"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)
What power is it, that He gives those who receive Him, in order that they may become sons? Evidently the power by which He himself is the Son of God. The power of sonship is "the power of His resurrection;" (Philippians 3:10) for He was "declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead." (Romans 1:4) "We declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God has fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, You are my Son, this day have I begotten You." (Acts 13:32-33)
Adam was the son of God "which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God." (Luke 3:38); but in Adam all died, and therefore the only way in which men can become sons of God again is by being born again--by a new life, by rising from the dead. This new, resurrection life Jesus gives to all who receive Him. "The exceeding greatness of God's power in us who believe is according to the working of His mighty power, Which He wrought in Christ when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 1:19-20)
Think what this means to us: nothing less than that to us as we now live in the flesh is given a power the same as that which brings the dead to life. This power is "very present" and real. It is for use, and not for show. Since we have it, why not make the most of it?--Present Truth, January 1, 1903--John 1:12.