The Bible teaches that receiving Jesus means acknowledging His testimony and being given the authority to become sons of God through the Holy Spirit.
According to John 1:12-13, receiving Jesus is not merely a one-time act but an acknowledgment of His identity and a spiritual birth that comes from God. The passage states that as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, highlighting the necessity of divine intervention. This divine action emphasizes that human effort or familial lineage cannot confer salvation; rather, it is God's sovereign choice to grant life and ability to believe. In understanding this, we see that spiritual belief originates from God, infusing us with the light and life of Christ before we have any power to respond in faith ourselves.
Scripture References:
John 1:12-13, Romans 9:16, Ephesians 1:4-5, John 1:12, John 1:1-3, John 1:14, John 17:8
Commentary