“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.”
(John 1:12)
Salvation is not of human origin; it is the sovereign and gracious work of the Triune God who grants those He chooses the right and power to be called sons of God. “Which were born,” John says, “not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:13).
John makes it clear that the transformation of a sinner into a saint is not the result of human will or natural lineage. Rather, regeneration is the exclusive operation of God upon the soul, for only He can breathe new life into that which is spiritually dead. The apostle Paul affirms this when he says, “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” (Titus 3:5).
Indeed, God alone must regenerate the soul before that soul can ever cling to Christ. As Jesus told Nicodemus, “Ye must be born again” (John 3:7). And this new birth can only be wrought by the sovereign operation of the Spirit of God. “God, without our zeal, confers immediately by virtue of regeneration, by making us alive, taking away our stony heart.”[1]
Christ came not only to make salvation possible but to make it sure by living a righteous life, dying a substitutionary death, and rising in power. The twofold reality present in this truth is that we receive Christ by faith, but that faith comes only after God first works in us. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:8).
Thanksgiving, then, is the only proper response. For we who once were enemies have been reconciled. We who were strangers are now sons. Not because of our wisdom, will, or works, but because God, rich in mercy, loved us even when we were dead in sin. What grace! What kindness! What undeserved adoption into glory!
Contemplations:
- I thank You, Lord, that salvation is all of You. Had it rested on me—my will, my strength, or my merit—I would most certainly still be lost. So I thank You for giving me eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to believe. All praise belongs to You, the God who saves by grace.
- I thank You, Lord, for the miracle of the new birth. You did not merely reform me; You remade me. You called me out of death into life. Just as You created the world out of nothing, so You created faith in my soul when there was only rebellion and sin. I praise You for this new life, for giving me power to become Your child.
- I thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your merit freely applied. You lived perfectly, died willingly, rose triumphantly, and ascended gloriously. And all that You are and all that You have done is counted as mine by faith. Thank You for redeeming me, justifying me, and securing me. You are my righteousness, and I am Yours forever.
- I thank You, Holy Spirit, for applying salvation to me. You convicted me, drew me, sealed me, and now dwell in me. I thank You that You took what Christ accomplished and brought it to my soul. You brought truth to life, grace to bear, and joy to fruition. You are the Comforter, and I give thanks that You did not pass me by.
Prayer (Thanksgiving):
Gracious God and Father, we lift our hearts to You with gratitude beyond words, for You have done what man could never do. You have reached down in power and mercy to rescue sinners from wrath and make them sons of glory. Thank You for the divine work of salvation, wrought by Your eternal purpose, accomplished by Christ’s atonement, and applied by the Holy Spirit to unworthy souls like ours.
You did not wait for our asking. You did not depend on our effort. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. While we were dead, You gave us life. While we were estranged, You adopted us. We give thanks for the gift of the new birth, for the grace that changed our hearts, and for the faith You granted by Your Spirit. Thank You that we are not born by the will of man, but we are made children of God by Your sovereign mercy.
We thank You, Lord Jesus, that You obeyed the Father perfectly, died an accursed death in our place, and rose again with power to give eternal life to Your people. You are the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, and the Lord of glory. We thank You for laying down Your life and taking it up again that we might live through You.
We thank You, Holy Spirit, for opening our eyes to see the truth. You have applied the finished work of Christ to our hearts. You granted us faith, repentance, and hope. You sealed us for the day of redemption, and we thank You that Your presence is the sure pledge of our inheritance.
We rejoice that salvation is not of us, but of You. We thank You for choosing us before the foundation of the world, calling us effectually, justifying us freely, and adopting us into Your family. We praise You for the unsearchable riches of grace, the glory of the gospel, and the mercy that endures forever.
All glory, all honor, and all thanksgiving be Yours now and forever, O triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for You alone are worthy.
In the name of Jesus Christ our Savior we pray, Amen.
Further Scripture References for John 1:12:
Galatians 3:26; 1 John 3:1; Romans 8:14; Philippians 2:15; Galatians 4:5.
[1] Peter van Mastricht, Theoretical-Practical Theology, vol. 2, (Grand Rapids, MI: RHB, 2021) eBook, Chapter 26.
