For As Many As Received Christ ..... - john 1:12

Those who received Christ, were those who were born, not of blood nor the will of the flesh, nor the will of man but God. In other words, the phrase, "who were born, not of blood nor the will of the flesh, nor the will of man but God" - is a QUALIFYING statement. The phrase  actually LIMITS or RESTRICTS those who actually received Christ. For it is NOT saying, everyone without exception could receive Him but ONLY those who were ....... born of God.

John 1:12, is also NOT saying that those who received Christ were born of God AFTER receiving Him - as most interpret this text but just the opposite being born of God PRIOR TO receiving Him.

Furthermore, and in context - 

Those who received Christ (John 1:12) did not hate the light which is Christ (John 3:20). In fact, scripture testifies that those who come to the Light are only proving that their deeds according to their faith were carried out in God (John 3:21). 

And if their deeds were carried out in God it only also proves that they too were born of God before they received Him (John 3:21). Because if those who received Christ (John 1:12) did NOT hate the light, which is Christ and was neither practicing evil deeds (John 3:20) BUT yet was practicing the truth BEFORE they came to the Light, which is Christ - then this fact solidifies my argument that those who received Christ in John 1:12 only did so because they were born of God first; BEFORE receiving Him! 

QUESTION:

How can a person receive Christ and not only hate Him who is the Light but at the same time be partaking in evil deeds while coming to Him? They can't and they won't. They are still UNREPENTANT. The scriptures clarify those who actually come to Christ; those who are already practicing truth regarding the Word of the Lord and have sustained from practicing evil deeds - for these are the ones who were ALREADY born of God BEFORE coming to Christ. This same fact is also shared in John 6 involving those who are granted by the Father to come and believe in Christ AFTER being MADE ALIVE (john 6:63).

Conclusion; Those who received Christ, thus believed upon Him were doing what was right before coming to the Light, which is Christ - demonstrating their deeds according to their Faith were brought about in God because they were born of God PRIOR to them receiving His Son.

But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.  - John 1:12-13

This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever practice the truth comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God. - John 3:19-21

By Aaron Fisher