutely. John 1:12-13 reads as follows: “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”
Interviewer: Fascinating! So, according to this passage, it seems that one becomes a child of God by receiving and believing in him. Could you elaborate further on the meaning behind “receiving” him?
John: Certainly. To “receive” Jesus means to accept and welcome him into one’s life, acknowledging him as the Son of God and the Savior. It involves having faith in his name, recognizing his authority and role as the Messiah. By doing so, individuals are granted the incredible privilege of becoming children of God, adopted into His family, and receiving the divine inheritance promised to believers.
Interviewer: That’s remarkable. Now, in the following verse, it mentions being born not of blood, flesh, or man’s will but of God’s. Can you explain the significance of this statement?
John: Certainly. In verse 13, I wanted to emphasize that this new birth, this transformation into children of God, is not a result of natural human ancestry, physical heritage, or man’s efforts. It is a spiritual rebirth, initiated and orchestrated by God Himself. It is a divine work that occurs within an individual, through the power of the Holy Spirit, as they place their faith in Jesus Christ. This new birth, or spiritual regeneration, is necessary to enter into a personal relationship with God and become part of His eternal family.
Interviewer: Thank you for that explanation, John. It’s truly illuminating. Can you shed some light on the inspiration behind this passage?
John: Of course. When writing this Gospel, my main objective was to present Jesus Christ as the unique Son of God, the divine Logos made flesh, who came to bring salvation to humanity. In these verses, I wanted to highlight the transformative power of faith in Christ and the incredible privilege believers possess in becoming God’s children. It is a message of hope and assurance for those who receive and believe in Him.
Interviewer: Thank you for sharing your insight and wisdom. We’ve gained a deeper understanding of John 1:12-13 through your explanations. Before we conclude, is there anything else you would like to add?
John: Simply that this passage offers a powerful invitation to all who are willing to receive Jesus Christ and believe in his name. It shows that through faith, an incredible new identity is bestowed on us, granting us access to an intimate relationship with God. It is my hope that all who read or hear these words will embrace this invitation and experience the transformative power of becoming children of God.
Interviewer: Thank you once again, John, for your time and for sharing your perspectives. This has been truly enlightening. And thank you to all our viewers for tuning in to this special episode of “Inside The Scripture.” Good night, everyone!
(Applause)