Receiving Is Believing Today's Three-minute Bible Study Print, Study and Apply Title: Receiving Is Believing------------------------------------------- Date: 6/3/2003 Keywords: “receive Christ” Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation. The beginning of the Gospel of John is "shallow enough for the beginner to wade in and deep enough for the experienced to never touch bottom." We began on June 1, 2003, to explore John's Prologue (John 1:1-18) for a few days. We're seeing what we can discover about God and Jesus, grace and forgiveness, and the life-changing power of God. Passage: John 1:1-13* 1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2. He was in the beginning with God. 3. All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. 6. There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John. 7. He came for a witness, that he might bear witness of the light, that all might believe through him. 8. He was not the light, but came that he might bear witness of the light. 9. There was the true light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. 10. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13. who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. Questions 1. John tells us in verse 9 above that, though John the Baptist was not the light, there is a true light. Who is that "true light"?   2. What did the "true light's" own people do when He came to them?   3. What does the "true light" do for those who receive Him?   Practical help Once, Jesus identified Himself as "the light of the world" (John 8:12). He is the "light" John is talking about in the verses quoted above! Jesus came into the world He created two thousand Christmases ago as a Baby. And why did He agree to travel from Heaven to earth to be born a Baby in Bethlehem? So that He could give men and women and teens and kids the world over the right to become children of God. Here is what Christianity is all about: Anyone who "receives Him" (means the same thing as "believe," verse 7) becomes a child of God. It is not about being a good-enough person, not about measuring up to a standard of behavior, not about trying as hard as you can or doing the best you can. Becoming a child of God is about relying on Jesus. Period. Many people stumble over the basic Christian message because it is simple, not realizing that "simple" doesn't mean "simplistic." Simply put, believing in Jesus is the way to become a child of God. It is the path to being "born of God" (verse 13) Have you placed the treasure of your trust in Jesus for salvation? Don't let misbehavior (say, like being addicted to pornography) keep you from receiving Christ by faith. He will forgive you just the way you are. eXXit homepage Index of three-minute studies Copyright 2003 by eXXit *"Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission." ---