He Came Unto His Own

He Came Unto His Own - a Bible Study on John 1:11-13

Joh 1:11-13 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. (12) 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: (13) Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

During the early sixties, John 1:12 was popularly quoted, most often with a great lack of understanding. These were the days when there was a renewed awareness of God. The "God is Dead" controversy had met its own demise. I remember struggling with the book written by Langdon Gilkey entitled "Naming the Whirlwind: The Renewal of God Language." It took me a month to understand all the words in the first chapter in which Gilkey assured us that God is not dead as many had supposed. People were talking about God. People were finding God everywhere and it was believed by many that it was a very easy thing to do. Count me in the many. After all, the Word said, "as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." As diligently as I struggled to understand Gilkey, I never took time to understand this passage in context. We never stopped to think that perhaps we weren't finding God, but that God was finding us. After all, we were lost, not He.

These verses raise several questions that must be answered in order for the passage to be understood.

1. Who is it that is referred to as "his own" in verse 11?
2. Why did "his own" receive him not?
3. What power did God give to those who became his children?
4. What does it mean to believe on His name and how do you do it?
5. What does it mean to be born of God?


Who is it that is referred to as "his own" in verse 11?

The passage begins by telling us that he came unto his own. Who are those that are called "his own"? When I looked into the several commentaries to which I have access, I found that a great number of writers and theologians believe that the “his own” referred to here refers specifically to the nation of Israel. While it is true that the "his own" is this passage does speak of Israel specifically, it does so, it seems to me, in the same way that Adam is spoken of as representing the entire world. Jesus did not die for the sins of Israel alone but for the sins of the entire world. It seems to me that it is better to understand the "his own" of verse 11 as all of God's creation, after all, in verse 10 we are told, "He was in the world... and the world knew him not."

This is a rather lengthy explanation of "his own" but we need to be certain that we know that the world is His. He has a proprietory right to it. It is His because He made it. We are His because He created us. Psalm 24:1-2 declares, "The earth is the LORD's, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods." The earth and all that dwell therein are His by right of creation and ownership. That includes all the plants, all the animals, and all of us.

It should not be difficult for us to understand that the inhabitants of the garden were His. He made them for His glory. Adam and Eve understood His ownership, at least until disobedience brought death into their world.


Why did "his own" receive him not?

Satan deceived Adam and Eve into believing that the Word of God might not be true. God had said, "You eat this fruit and you shall surely die." Satan said, "Truthfully, God knows that you shall not die." In this case, half-truth is worse that no truth at all. While it is true that sin did not cause an immediate death of the body, there was, nonetheless, an instanteous death. This immediate death was neither the death of the body nor the death of the soul, but rather the death of the spirit, the part of man which allows us to communicate in the spiritual realm. Evidence of this death is first revealed in Genesis 3 when Adam and Eve hid themselves from the presence of God and testified to by Paul in Ephesians 2:1 when he states, "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins." Herein is found the answer to the question, "Why did his own not receive Him?" They were spiritually dead. A dead person can do nothing! They cannot see, hear, feel, smell, or think. A dead person cannot act in any way. Adam and Eve could not relate to God after the fall because God is a spirit and their spirits were dead. In Romans 8:5, Paul said it this way, "For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit." In First Corinthians 2:12-16, Paul explains what I am saying here. "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. (13) Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (14) But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (15) But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. (16) For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ."

In Genesis 6:5, God, Himself, observes "that every imagination of the thoughts of his (mankind’s) heart was only evil continually." Again in Genesis 8:20, God acknowledges that evil totally controls the thoughts of man. The will of mankind has been totally subverted by sin.

It is often said that God made man free to choose. He did. Man chose. He chose sin and disobedience rather than obedience and trust. As a result, unregenerate mankind is now the slave of sin. It is not that he will not come to God. He cannot. Not on his own at least. Man does not have free will. He has free agency. This is an important distinction because mankind can never choose against his own sinful nature. So, then, "He came unto his own and His own received Him not." This was not due to the lack of invitation. There is a general invitation inviting all people everywhere to come to Him. God has said whosoever will, may come.

The difficulty with this general invitation is two-fold. First of all, no one responds positively to it. Not even one person has ever responded to the “whosoever will” call of God. The second difficulty with this universal invitation is that we suppose that some or many will respond positively. Here is what the bible says about this matter. Rom 3:9-20 “... for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; (10) As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: (11) There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. (12) They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. (13) Their throat is an open sepulcher; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: (14) Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: (15) Their feet are swift to shed blood: (16) Destruction and misery are in their ways: (17) And the way of peace have they not known: (18) There is no fear of God before their eyes. (19) Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. (20) Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” The bible clearly states that nobody will ever come to God by his or her own free will. Charles Spurgeon once said, freewill never sent anyone to heaven, but it has sent many people in the other direction. Considering, therefore, man's helplessness God has acted on our behalf to bring life to those who would be saved.


What power did God give to those who become his children?

