Joh 1:11-12 | Clarke | e4.org | Verse 11. He came unto his own ] ταιδια-to those of his own family, city, country:-and his own people , οιιδιοι-his own citizens, brethren, subjects . The Septuagint, Josephus , and Arrian , use these words, ταιδιοι and οιιδιοι, in the different senses given them above. Received him not. ] Would not acknowledge him as the Messiah , nor believe in him for salvation. How very similar to this are the words of Creeshna , (an incarnation of the Supreme Being, according to the theology of the ancient Hindoos!) Addressing one of his disciples, he says: "The foolish, being unacquainted with my supreme and divine nature, as Lord of all things, despise me in this human form ; trusting to the evil, diabolic, and deceitful principle within them. They are of vain hope, of vain endeavours, of vain wisdom, and void of reason; whilst men of great minds, trusting to their divine natures, discover that I am before all things , and incorruptible, and serve me with their hearts undiverted by other beings." See Bhagvat Geeta, p. 79. To receive Christ is to acknowledge him as the promised Messiah ; to believe in him as the victim that bears away the sin of the world; to obey his Gospel, and to become a partaker of his holiness, without which no man, on the Gospel plan, can ever see God.

‏ John 1:11-12

Verse 11. He came unto his own] ταιδια-to those of his own family, city, country:-and his own people, οιιδιοι-his own citizens, brethren, subjects.

The Septuagint, Josephus, and Arrian, use these words, ταιδιοι and οιιδιοι, in the different senses given them above.

Received him not.] Would not acknowledge him as the Messiah, nor believe in him for salvation.

How very similar to this are the words of Creeshna, (an incarnation of the Supreme Being, according to the theology of the ancient Hindoos!) Addressing one of his disciples, he says: "The foolish, being unacquainted with my supreme and divine nature, as Lord of all things, despise me in this human form; trusting to the evil, diabolic, and deceitful principle within them. They are of vain hope, of vain endeavours, of vain wisdom, and void of reason; whilst men of great minds, trusting to their divine natures, discover that I am before all things, and incorruptible, and serve me with their hearts undiverted by other beings." See Bhagvat Geeta, p. 79.

To receive Christ is to acknowledge him as the promised Messiah; to believe in him as the victim that bears away the sin of the world; to obey his Gospel, and to become a partaker of his holiness, without which no man, on the Gospel plan, can ever see God.

Verse 12. Gave he power] εξουσιαν, Privilege, honour, dignity, or right. He who is made a child of God enjoys the greatest privilege which the Divine Being can confer on this side eternity. Those who accept Jesus Christ, as he is offered to them in the Gospel, have, through his blood, a right to this sonship; for by that sacrifice this blessing was purchased; and the fullest promises of God confirm it to all who believe. And those who are engrafted in the heavenly family have the highest honour and dignity to which it is possible for a human soul to arrive. What an astonishing thought is this! The sinner, who was an heir to all God's curses, has, through the sacrifice of Jesus, a claim on the mercy of the Most High, and a right to be saved! Even justice itself, on the ground of its holy and eternal nature, gives salvation to the vilest who take refuge in this atonement; for justice has nothing to grant, or Heaven to give, which the blood of the Son of God has not merited.