Daily Bread - JAN/08/08

1 John 3:1 - Look at what amazing love the Father has given to us that we should be called the children of God. The world does not know us because it did not know Him.

It is one thing to be called the sons of God by man; it is altogether a different thing to be called a son of God by God Himself. Our relationship with God cannot be better expressed than that which was spoken by Jesus when He said, "but go to my brethren and say to them I ascend to my Father and your Father and to my God and your God" (John 20:17). Although the word for children (tekna) is used here instead of sons (uioi) as in Galatians 4:6, the same meaning is implied. Above all others, Jesus Christ is the Son of God first, and without Him no man or woman can become a son of God. It is because of the miracle provision of the Spirit that we can be born again and made brethren to Christ Jesus (Romans 8:29; Hebrews 2:12-14). Using the word children is more inclusive of all the women of the kingdom of God. Yet using the word sons is preferred only because whether we are male or female we find our place in God through Christ Jesus, the Son of God.

We are not children of God because we were born into the world, but we are children of God because we were born into the Kingdom of God. The new birth did not come through the sexual union of man but through the power of the Holy Spirit. It is essential to the New Testament doctrine and faith in Christ Jesus that we recognize that we have been born of God (John 3:5-8; 1 John 2:29; 3:9; 4:7; 5:1, 4, 18; 1 Peter 1:23; 1:3). More than anything else, God has purposed that we take on the identity of His Son and that of His family (Ephesians 3:15; 2 Corinthians 6:18). As the children of God, we are privileged to be heirs and coinheritors with Jesus Christ our Lord who is the firstborn among many brethren (Romans 8:17).

Be blessed,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org