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Although as we have said the general reaction of the world and even the Jewish people
was to fail to recognize Who He was, yet the above verse declares that those who did
then, and do today, accept Him as being all that His name implies, have the power
(authority to assume a position) to become a child of God. Notice the importance and
insistence on the "Name" given by God to His Son in the Scriptures. This name or
names, as we shall find, describe Who He was and it is on our unqualified acceptance of
these descriptions that the decision rests whether we can have the power to become
children of God.
"Thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins"
(Matthew 1: 21).
"They shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us"
(Matthew 1: 23).
If we could put in few words what is involved here we should declare: God in the
person of His Son paid the penalty for our sins for us, or instead of us, on the cross.
Explanation and expansion of this vital transaction of God on our behalf must be
deferred, but at this stage let it suffice to say that it is this plain statement that we have to
accept, trusting that God as a result will lead us into life in its fullest sense and one of
satisfying and rewarding service and unity with Him, and this blessed state leading on to
fulfillment in resurrection.
No.2.
pp. 135 - 140
The first article in this series, looking at John 1:, reviewed the implications of light
and life. We hope readers have had their own thoughts on this as it affects their own
experience and environment in their business and home life. It is important to remember
that the existence of darkness is stressed. So very many people go through life without
close contact with Christ and His Word and despite what they think, they must be
walking in darkness if the Word of God has any meaning at all: "the darkness
comprehended it not".
John the Baptist was specifically prepared by God to bear witness to this Light. In
very emphatic words he points away from himself to the Light itself:
"He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light" (1: 8).
How sad it is that many actively engaged in organized church work do not make their
first aim to point to Christ and His Father's Word, the Bible. Later in this chapter Christ
will call His disciples to begin their witness to this Light, that is Christ, and His Father's
words. May we prepare ourselves as reflectors and be seen by others reflecting this
Light.
The more we get to know God the more we appreciate sweet reasonableness of His
ways and this is so often hidden from the world, for at times, men in rebellious words