A Most Misused Scripture

John 1:12Yet to all who received 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 - Dana Haynes

This passage of scripture is used by the evangelical church to demonstrate that a person becomes a Christian when they accept Christ for the first time. A popular metaphorical formula was developed, probably in the 60’s to help people remember this plan of salvation. It reads like this: “Believe + Receive = Become.” In other words, if you believe in Christ and you receive Christ, you become a Christian. The problem is, this formula is wrong.

Grammar 101 - Verbs

Read the passage again. The verb in the last phrase is not “become,” it is “gave.” When we believe and receive, God gives us something. He gives us the “right” to become. We don’t “become” anything upon our decision to receive the message with an open heart. While it may be true that God gives us a new gift, the "right to become his child," this is not yet salvation!

The problem with this form of teaching lies in the conclusion it offers. The conclusion the Evangelical world presents is that a person is saved when they receive Christ. This is wrong; dangerously wrong.

The Wrong Path

When a person is taught that they become a Christian when they first believe and receive, they are set on a false path to Heaven. Just think about it. If I follow this unbiblical practice and believe I am saved at the time of my acceptance there is no point in a variety of other commands Jesus gave his disciples. If we examine those commands, we discover that they always precede the forgiveness of sins. The forgiveness of sins is never bestowed on a believer before they obey Christ's commands. Because I believe I am already a Christian before obedience, what is the point of confession, repentance and baptism? Those commands always precede the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit, when we look at them in the Bible.

Following this incomplete pattern does not lead to salvation. Yet this pattern is presented, practiced and promoted, with vigor, by most Evangelicals today. It bears a striking resemblance to a pattern Jesus identified in his own ministry. Take a look.Matthew 7:21-23Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Jesus is addressing a problem regarding a particular group of people’s understanding of the conversion process. Who are these people? the Bible tells us. First, they call Jesus Lord, no less than four times. They are sincere. They are doing really wonderful things in the name of Jesus. They are driving out demons, they are preaching in his name, they are performing no small amount of miracles; Jesus says they performed "many miracles." We have no reason to believe that these things were not really happening and Jesus does not deny their actions either. On the contrary, these things must have taken place because they serve as the basis of the illustration on which Jesus defines the problem.

These people were extremely dedicated to Jesus in the way they understood the Gospel. These people possessed a sacrificial heart; willing to serve Jesus. These people put their faith into action, they did what they believed was true, good and right. They knew Jesus intimately. They probably even loved Jesus; why else would they take on such active ministry efforts.

Jesus tells us not everyone will enter the kingdom of heaven and he uses this very sincere, very busy, very dedicated group of believers as the bad example! By today’s standards,