Sons & Daughters of God

John 1:12-13

[12] “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, [13] who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

Let's take a look at what God's word has to say, concerning us as His children. God has made us His children through Jesus Christ. Everything that God has done concerning us has been done through Jesus.

We are sons and daughters of God because of what Jesus has accomplished for us. We are the righteousness of God thanks to Jesus. All of the glory and honor and praise is to go to Jesus. Why? Because God said so.

Remember from chapter two, we have the restored relationship of friendship, and harmony with God, because of Jesus and what He accomplished for us.

Yes, God wants us as His sons and daughters. He also wants sons and daughters who are like the image and perfection of Jesus. He wants us to be like Jesus as much as we possibly can.

God wants a large family. Listen to what His word has to say concerning children.

Psalm 127:3-5

[3] "Behold, children are a gift of the Lord; the fruit of the womb is a reward. [4] Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. [5] How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; they shall not be ashamed, when they speak with their enemies in the gate."

Listen to what Psalm 127:5 says: "How blessed or happy is the man whose quiver is full of children." God wants to have many, many children. We were created for the sole purpose of being His sons and daughters. He has performed our adoption to Him through Jesus, so His first-born Son will receive all of the glory and honor.

Proverbs 17:6

"Grandchildren are the crown of old men, and the glory of sons is their fathers."

We are His glory. We were created to speak His praise and to love Him. We are the sons and daughters of the Most High. God is our Father. He is our Dad. Jesus is our Lord, but He is also our brother. The exalted awesome older brother who just happens to be King of kings and Lord of lords, but He's still our brother.

God wants respect and reverence of course, but He also greatly desires love and intimacy with us and from us. He wants us to see Him not as the Most High all-powerful God of all creation, but as our God.

Yes, He is the Most High all-powerful God of all creation. He's also first and foremost Father, then God and King. Even Jesus when He prayed, first addressed God as Father, then as Lord of heaven and earth.

Matthew 11:25

"At that time Jesus answered and said, "I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You hid these things from the wise and intelligent and revealed them to babes."

He's my awesome Dad! He's our awesome Dad! He wants us to see Him as our Dad so much, that He poured forth the spirit of Christ into our hearts, crying "Abba! Father!" Abba is the Hebrew version of daddy, or dad.

We were created so He might have many children, instead of just one. He wants a large family. Even in the following passage from Matthew 6 containing the Lord's prayer, Jesus instructs His disciples to refer to God as Father.

Matthew 6:9-13

[9] "Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Your name. [10] Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. [11] Give us this day our daily bread. [12] And forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors. [13] And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen."

Notice Jesus saved "the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever" for the very end of the prayer. Notice also, Jesus instructs us to pray addressing the Most High God over all of creation as "Father." There is a time and place for formality of course. When addressing God, there are specific guidelines as laid out both by Jesus and His word.

In Psalm 100:4, the Holy Spirit instructs us how to pray as well: "Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him; bless His name." This is the formal way of addressing God. This is the way to talk to Him when in the congregation, or assembly of other Christians. Also, this is a good example of how we as His children should speak to Him. First, bless Him, praise Him, thank Him for being the awesome God that He is, then talk to Him as our Father, not God.

Matthew 7:11 says, "If you then, being, evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!"

He's God. If you are in trouble and need His help, of course He's going to help you. If you are lacking, of course He will give it to you. He's your Father. It's not like you have to petition Him with forms, and make sure that all of the right areas have their required signatures and initials. No, you ask, and He gives you as you ask Him according to your need.

This is one of the reasons why Jesus told His disciples not to worry about food or clothing. Jesus would say, "Don't worry, your Father will buy you all the clothes you need. Seek first to serve Him and be pleasing to Him, and He will provide you with what you need."

Remember how Jesus instructed His disciples regarding their relationship with their earthly parents compared to their relationship with their heavenly Father. Here let me remind you.

Matthew 7:9-11

[9] “Or what man is there among, when his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone? [10] Or if he shall ask for a fish, he will not give him a snake will he? [11] If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!”

Our parents like everyone else on earth are sinners for whom Christ died, and yet they still are able to give us good things. Our Father in heaven is perfect. Since our earthly parents care about whether or not our bellies are full and we’ve had something to eat and our health, how much more so God, who formed us in our mothers’ wombs!!

Ever notice how in almost every mention of Jesus talking about God, He refers to Him as Father, and not God Almighty? Why do you think this is? Probably, because He is the Son of God, right? So, God has also made us through our relationship with Christ, He is no longer God, but "Abba! Dad! Father!"

What kind of relationship does "Lord" or "Your highness" represent? Doesn't it represent a relationship of servitude rather than intimacy? Do you think God really truly created us to be just His servants? Why then did He pour out the spirit (or essence) of Jesus into us, so that we call Him, "Abba! Father!" Because He wants children! He made us to be His sons and daughters first, servants second, and servants in the context of sons and daughters faithfully serving their father, rather than slaves serving their king.

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Until next time, keep Christ first, and may God bless you.