John 1:13

Dr. Ronnie Wolfe

Verse 12 tells us that all who receive Christ become the sons of God, even to the ones who believe on his name.  This is a great truth.

Verse 13 explains to us that this salvation is not gained by anything that we do. John mentions three things concerning how a person cannot become a son of God.

First, he mentions that we are not born "of blood," as it is explained in the book of Hebrews. Hebrews says, Heb 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

Second, he mentions that we are not born by the "will of the flesh," or man's free will. Man's will is in bondage to his depraved character and cannot direct his will toward divine truth and life. If "free will" means liberty (as the term implies), then man is already born again with his own free will; but he is not alive unto God and needs the grace of God and the Spirit of God to be born from above.  John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Third, he mentions that we are not born by "the will of man," or by his own good will, the good that we may seem to have in the presence of other men, but indeed our goodness is nothing to God. Romans 3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Paul puts it a different way in Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

"But of God."  Yes, God must do the birthing. He brings us to himself, grants repentance and faith, and we believe the Gospel. Thus, God is the author, and we are the recipients of salvation.  1 John 5:1  Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

If you are not born again, may God grant you grace to repent and believe the Gospel.