A cursory reading of John 1:12-13 could lead one to conclude that the new birth follows faith simply because those two salvific occurrences appear in that order in the text. However, a closer examination of the immediate preceding context, the emphasis of v13, and the following context of John’s Gospel actually indicate otherwise. In fact, John seems pretty adamant that we understand the new birth as the foundation for faith rather than faith as the foundation for the new birth. And he has good reason for doing so.

First, a look at the preceding context. John says the Word, the life, the light, the Son of God, was in the world and the world did not know him (v10). Astounding! I take “world” here to mean the people of the world. How on earth did we miss him? The answer is found back in v5. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” The last phrase could also be translated, and I would say better translated, as “the darkness did not grasp it.” That is, the darkness did not “see it,” “get it,” “understand it.” That’s why we missed him. We are fallen. We are spiritually dead. We are groping around in spiritual darkness, spiritually blind. He was here and we didn’t know, didn’t want to know it.

V11 highlights this point by declaring that he came to his own people, and they did not receive him. I take this to mean the Jewish people. So we didn’t know him and his own people didn’t receive him. If that’s where the story ends, the Son of God failed miserably in his mission! But that’s not where it ends.

V12 says, “But to all who did receive him...” What? If the world did not know him and his people did not receive him, then where does this reception (belief) of v12 come from? John’s answer - GOD! The new birth explains the reception. The reception does not explain the new birth. Reception does not come out of darkness (v5) or ignorance (v10) or rejection (v11). Reception comes from new birth (v13).

Second, a look at the emphasis of v13. John purposefully and pointedly removes every explanation for the reception of Christ out of the realm of man and points squarely to God as its source. Just being human will not suffice for producing saving faith! It takes a special act of grace to break the clutches of our spiritual darkness so that we can see the glory of the Son of God and freely embrace him as Lord and Savior! John says, “who were born...” Who is the who here? It’s those who received Christ in v12. How did they receive him if they were in darkness and didn’t know him and didn’t receive him? They were born. How were they born? Was it something about them, something they did, something someone else did for them? John says, “not of blood.” That takes us back to v11. Being Jewish doesn’t cause new birth. “Nor of the will of the flesh.” That takes us back to v10. There is nothing you can do for yourself or to yourself to cause this new birth. In fact, if left to yourself, the new birth will never occur. “Nor of the will of man.” That takes us back to vv6-8. John the Baptist was just a man, a witness to the light, not the light. No parent, priest, or preacher can pronounce the new birth upon you.

The new birth is of God! It is an act of His grace whereby the darkness is dispelled (v5) so that we can see the Son and receive the Son (v12).

Third, a look at the following context. This is exactly what Jesus is tells Nicodemus in ch3. Nicodemus just can’t quite get it, grasp it, at this point. He’s still in spiritual darkness. It doesn’t matter that he is a Jew and there’s nothing he can really do about it (1:13). He has to be born from above! And that is “of God” (1:13)!