This article is part of our "Gospel Saturation series" – featuring rich gospel verses from Scripture to help us grow and strengthen in faith as we saturate in the knowledge of Christ Jesus and his work for us.
The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.
He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 1:9-13
John begins his book about Jesus's life with an introduction to the gospel. He compares Jesus to light, calling him here "the true light". Earlier in the chapter John says that his life was "the light of men" (John 1:4).
Greg Gilbert in his book "What is the Gospel" describes how any presentation of the gospel in Scripture generally has a common four-part structure:
- God
- Man
- Christ
- Response
Or in a little more detail: God's condition. Our condition. Christ's work. Our response.
So, let's look at what John says here in those four parts.
God's Condition
God the Son, Jesus, is the true light. In The Message it calls him "the Life-Light".
He gives light to everyone, and always has.
All the world was made through him.
Our Condition
Everyone received light from Jesus.
Every person was made through him.
But we didn't know him.
Christ's Work
He came into the world that he'd made.
He came to his own people but they rejected him.
He came to give himself.
He came to give us the right to become children of God.
Our Response
If we receive him and believe in his name–believe he is who claims to be–he gives us the right to be reborn as God's children, not by anything we do but by the work of God.
This gospel-rich introduction to John's book is incredible. Let it sink in. Let it percolate and saturate and marinate in your heart. Memorize it. Mediate on it. Enjoy it. Give thanks for it.
And let's grow in faith through the knowledge of who Jesus is and the glorious work he has done for us!
"But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God"
John 1:12
