RECEIVING.
Well, we’ll take another word which means the same thing; perhaps you’ll get hold of it better. “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.” Bear in mind, “received Him.” That’s it; not receiving a doctrine or a belief, but receiving Him. It is a person we must receive.
Now, my experience of the last few years is, that we all want to have the power before we receive Christ. That is, we want to feel we are in Christ before we will receive Him. But we cannot love God and feel His presence until we have received Him into our hearts. It is just like a boy with a ball; he throws it to you. Well, you must catch it before you throw it back again. That is the real meaning of “believe”—it is “receive”—receive Christ as yours. I don’t know any verse in the Bible that God has blessed to more souls than John i. 12: “To as many as received Him, to them gave He power.”
I don’t know any better illustration I could have than matrimony; for every other one doesn’t hold good in some points; but I think this is one of the best I could use. Some of you smile at this illustration, but the Bible uses it, and if God uses it in His word, why should not I?
In the Old Testament He uses it—“I am married unto you” (Jer. iii. 14). Jesus Himself uses it, when He speaks of the bride in John iii. 29. Paul uses it in his epistles, as in Romans vii. 4, as an illustration of the union between Christ and His church.
Now, it is an illustration you can all understand; there is no one here but knows what it means. When a man offers himself, the woman must do either of two things—either receive or reject him. So every soul in this hall must do one of these two things—“receive” or “reject” Christ. Well, if you receive Him, that is all you have to do, He has promised power.