We Can Become Children of God

GOD and US
A Reality Check

Christian Identity
We Are God's Children!

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John 1:12-13 tells of Jesus, "...to all who received Him, to those who believed in his name, He gave the right to become children of God--children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God."

Jesus told Nicodemus (John 3:3) of this process, "...I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." He explained further (:5-7), "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.'"

IF WE ARE UNAWARE OF, OR LOSE, OUR IDENTITY AS A CHILD OF GOD WE MISS MUCH THAT GOD WISHES TO GIVE US FOR OUR GOOD

That we are children of God is something that Satan would have us be unaware of, doubt or dis-believe because our identity as a child of God is something that gives confidence, direction, purpose and joy to our lives.

SATAN'S TEMPTATION OF JESUS WAS ABOUT HIS IDENTITY AS SON OF GOD

Luke 4:1-13 tells the story of Satan tempting Jesus. For two of the three temptations recounted, Satan tempted Jesus by questioning His identity, "IF you are the Son of God..." Satan tries to keep us unaware of our identity as a child of God, or if we are aware of it, to so seriously question it that our lives are not blessed by the power of that knowledge. To counter Satan's deceptions on this score it is important to see what the Word of God has to say, the many places this relationship is spoken of, so we can believe it without doubting. Here is a sampling.

THE WORD OF GOD HAS MANY REFERENCES TO US BEING CHILDREN OF GOD

Romans 8:14-21 "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba [Daddy, in our language], Father.' The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, ...For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God."

1 John 3:10 "In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother."

Matthew 12:49-50 "...He (Jesus) said, 'Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.'"

Romans 8:29 "For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers."

1 John 3:1-2 "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he (Jesus) appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure."

THREE ESSENTIAL BITS OF UNDERSTANDING

It is important that we have these three elemental bits of understanding:
     1. GOD IS. He is loving designer, creator, sustainer
     2. JESUS IS. Jesus is my Savior, my Redeemer, my friend.
     3. WHO I AM. I am a child of God free to be who He wants me to be -- living the fullest
           possible life with the greatest awareness and joy -- in participation with Him.

We are children of God and joint heirs with Christ.

The thoughts on this page are largely inspired by a sermon titled When You Lose Your Identity, You Lose Your Way, by Dr. Carlton Green, 2/22/03; Pasadena, CA.

OUR IDENTITY AS A CHRISTIAN IS THAT WE ARE A CHILD OF GOD!

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The Apostle Paul told the Galatians that in Galatians 3:26.

"We are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus."

One of the most incredible elements of the "Good News" (gospel) is that God wants to give each of us a new identity as His son or daughter! That's what being "born again" is all about.