Child of God, 1of4

~ The Relationships of Children of God ~

Children of God Are Born Again by God  ~  “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” (John 1:12-13).  “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments” (1 John 5:1-2).

Children of God Are In a New Relationship  ~  “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’” (Romans 8:14-15).  Jesus said, “A slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.  Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:35-36). 

Children of God Are Linked with Christ  ~  “Jesus said to her, ‘Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, “I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God”’” (John 20:17).  “For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.  For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren” (Hebrews 2:10-11). 

Children of God Are Heirs and Joint-Heirs  ~  “Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Galatians 4:7).  “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” (Romans 8:16-17). 

Children of God Are “Dear Children” (a title of affection)  ~  “I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name” (1 John 2:12).  “And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming” (1 John 2:28).

Children of God Are Unknown by the World  ~  “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 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” (1 John 3:1-3).  Jesus said, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.  If you were of the world, the world would love its own.  Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.  Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’  If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.  If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.  But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me” (John 15:18-21). 

Children of God Are Waiting for the Revealing  ~  “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.  For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God” (Romans 8:18-19).  “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.  For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:2-4). 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

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