The apostle John writes clearly, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (Jno. 1:1). He continues, "He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made" (1:2,3). So, the Word was with God in the beginning, the Word was God, and the Word made all things that were made in the beginning. We learn from John that "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth" (1:14). He tells us that this is Jesus Christ (1:17). The conclusion is that Jesus is God, the Word.

The apostle Paul wrote, "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory" (1 Tim. 3:16). John tells us that if we do not believe this, then we are deceived and are of the antichrist (1 Jno. 2:21-23). When we believe in Jesus Christ who is God the Word, we receive the right to become children of God.

With our belief in Jesus as God, the Word, we can be born of the will of God (Jno. 1:13). What is God's Will concerning our new birth into Christ? Jesus explained it to Nicodemus, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God" (Jno. 3:5).

At the beginning of the church we see many believing in Jesus, and becoming children of God (Acts 2:38; 5:32; 8:12-17,35-39; 10:44,45; 19:1-5). These accounts describe people who believed in Jesus, and were born of the water and the Spirit. Have you become God's child in this way?

By Ron Drumm.

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