John 1:12 AMP
[12] But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the right [the authority, the privilege] to become children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name—
To every man is given the power to choose; before each man is placed both life and death and God is careful to lay out what is the end of either choice. He does not leave us in the darkness about what He has made available for us, and the death and resurrection of Jesus is key to all that God has promised. I note from the verse above that what gives me access to the gift of life available in Jesus is not just about hearing about Him, or listening to people speak about Him. These are quite important, but nothing is more important than the right response to all that I hear, which is to receive and welcome Him into my heart. Do not be content with just hearing; make sure you also receive Him into your heart. There is no suitable replacement for that experience. I have to make sure that Jesus is in charge of my heart. My eternity depends on the person who reigns and rules in my heart.
What I get is to be called a child of God. By natural birth, all of us are made in the image of God but I still have to lay down my life as a freewill offering to God. I am made in the image and likeness of God, but He does not force me to submit to Him. I come to Him because I know and appreciate what He has done for me. I move from natural birth to spiritual birth, where Jesus comes into my heart and changes me from the inside. Those desires I used to crave have now lost their hold on me; the things that I now love are strange to the world, because I now live to please my new Lord and Master. I do not get it by birthright, earnings or entitlement; it is by believing in Him. It sounds simple, but when you have laboured all your life to earn someone else's approval, it is a breath of fresh air to just believe, and receive eternal life. I cannot earn; it is by faith alone. Would you believe? God's time of favour is here.
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