Living in Liberty

A Ministry of Bryce Lowance

Elder Bryce Lowrance

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He Giveth Power

18 January 2014

In my two previous posts, we learned something very important about the power of Jesus and the power of sin. We learned that Jesus is the source of all life for creation and mankind in particular. However, we also learned that sin has such a detrimental effect on man that he cannot even recognize God when He is walking among them. If God were to leave us in this state, we would be eternally miserable. But, thankfully He does not leave us powerless. We will see in these final verses of the opening of John's gospel that it is by the power of Jesus Christ giving the children of God spiritual life that we are made able to comprehend and enjoy our Savior!

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: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13

There are two main points to be noticed in these verses.

First of all, John is referring to a group of people that have been born again. They were not born again by their natural relationship to another child of God. They were not born again by some obedience to the law or even obedience in faith. Nor were they even born again by a simple act of will or decision. They were born again by the irresistible power of God. The phrase "he gave them power to become the sons of God" does not mean that Jesus gave them tools to be able to save themselves into new birth. John is saying that the effective power in the new birth is Jesus. Just as He breathed natural life into man, Jesus breathes spiritual life into God's children causing them to be born again!

The second thing we need to understand is that the phrase "as many as received him" is not a condition we must meet in order to become a son of God. This phrase is forensic, meaning that all those that received him "were" born again already. Their ability to receive him was evidence of the new spiritual nature already in them. Remember, the natural man is incapable of doing this.

Just like Adam was created and then given the breath of life. We have natural life but must also have spiritual life given to us by the power of Christ.

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Tags: harmony_of_the_gospels, jesus, john, new_birth

Welcome

Brentwood Hills Primitive Baptist Church is a community of believers working together to transform our lives to the image of Jesus Christ. We believe it is our duty and privilege to live the gospel of the doctrines of grace in such a way as to edify the families within our church and other children of God in our community. Through regular worship based on strong Biblical principles, fellowship, admonishment, and outreach, we glory in the grace of the sovereign God working in our lives thereby showing the Spirit of God in the world.

Brentwood Hills was organized in 1906 in Fort Worth, Texas as Laodicea Primitive Baptist Church. You can find much of the history of the church, as well as other churches here: Primitive Baptist History Database

We identify ourselves as an old-line Primitive Baptist church. If you read our Articles of Faith, you’ll see that we hold to such doctrines as the inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible. We recognize the King James Version (KJV) as the only English translation worthy of being called the Bible. We believe in salvation solely by the grace of a sovereign God. We believe that Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, came to the earth to do the will of His Father, which was to deliver from the sentence of death all those the Father gave Him before the world began. We believe that Jesus fully satisfied the Father by atoning for all the sins of all His people. In time, we believe the Holy Spirit comes to each person that belongs to Jesus and regenerates them. Then (and only then) can anyone have faith, which is a fruit of the Spirit, by which you are able to believe the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. Whether or not you ever hear the gospel, or believe it if you did hear it, or obey it if you did believe it, rest assured that Jesus will remain forever faithful to you because, if He died for you, He will never deny that you belong to Him.

We believe that everyone for whom Christ died will without fail be raised again from the dead to a glorified life. Even if we are alive when He returns to raise the dead, we shall be changed to a glorified life. All the Redeemed will meet the Lord in the air. Then He will take us to Heaven and there we shall forever be with the Lord. The wicked will be raised at the same time as the righteous, but the wicked shall go away into everlasting punishment along with Satan and his angels. Until that glorious day when Christ returns to raise the dead, He has provided a place for His people to find rest for their souls. This place is the Church. Jesus Christ set-up His church on this earth before His death on the Cross. The church is there for those of His people who have come to believe that God saved them by His Son, Jesus Christ. To believe that Christ “paid it all” gives believers the strongest motivation to serve Him. Once enlightened to this glorious truth, then the child of God should feel an obligation to become and remain an active member of the His church. To serve the Lord in His church makes for one of the great blessings to experience this side of Heaven. It fulfills you to serve in His church and it gives your life purpose and meaning.