Imagine this. Those who are "His own" are slaves to sin in such a way that they have no awareness of sin because they are dead. The term we have used all of our lives describes the lost ones correctly. They are spiritually dead. Enticed by Satan, the original inhabitants of the earth could not trust God. They hid from Him because their spirits were dead. This is the curse that has followed to all of us. We do not trust God because we cannot. The lost person has exactly the same hope as Lazarus as he lay in the tomb. I could stand in the graveyard and shout all day and not one dead person would hear but just let God call his name and he immediately responds. It is the power of God that gives new life.

Apart from the intervention of God, no one will become his child. This is the explanation of verse 12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God.... In John 3:3 and 1 Peter 1:3, 23 we see the term "born again." The greek word (gennao) translated here literally translates begotten anew or begotten from above and emphasizes the activity of God in salvation. Salvation is not initiated by mankind but by God. He gives the power and the grace. In John 5:21, Jesus is quoted as saying, "For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will." We always called this power that He gives conviction. Whatever you cal it, it is what happens when a person actually becomes aware of his or her need for God. In John 16:8 Jesus, speaking of the Holy Spirit, declares, "And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment." (ESV) Perhaps the plainest statement on this comes from John 6:43-45 where Jesus says plainly, "Murmur not among yourselves. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me." Can it be said any clearer, a special teaching, a divine revelation, a personal anointing comes from the Father giving a person a new insight into his or her sin nature. God teaches us to hate our sin as much as He hates it Himself. At this, we should cry out with Isaiah, "Woe is me! for I am undone...."

This power is the power to see both God and ourselves. It is the power to recognize that apart from God we have no hope. It is that which was lacking in the life of the rich young ruler when he went away sorrowful (Mat 19:22). Though he came to Christ and inquired concerning the way to have eternal life he went away sorrowful. Today, I often find myself repenting of the number of times when someone asked me, "What must I do to be saved? And I answered, (1) Do you believe God loves you?, (2) Do you believe you are a sinner?, (3) Do you believe God will forgive you if you ask Him to do so? If they answered yes, "I said pray this prayer....” Jesus sent the rich young ruler away sorrowful. He was willing to accept Christ nominally but was not willing to commit his entire heart, mind, soul, spirit, and body to Him. Unless God had taught him he could not do that. What a revelation we find in John 6:45, "Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me." What a wonderful liberating promise for the one who is telling of God's power to save. We are not responsible for the results but we are responsible to tell every lost person about God.


What does it mean to believe on His name and how do you do it?

Jesus said unless a person is born again he cannot be saved. Born again translates literally to “begotten again from above.” There is something wonderful and powerful that occurs in this second begetting when we are begotten of God from above. It is not of an earthly conception that we are born again. It is from above. Peter states that from this begetting we are born again of an incorruptible seed (1 Peter 1:23). When Lazarus was called to life by the voice of the Lord, he was still in the tomb - still bound in his grave clothes. He was not yet free from them but he was very much aware of them for the first time. When Jesus cried, Lazarus, come forth, no one had to cajole or convince him to leave the tomb. He obeyed the voice of God. Because we receive this teaching (John 6:45) from God we will always come to Him for Salvation when He calls. None will ever do any other. When one comes to the foot of the cross in simple faith, trusting God to do only what God can do, God has already provided both the power and the grace to do it.


What does it mean to be born of God?

John 1:3 states, "Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." What do these words mean?

The first thing that the verse tells us for certain is that those who had become the children of God had savingly believed on the name of Jesus. The one thing that is missing from the testimony of many people is absolute trust. As previously stated, people don't trust God because they cannot trust him. By grace and through the revelation of truth, those who come to Him are able to savingly believe.

This verse makes it very clear. This does not happen because of the will of man but by the will of God. Sin has made it impossible for us to will to be right with God but when God calls us, He wills it on our behalf.

The result: we beheld His glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father (v.14). He came into the world and the world did not know Him, that is, the world did not see His glory. Make no mistake about it. Salvation is not about us. It is about some, a portion - those who would be saved, recognizing the glory of God.

I'll close by quoting one of my favorite passages for in it is expressed the sum of God’s eternal purpose: "Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! Why should the nations say, "Where is their God?" Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. (Psa 115:1-3 ESV)

Let me quickly add an important footnote. If you have read this Bible study and you are not a born again child of God, it could be that God is calling you right now to come to Him. Won't you bow your head just now and cry out to God for mercy. Here is a prayer prayed first by Charles Haddon Spurgeon. You can make it your prayer if you will.

"Lord, I am guilty, I deserve thy wrath. Lord, I cannot save myself. Lord, I would have a new heart and a right spirit, but what can I do? Lord, I can do nothing, come and work in me to will and to do thy good pleasure.

Thou alone hast power, I know,
To save a wretch like me;
To whom, or whither should I go
If I should run from thee?

But I now do from my very soul call upon thy name. Trembling, yet believing, I cast myself wholly upon thee, O Lord. I trust the blood and righteousness of they dear Son... Lord, save me tonight, for Jesus' sake.

(From Iain Murray, The Forgotten Spurgeon [Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 1973], pp.101f.)

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