“But to all who did receive him, 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
God has created all of us, but He is not a father to all of us. The scripture emphasizes that only those who believe in Christ become God’s children. It is the work of God’s grace through faith in His son. Our identity in Christ as children of God enables us to intimately relate with God as our Heavenly Father. It shapes our understanding of who we are in Christ.
WE RECEIVED CHRIST
When Jesus Christ came into the world, many people did not recognize or receive Him, even His own people who were waiting for the Messiah— the Israelites. Everyone who receives and believes in Him, He grants them the right to become children of God. We accepted Him in our hearts as our Lord and Saviour (Rom 10:9-10). We are born again and this is a spiritual birth that cannot be achieved through human effort or willpower; it is solely the work of God (John 3:5-6). Without this rebirth, we remain separated from God and enslaved to sin. Our identity as children of God is hidden in Christ Jesus.
WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE GOD’S CHILDREN
When we receive Christ and believe in His name, we are given the right to become children of God. This means we have the power and authority to be part of God’s family. We are able to experience all the privileges that come with being in His kingdom. Jesus explains this in His conversation with Nicodemus in John 3:3, saying, “unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” The Holy Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children and together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. We have a new identity, purpose and inheritance. We are no longer slaves to sin but we are free to live in righteousness. The Holy Spirit dwells within us to guide, empower and transform us (2 Cor 5:17).
GOD IS OUR FATHER
God Almighty is our loving father. Galatians 4:6-7 explains that because we are God’s children, He has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, allowing us to call Him “Abba! Father!” This means we have the privilege of calling the Creator of heaven and earth our Father. He loves us and cares for us (Matt 6:25-34). We have open access to our Father through prayer. We can approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, to receive mercy and grace to help us in our time of need. The Lord Jesus teaches us that our Heavenly Father gives good gifts to His children (Matt 7:7-11). God gave us a wonderful privilege of having an intimate relationship with Him as our Father. How great is the love the father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!
In conclusion, we are called to grow in His likeness and fulfill the purpose He has for us (Eph 5:1). Our identity as children of God is not earned but freely given through faith in Christ Jesus. God wants all of us to be His children, live for Him and spend eternity with Him. Let’s embrace our identity and keep sharing the gospel with other people, giving them an opportunity to become children of God.
Further study: Romans 8:16-17; 1 John 3:1
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