~
The Process of Children of God ~
We
Become Children of God by Faith
~ “Before
faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would
afterward be revealed. Therefore the law
was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But
after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor” (Galatians
3:23-25). “As
many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to
those who believe in His name [by faith]:
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).
We
Are Given the Spirit of God
~ “And
because you are sons, God has sent forth
the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!’ Therefore you
are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Galatians 4:6-7). “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” (Romans 8:14-17).
We
Enjoy the Position of Children of God
~ Jesus
said, “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand
and sandals on his feet. And bring the
fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he
was lost and is found.’ And they
began to be merry” (Luke 15:22-24). “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” (Romans
8:14-17).
We
Manifest the Character of Children of God ~ Jesus said, “That
you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil
and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what
reward have you? Do not even the tax
collectors do the same? And if you greet
your brethren only, what do you do
more than others? Do not even the tax
collectors do so? Therefore you
shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matthew
5:45-48).
We
Receive the Training of Children of God ~ “And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you
as to sons: ‘My son, do not despise the
chastening of the Lord, nor be
discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord loves He
chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.’ If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what
son is there whom a father does not chasten?
But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers,
then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore,
we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in
subjection to the Father of spirits and live?
For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but
He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no
chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless,
afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been
trained by it” (Hebrews 12:5-11). “And if you call on the
Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct
yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were
not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless
conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of
Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:17-19).
We
Become Increasingly Like Christ
~ “But
we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are
being transformed into the same image
from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2
Corinthians 3:18). “And we know that all things work together for good to those who
love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son,
that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also
called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these
He also glorified” (Romans 8:28-30). “Beloved, now we are children
of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that
when He is revealed, we shall be like Him,
for we shall see Him as He is. And
everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 John
3:2-3).
~
Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT
LIFE NOW
NOTES:
(1) The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very
bottom of this home page.
(2) There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by
scrolling down the left column.
(3) You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own
blog or website.
(4) You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by
prominently displaying the following statement: Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free
blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid
Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/
.
