Receive/Believe

John 1:12

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — John 1:12 (NIV)

The act of receiving seems simple enough. You just accept the gift that has been given to you. Believing in His name takes a little more effort.

To believe is to entrust, to have faith. In a sense, it means to persuade oneself. This is not merely an intellectual aspect, as “Even the demons believe – and shudder” (James 2:19). This belief must lead to repentance o be effective.

If these conditions are met, genuine receiving and truly believing, then, and only then, can one be truly adopted into the family and be called a child of God.

“Receiving” and “believing”. How do we do this?

“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” — Romans 10:9-10

Declaring with your mouth AND believing in your heart are critical pieces of salvation, which is being reconciled to God. Speech is a physical response to an inward idea. You are simple letting others know what you believe. And believing is internal persuasion.

Have you done this?

What is preventing you?

Let me urge you to take that next step in your walk with Christ.

Accept Him. Believe in His Name.

Surrender to the Godly nudging of the Holy Spirit! Become His child!

Be refreshed!