SERIES: Advent
TEXT: John 1:6-13
MESSAGE: “Seeing God’s child; Becoming God’s child”
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“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.…So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” — Luke 2:8-12;16-20
“Jesus dying on the cross for me is my gift. I get Jesus. Being a designer and being on Project Runway is just grace upon grace upon grace. It is what I get to do, not who I am.” – Merline Labasierre (Project Runway Season 14 contestant)
KEY QUESTION: What does God desire for you to become?
“…when John tells us that God loves the world, far from being an endorsement of the world, it is a testimony of the character of God. God’s love is to be admired not because the world is so big but because the world is so bad…If Jesus is the Savior of the world, that says a great deal about Jesus, but nothing positive about the world. In fact, it tells us the world is in need of a savior.” – D.A. Carson
TEXT: John 1:6-13
“6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. 9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” – John 1:6-13
How do we become children of God? (1. Receive 2. Right 3. Rebirth)
1. Receive (v.12a) “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name…”
“There are two kinds of people that go to church: there’s religious people and real Christians…A religious person is somebody who thinks they are putting God in their debt since they have tried so hard. A Christian is somebody who sees themselves as in God’s debt.” – Timothy Keller
It’s Seeing God has done all the work and receiving. And so, let me ask, have you received him? Receiving takes humility.
“And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.” — Luke 1:31
“And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” — Luke 1:38
2. (The) Right (v.12b) “…he gave the right to become children of God.”
“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises… – 2 Peter 1:3-4
3. Rebirth (v.13) “…who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17
Takeaways: How do we live as children of God?
– Believe I am not the light (v.8)
– Believe I am a witness (v.7)
– Believe I am sent (v.6)
“He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.” John 1:11