“Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God. Children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God” (John. 1:12-13, NIV).

By T. W. Parker

Both John and Paul distinguish between the ‘sonship ‘ of believers and the unique ‘sonship ‘ of Jesus, a concept of immense theological weight. In John’s Gospel, the believers become God’s ‘child, ‘ but only Jesus is God’s ‘Son. ‘ Paul describes both Jesus and believers as God’s ‘sons ‘ by adoption (see Rom. 8:15). This builds on how the (OT) frequently calls Israel God’s children (Deut. 14:1). Being ‘born of God ‘ (vs. 13), is different from being born into a human family. This new birth is an act of God due to the shed blood of His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, on Calvary!