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” 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. - John 1:11-12

On this point I find myself agreeing with the Calvinists. A man can grit his teeth, put his hands over his ears, jump up and down, humming and saying repeatedly to himself “I believe.” That does not make it so.”

FWIW: “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:”

This supports my argument - to those that believe on his name, he gives the power to become the sons of God.

And why does this happen? It isn’t my will, or anyone else’s. We haven’t reached into heaven. We didn’t make God do squat. God and God alone chose to save those who believe.

“A man can grit his teeth, put his hands over his ears, jump up and down, humming and saying repeatedly to himself “I believe.” That does not make it so.”

Faith and belief is not an intellectual act. But if we act on our belief, then yes, it is so.

Thank you for sharing your views, dear brother in Christ!

As for me, I discern the two verses together, the "which were" qualifying "them that believe on his name" to be those who "were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

However, it should also be noted that the NIV translation gives a different phrasing of those verses as compared to the KJV and Douay-Rheims. The NIV version comports with your view, the others comport with mine.

To God be the glory, not man, never man!

John 1; 9 That was the true Light, which lights his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them he gave the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

We need to remember that this was written without punctuation AND VERSES

That sentence reads as follows

...his own received him not. but to as many as received to them HE gave the power to become the sons of God

This is talking about the jews (His own people) ..they did not receive him, BUT to those that did.. HE gave the power to become the children of God.. THEN John , under the guidance of the Holy Spirit qualifies the sentence telling us it was not their lineage or their "free will" But they were born again only by the will of God ...