Children of God – Part 1

John 1:12-13 “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 man, but of God.”

When one or more of the unholy trinity makes an attempt at spiritual identity theft, what identity are they trying to steal? They can’t steal something that you do not have in the first place. Pastor JJ continues in this Sunday Sermon series by identifying “who we are in Christ?” The devil doesn't get us to become “devil-worshipers”, but gets us to doubt God (the original sin). There are many voices in our culture that work to distract our senses and tempt our minds. If those who do not hold to biblical values are deceived then the children of God need to engage our culture and society. Those who have received Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord have been adopted by God and welcomed into the family; there is our identity.

Romans 8:14-17 “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, 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, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

There are five great truths about being children of God.

(1) Our motivation for living righteously. Things will have to change because God meets us where we are at, but does not keep us where we are at. We must give up the sinful things of this God-rejecting world system. Romans 6:23 tells us that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Does death look fun? Then why do people say things like: “Everyone else is doing it.” or “At least I’m not as bad as others.” Are they excuses just to have a little sinful fun. Sin has consequences … ultimately, the death of our soul. But, sons and daughters of God know and hear a different calling in Christ; tuning and aligning their lives to the Word and the Spirit to live, representing God on high and carrying His name. “Christian” is our identity and we have obligations to the kingdom of God. 

Philippians 2:14-16 “Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.”

Being that this post looks packed with great truths that need mindful digesting in heartfelt prayer, let's pick this issue up tomorrow right here.

In Christ, Brian