AS MANY AS RECEIVED HIM

John 1:11-13 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 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: Which were born, not of blood,
nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

I. AS MANY AS RECEIVED HIM.

A. Note the stated relationship between Christ and the word.
1. John 1:1-5,14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was
God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was
not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light
shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of
the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

B. The received word produces an obedient response.

1. Acts 2:36-41 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same
Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in
their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then
Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the
remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to
your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many
other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then
they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about
three thousand souls.

2. James 1:21-25 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with
meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and
not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is
like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and
straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty,
and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed
in his deed.

3. Acts 17:10-12 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who
coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica,
in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether
those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks,
and of men, not a few.

C. Receiving the word leads to continued growth and faithfulness.

1. Phil 4:8-9 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever
things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good
report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye
have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with
you.
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 D. Receiving Christ leads to continued growth and faithfulness.
1. Col 2:6-12 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and
built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the
rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are
circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by
the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through
the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

E. Receiving the word imparts a burning desire to share it with “whosoever will.”
1. Regardless of any opposition.
a. 1 Thess 1:2-10
2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;
3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus
Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much
assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of
the Holy Ghost:
7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.
8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every
place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.
9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from
idols to serve the living and true God;
10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the
wrath to come.

b. Jer 20:9-10 Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his
word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones , and I was weary with
forbearing, and I could not stay. For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say
they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be
enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.

c. 1 Thess 2:11-16
11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,
12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye
heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually
worketh also in you that believe.
14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also
have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:
15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God,
and are contrary to all men:
16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is
come upon them to the uttermost.
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