By: Robert Serreyn
Question? At a Bible study, John 1:12 was brought up, Does John 1:12 teach that we must believe AND then receive Jesus, please explain?
Answer:
From what I gather from this Bible study that John 1:12 was taught as a 2 part system, in other words Faith PLUS Works, this is a FALSE GOSPEL that “does not” give eternal life but eternity in hell to the one that puts their faith in it.
John 1: 12 simply says…
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.
To Receive simply means “To Believe or Trust in”
The word EVEN is italicized, which means that it was not in the original manuscripts but added by the translators, and some have overlooked this and have CONCLUDED FALSELY that there is 2 parts mentioned in this verse Recieving and Believing but this is not so.
John 1:12 is simply saying those that Believe on Christ, Trusting alone in his payment for their sins, gives them “The Right or Authority” to be a Child of God. Nothing more, Nothing less, anything other than this IS “False Teaching” and one to be avoided – Romans 16:17.
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know IS Jesus Christ as savior, just simply believe that Jesus Christ went to the cross and DIED and shed his blood, was BURIED and three days later RESURRECTED from the dead to pay for your sins.
The moment that you do YOU HAVE (at that second and forever) Everlasting Life which WILL NEVER be taken away no matter what.
-Christ DIED for you – Romans 5:8
-Christ PAID your sins in full – 2 Corinthians 5:21,1 Peter 2:24
-BELIEVE (Trust In Completely) in Christ ALONE as the complete payment of sin for salvation – John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8,9
“For the wages(payment) of sin is death (eternal torment in hell); but the GIFT(salvation) of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 6:23
IT IS THAT SIMPLE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH