The Word Divides

The Word Divides

Part IV

John 1:10-13
"He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-children born not to natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God."

"He was in the world", John now looks back to the point in time when "He was in the world." John clarifies this in verse 14,in a point and time in history "He was" present in the world. John reminds us that "He" made the world and all that was in it, and in the Book of Genesis it records that the creative work of God "was very good." Nothing exist that was not made by "him." "He" is over all things and all things exist by "him." No other power or authority exist beyond the sovereign rule of "him." The world, all of creation, humankind, even the angels.

The unthinkable happened, Adam and Eve decided to do things their way and death entered the world. God does not explain how Adam and Eve, whom the triune God created as "very good”, could make the choice to rebel against their creator, God. Often the term "free will" is used to somehow define this matter. However, Adam and Eve certainly did not have the freedom nor power to will whatever they wanted because the Sovereign God dealt with their rebellion and Satan’s. The curse visited all humanity and the angelic host who rebelled. All of humanity going forward is born dead spiritual, will physically die and eternally punished unless God intervenes. After the rebellion God made a promise, "the seed of the woman" shall come. John is now referring to that "seed" (collective noun, the seed and his), "He was in the world." "The seed" had arrived as prophesied by God himself. Humankind could not save himself, not even "Adam and Eve" whom were created absent of a sin nature. All those born after the rebellion are "born in sin", dead spiritually. From "the beginning" God elects, chooses, and calls to himself a people. Why? The question is why did he allow humanity to continue after the rebellion in the garden at all? Why does God save anyone? John provides further evidence of this reality, "though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him." Some are probably tempted to say the "world" is qualified and referred just to humankind that rejects or does not believe. John then goes on to say, "He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him." Jew and Gentile as a whole whom "He created" did not "receive him."

Who then receives "Him"? "Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden." Later in John, Nicodemus is told a person must be born again. Nicodemus understands that is impossible for a human being to do. A human being cannot recreate himself. In our modern era, the term cloning and attempts too clone are ongoing. However, if God allows cloning to happen, then humankind will continue to clone spiritually dead human beings, which will in fact be proven with each physical death that occurs. Man cannot reconcile himself to God, which is what John is declaring. However, this does not annihilate, as some infer personal responsibility. Just the opposite for those whom, God chooses, they must choose to "believe in his name (all that He is and what He has done)” and it will show as James declares, by the way the person lives (bearing good fruit). There "is only one name under heaven and earth that men must believe in to be saved, the name of Jesus." However, this only happens when a person, "is born of God." Salvation is the work of God. The Gospel is the Gospel of God not of humankind, human decision nor conceived of humankind.

John does not attempt to relieve the tension in this very difficult matter of election and a person's responsibility. However, there is a distinction between humankind and God. Our problem is that we still demand God to conform to our thinking or that he must reveal all the details. Later in John, we are told that it is the "Spirit of God" whom brings spiritual birth. This day "believe in the name of Jesus" and thou shall be saved.