These two verses say a lot about salvation and how it is obtained. The One that must be received is Jesus Christ. This means that there is a choice to be made. People are not born Christians in the Bible sense of the word - although some groups teach that.
In many other verses in the Bible dealing with salvation the words "believe" and "faith" are used repeatedly. This is not something that an infant is capable of doing. Two verses (there are many more) that reveal the concept of faith being necessary for salvation are:
- John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
- Acts 16:31 "And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."
1. "not of blood" – means you are not saved just because you are of a certain race or group of people.
2. "nor of the will of the flesh" – means you are not saved just because you want or try to be, or because you are a member of a particular church or religion.
3. "nor of the will of man" – means that man cannot create a way to save anyone - no matter how good their intentions.
How then can someone be saved? These verses, and many others teach that you cannot be saved other than God doing it for you.
God graciously provides salvation as a free gift. The gift is His Son Who paid the price for your forgiveness and mine. You can be saved when you ask God for forgiveness and ask Christ to save you, realizing that nothing you can do is needed but to "receive" Him as Lord (Boss) of your life.
The choice is up to you – there is no other way to become one of God's children according to the Bible. Will you turn from sin and ask Him to save you today?
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Keywords: sons of God, God's children, Christ, faith, believe, salvation, gift, saved