John 1:6-13 – Bible Study & Exploration
John the Baptist Testifies to the Light
(Verses 6-11) The John mentioned in verse 6 should not be confused with John, the disciple of Christ and author of the gospel of John. The only time John the disciple refers to himself in his gospel is when he mentions “the disciple that Jesus loved.”
The John that John the disciple of Jesus is speaking of here is John the Baptist. John the Baptist was the one whom God reserved for this moment. John was led out of the desert to announce the arrival of the Messiah. This would signal the beginning of Jesus’ three year ministry as the messenger of the new covenant as spoken of through the prophet Malachi.
“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty. (Malachi 3:1)
John the Baptist came to testify to the light that was entering the world. This light is Jesus Christ. He came to offer light to the whole world. The true light that saves. As we know, the world rejected Him along with many of His own people.
Are We All Children of God?
(Verses 12-13) One of the themes we see woven into John’s gospel is signaling of the difference between a belief in Jesus Christ and a saving belief in Jesus Christ. John the disciple uses many examples to show these differences. There are those who believe in the works and miracles of Jesus and those who hold a saving belief that places full trust and faith in Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
Verse 12 is the first example of this difference that exists among believers.
There are many today who will make the claim that God loves everyone because the Bible says that we are all “children of God.” This is just another example of how people treat the Words of God like the buffet line at the Golden Corral. They like and accept some of what God says and rejecting others things. They often will not finish reading a passage because it reveals the truth that they don’t want to accept.
The claim that we are all children of God is false. The truth is we are all a part of God’s creation. Through his creation, we have a connection with God. Thus we are inherently connected to our creator. This means that we are blessed when we please Him and find ourselves in His favor. It also means, we are subject to His wrath for which He uses to discipline those who reject Him and His ways.
Who Are the Children of God?
Verse 12 makes very clear, not all are the children of God. The children of God are, “all who did receive Him (Jesus Christ), to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12)
Verse 13 explains that you don’t become a child of God through birth because your parents are Christians. It doesn’t work that way. Because you’re born into a Christian family, doesn’t make you a Christian (child of God).
It goes on to explain that the desire of someone to make you into a Christian doesn’t make you one. No one can accept salvation in your name. Your parents or anyone else can’t accept God’s free gift of salvation for you. It must be exclusively, the desire of your heart to believe in Jesus Christ, that He’s the son of God, and that He died and rose again for your sins. And you must put your full faith and trust in the promises of His covenant and the eternal life He offers you.
There is no other way to becoming a child of God. There is no other way back to God, than through His final and lasting covenant, the saving power of His son Jesus Christ. No religion can save you. No amount of sacraments, traditions, rituals or Sunday church attendance can save you. Only through Jesus Christ and Him alone can you become a “child of God.”