As Many As Receive Him In The Inner Man Of The Heart
(John 1:12–13, KJV)
By Minister Christopher Robert Holder
Testimony of God Ministries Inc.
Sunday, November 9, 2025
Prayer – Thank you Heavenly Father for the Spirit of wisdom and revelation as you open the eyes of their understanding as they read and meditate on this teaching.
1. Scripture Reading
John 1:12–13 (KJV)
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:
Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
2. Introduction And Purpose Of Teaching
When Jesus began His ministry, the first message was “repent” (Matthew 4:17; and Mark 1:15 KJV).
Again, when He rose from the dead, the first message to the eleven apostles according to the gospel of Luke 24:47 KJV – “and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”
This “foundational message” must be read into context with (Matthew 28:18–20 and Mark 16:15–16.)
Matthew 28:18–20 (KJV)
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son,and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Mark 16:15–16 (KJV)
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
All these passages must not be read without the foundation. They must be read all together.
Why? Because the Scripture interprets itself and the full message will not be preached according to God who showed up on earth in the body of Jesus.
This message is an explanation in which Scripture interprets itself. This message concerns John 1:12–13, where the question is asked:
“What is meant by ‘as many as receive Him’?”
To receive Christ is not a surface acknowledgment or mere confession—it is a spiritual awakening that occurs within the inner man of the heart.
This receiving involves repentance and the renewal of the mind — the transformation of consciousness into divine awareness (awareness of God in you).
3. The Interpretation Of John 1:12–13
Verse 12 says:
“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.”
To believe in His name means to believe in the authority and identity of God revealed through Christ.
To believe is to repent and renew the mind — to turn from traditions of men, self-rule, and align with the authority of divine Spirit.
Verse 13 continues:
“Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
This verse defines the process and source of the new birth:
- Not of blood — not by physical lineage or heredity;
- Not of the will of the flesh — not by human desire or effort;
- Not of the will of man — not by traditional/institutional authority or another’s decision;
- But of God — the rebirth of the spirit (awakening) through divine origin.
Therefore, when someone receives Christ, it is a spiritual process within the inner man.
It is only when the believer repents and renews the mind, awakening the Spirit of God already within.
4. The Inner Man And The New Birth
The receiving described in John 1:12–13 is an inner transformation — a birth of divine consciousness within the soul (Soul and Spirit is One).
This parallels the teaching of John 3:1–21, where Jesus explains to Nicodemus that one must be born again — not of the flesh, but of the Spirit.
John 3:3 (KJV)
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
John 3:5–6 (KJV)
Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Apostle John records these words as both an eyewitness and a recipient of direct revelation from Jesus, who was at that time 100% God and 100% man.
5. Repentance And Remission — Luke 24:47
Luke 24:47 (KJV)
And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Jesus decreed that repentance and forgiveness are inseparable.
To repent is to renew the mind, turning from false perception to divine truth.
To receive forgiveness is to allow God to reign in the inner man of the heart, where sin is dissolved in divine love.
Thus, repentance and forgiveness are not two separate acts but one spiritual reality — the cleansing and awakening of the heart into the Kingdom of God within.
6. The Parable Of The Sower — Mind Renewal
In the Gospels of Mark and Matthew, Jesus begins His ministry by teaching the Parable of the Sower, which reveals the spiritual law of mind renewal.
Matthew 13:18–23 (KJV)
Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower…
But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it;
which also beareth fruit…
The seed represents the Word of God, and the soil represents the heart.
When one receives the Word with an open and renewed mind, divine truth takes root, and the inner man of the heart begins to manifest the Kingdom.
This parable therefore interprets John 1:12–13 — receiving Him means allowing the seed of the Word to enter the soil of the heart, transforming thought, emotion, and will into divine likeness.
7. Scripture Interprets Scripture
The Bible interprets itself through spiritual consistency. John’s Gospel connects with the synoptic Gospels and the Old Testament, revealing a unified revelation:
- Genesis 1:26 (KJV):
Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.
The original creation intent was for divine likeness within humanity — the Spirit of God in humanity. God gave of His Spirit to humanity. Why? Because this is the only Spirit in the beginning when God made man in His image and likeness.
- Ezekiel 36:26 (KJV):
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you.
This prophesies the inner rebirth fulfilled in Christ. The death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus fulfilled what was written in Genesis 1:26. In John 1:12–13 the awakening of the Spirit of God in the inner man is the manifestation of the fact that God made man in His image and likeness.
- Romans 12:2 (KJV):
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…
This renewal is the fulfillment of John 1:12–13 — the process by which we become sons of God.
8. The Spiritual Law Revealed
Spiritual Law:
To receive Christ is to awaken the indwelling Spirit of God through repentance and the renewal of the mind.
The inner man of the heart is the divine field where this transformation occurs.
The authority of God replaces the authority of flesh, blood, and man.
Belief, repentance, and renewal are one continuous spiritual operation.
9. Application To The Believer
- Receiving Christ means allowing the divine nature to govern your inner man.
- To believe in His name is to trust in the power and authority of His divine Word. Why? Because humanity was created to function in Heaven on earth — God in man.
- Repentance is not condemnation — it is awakening. Why? Because God does not condemn. Man’s own free will self-inflicts condemnation by rejecting salvation.
- Forgiveness reigns in the heart where God is enthroned.
- The Spirit of God, once awakened, produces spiritual fruit that manifests heaven on earth.
10. Meditation Verse And Reflection
Romans 10:8 (KJV)
But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach.
Reflection:
Father, thank you for teaching me to receive You not only with my lips but with the depth of my inner man.
Father, thank you for renewing my mind from the authority of the flesh, and awakening Your Spirit within my heart.
I am truly born of God—transformed by Your indwelling Word. Amen.