John 1:12-13 NASB
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of a man, but of God.
Here is my interpretation:
"As many as received Him" refers to "those who believe in His (Christ's) name. Thus they accepted as truth their understanding of gospel of Christ. But in addition, the determination that they had "received Him," and not another gospel, indicates God's acceptance of their understanding and commitment to Christ.
"He gave the right to become" refers to God crediting the person's faith as righteousness based on His determination. Only those whose faith He credits as righteousness are given "right" to become born anew children of God.
This spiritual rebirth was not physical rebirth, of blood, and was not initiated by human lust or will, but by God alone.
The close coupling of receiving the right to become, and being born by the will of God indicates a rapid sequence of events, with no discernible delay between receiving the right (under the New Covenant) and becoming a spiritual child of God.
Thus, when 2 Thessalonians 2:13 says God chooses individuals for salvation, the idea is God chooses them by transferring them spiritually into Christ. That is why the verse could be translated as God choosing individuals "into salvation." The transfer is presented in the phrase "through sanctification by the Spirit" and refers to their human spirit being set apart, sanctified, into the spiritual body of Christ.
Note the clear sequence of actions, first a person becomes aware of God's revelation of the gospel of Christ, i.e. the "name of Jesus Christ" and then receives Him, which refers to those who believe in His name. Thus the first human action is lost person comes to put their faith, as worthless as it may be, in what he or she believes about Christ, such as Jesus is God incarnate, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died as a sinless sacrifice for the whole of humanity, and arose from the dead, demonstrating His promises are true.
Next, the person is given the right to become a child of God. This action is God crediting the lost person's faith as righteousness.
Lastly, having given the person the right to become a child of God, God causes the person to be spiritually born anew, becoming a new creation, a child of God by setting the person apart, which is the action of transferring their human spirit into the spiritual body of Christ. Then they are made alive, regenerated, together with Christ.
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