What does it mean to receive Christ according to John 1:12?

John 1:12 articulates, 'But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.' To receive Christ is to accept Him as the Savior, which involves faith and trust in His redemptive work. This act is not merely intellectual assent but a personal conviction that leads to transformation. It signifies a response to God's grace, where individuals are spiritually reborn, enabled to enter into a relationship with God as His children. This concept aligns with the Reformed understanding that salvation is initiated by God's sovereign will and the irresistible grace that draws the elect to Himself.