2+2=4

John 1:12  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:

Does 2+2=4? You would say “sure” and yes you are right. But what if I changed it up a bit. What if I ask you “do you believe that 2+2=4? Again you would say yes! This is simple because we all know the answer or do we?  I looked on the internet about proof that 2+2=4 I was really confused with some of the answers I read. I’ll not take the time to confuse you with something so simple. But it reminds me of how confusing some make the salvation of the Bible. This Bible makes salvation simple to be understood. Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. All one has to do is know they are “lost.” Have you ever made the statement “I don’t understand the Bible?” What we don’t understand we stay away from. In John 1:12 we read 

Believe + Receive= Become! To them that BELIEVE, but there’s more; as many as RECEIVE

Jesus = BECOME the sons of God. History proves this. Those who believed then received were willing to spend the rest of their lives proclaiming Jesus as Savior. They did it without any payoff from a human point of view. They faced a life of hardship. They often went without food, slept exposed to the elements, were ridiculed, beaten, imprisoned. And finally, most of them were executed in torturous ways. For what? For good intentions? No, because they were convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that they had seen Jesus Christ alive from the dead.” These disciples were in the unique position to know for a fact whether Jesus had returned from the dead. They saw Him, they touched Him, they talked with Him, they ate with Him. They knew He wasn’t a hallucination or a legend. And knowing the truth, they were willing to die for Him. It’s simple, ask yourself do I believe? Then ask yourself, did I receive? If so then you became. The proof is in the life you live after you received.  

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 

Whoever is a believer in Christ is a new creation.  A new person. If you don’t go to Church, how will you grow? You may believe but if you have never received then that may be why! It’s and old illustration and has been used many times to explain the truth of receiving. Here is a $100 bill I want to give you. It is then handed to you, it’s yours, it’s free but if you never receive (take it from me) it never becomes yours. Believing is a nice thing but until one receives it never becomes yours “But as many as received him, to them gave he”