Children of God | Frontline Faith

Play This Verse Study

0:00 0:00

Scripture • World English Bible

John 1:6–13

WEB

⁶There came a man sent from God, whose name was John.

⁷The same came as a witness, that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through him.

⁸He was not the light, but was sent that he might testify about the light.

⁹The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world.

¹⁰He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn’t recognize him.

¹¹He came to his own, and those who were his own didn’t receive him.

¹²But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name:

¹³who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

World English Bible (WEB) • Public Domain

Reflection

The opening chapter of John introduces witnesses and wonder together. John the Baptist appears, not as the Light himself but as the one sent to point to the Light that was coming into the world. The passage makes a startling claim: the world—made through the Light—did not recognize him, and even his own people did not receive him. Yet the passage turns from rejection to invitation. To those who do receive him is given the right to become God’s children, born not by human descent or human decision but born of God.

There are two realities here that shape our identity and our life as Christians. First, our standing as children of God is a gift tied to receiving Christ and trusting his name. It is not earned by heritage, effort, or human will. This comforts those who fear they don’t measure up, and it humbles those tempted to boast in family, status, or achievement. Our relationship with the Father is established when we open our hearts to Christ and believe.

Second, being a child of God implies a change in belonging and purpose. John’s role as witness models how those who recognize the Light are called to point others to him with clarity and humility. He came to testify, to make the Light known so that people might believe. If we have been given the right to be God’s children, then part of our identity is to live and speak in ways that reveal the Light to others—through words, deeds, and the simple refusal to make our own status the gospel.

The passage also confronts the reality of rejection. The Light came; the world didn’t recognize him. Even those who should have welcomed him did not. This prepares us for seasons when faith is misunderstood or opposed. Our confidence, though, rests not in the world’s acceptance but in the Father’s adoption. Being God’s child gives us a secure belonging that survives rejection, and it gives us courage to continue witnessing.

Practically, this means living from our new birth: we receive Christ, we grow in likeness to him, and we testify of him with the same humility John displayed. We don’t manufacture children of God by human will; we proclaim the truth that God makes us his through grace, and we invite others to receive that same gift. In every place of work, family, and neighborhood, the testimony of a transformed life points people back to the Light who alone births children into God’s family.

Putting Faith Into Action

Take a moment to examine where you’re seeking identity—career, family, appearance—and turn that desire into thanksgiving for your adoption; pray to rest in being God’s child rather than proving your worth.
Practice a short, humble testimony this week: in a conversation, briefly share how receiving Christ changed your life and invite a friend to ask questions—be a witness like John.
When you face rejection for your faith, remind yourself of your new birth by reading a passage about God’s children and respond with a loving, steady posture rather than defensive pride.

Prayer

Father, thank you that through Christ you make us your children. Help us to live out that identity with humility and courage, to point others to your Light, and to rest in your love when the world rejects us. Amen.

Memory Verse

John 1:6 — There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. (WEB)

“There came a man sent from God, whose name was John.”

Keep Going Continue to Part 3 The Word Became Flesh John · John 1:14–18 Read the next devotional →

Bible Context

Read all of John 1

John 1

World English Bible • WEB

¹In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

²The same was in the beginning with God.

³All things were made through him. Without him, nothing was made that has been made.

⁴In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

⁵The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome it.

⁶There came a man sent from God, whose name was John.

⁷The same came as a witness, that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through him.

⁸He was not the light, but was sent that he might testify about the light.

⁹The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world.

¹⁰He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn’t recognize him.

¹¹He came to his own, and those who were his own didn’t receive him.

¹²But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name:

¹³who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

¹⁴The Word became flesh and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the only born Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.

¹⁵John testified about him. He cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me, for he was before me.’ ”

¹⁶From his fullness we all received grace upon grace.

¹⁷For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.

¹⁸No one has seen God at any time. The only born Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, has declared him.

¹⁹This is John’s testimony, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”

²⁰He declared, and didn’t deny, but he declared, “I am not the Christ.”

²¹They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?”

²²They said therefore to him, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

²³He said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”

²⁴The ones who had been sent were from the Pharisees.

²⁵They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?”

²⁶John answered them, “I baptize in water, but among you stands one whom you don’t know.

²⁷He is the one who comes after me, who is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to loosen.”

²⁸These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

²⁹The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

³⁰This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who is preferred before me, for he was before me.’

³¹I didn’t know him, but for this reason I came baptizing in water, that he would be revealed to Israel.”

³²John testified, saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove out of heaven, and it remained on him.

³³I didn’t recognize him, but he who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘On whomever you will see the Spirit descending and remaining on him is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’

³⁴I have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.”

³⁵Again, the next day, John was standing with two of his disciples,

³⁶and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”

³⁷The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

³⁸Jesus turned and saw them following, and said to them, “What are you looking for?”

³⁹He said to them, “Come and see.”

⁴⁰One of the two who heard John and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.

⁴¹He first found his own brother, Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah!” (which is, being interpreted, Christ).

⁴²He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is by interpretation, Peter).

⁴³On the next day, he was determined to go out into Galilee, and he found Philip. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.”

⁴⁴Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.

⁴⁵Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets, wrote: Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

⁴⁶Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?”

⁴⁷Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said about him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!”

⁴⁸Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?”

⁴⁹Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are King of Israel!”

⁵⁰Jesus answered him, “Because I told you, ‘I saw you underneath the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these!”

⁵¹He said to him, “Most certainly, I tell you all, hereafter you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”