“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:”
John 1:12 (KJV)
(believing really is the key for us isn't it? Consider these Scriptures)
Matthew 21:22 - And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 6:35 - And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
Mark 5:36 - As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.
Psalms 23:4-6 - Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou [art] with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. (Read More...)
Hebrews 11:6 - But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Romans 10:10 - For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Romans 15:13 - Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Mark 11:24 - Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive [them], and ye shall have [them].
James 1:5-6 - If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (Read More...)
Mark 9:24 - And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
Psalms 78:32-33 - For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works. (Read More...)
Genesis 15:6 - And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
John 20:29 - Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed [are] they that have not seen, and [yet] have believed.
Matthew 6:1-34 - Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. (Read More...)
John 14:1-31 - Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. (Read More...)
Acts 16:31 - And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Isaiah 43:10 - Ye [are] my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I [am] he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
Matthew 9:28 - And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.
Romans 13:11 - And that, knowing the time, that now [it is] high time to awake out of sleep: for now [is] our salvation nearer than when we believed.
Psalms 112:7 - He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.
Luke 8:50 - But when Jesus heard [it], he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.
John 1:12 is one of my favorite verses...
If you look closer at it...
You can see that it's written in past tense. And it's done so because of tradition set up by the first English translators of the scriptures.
And in the Greek and Latin it's done in what is dubbed the perfect aortist tense. (Nominative too)
And that's a lot of gobbledegook for past, present, and future tense all three at the same time...a tense we don't have in the English language.
And it's proof that as strongly I feel about protecting and caring about my son...God the Father is moreso about me. I'm not an idiot about what my son wants and desires... some of those things he wants aren't good. But he's a good kid. And I help him all I can.