Hello, everyone.... long time no see.
The following is from a minister recounting a discussion he had concerning
John 1:12-13 which reads....
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
What are your thoughts on this gentleman's position?
"Recently we heard a strange interpretation given to verses 12 and 13 of the first chapter of St. John in a feeble effort to prove that a man is born of God before he receives the Holy Ghost. The twelfth verse says that "as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become sons of God." Our contention (Jude 3) was that the "power to become sons of God" was the baptism of the Holy Ghost, and this we proved by referring to Acts 1:8. But to avert a sudden collapse of this argument the expounder attempted to prove this statement by putting special stress on the word, "Which were born.... of God" The fact that the word "were" was in the past tense seemed to give him a strong point in his favor, that they were born of God before they received power to become sons of God. If they had to be given power to become sons of God after they were born, what were they before they got the power to become sons of God........"
Threaded Mode
