Paul says that those who have put on Christ are children of God by faith in Christ Jesus (Gal 3:26-27).

John says, “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God ‘s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.” (1Jo 3:1).

Christians, we are God’s children, we have that in common and more.

“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.  For one will scarcely die for a righteous person — though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die —  but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.  For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.” (Romans 5:6-10).

All of God’s Children have a PAST.

• We were weak – astheros – infirm, feeble, unable to do what is right.
• We were ungodly – asebes – showing no respect for God.
• We were sinners – amaptolos – devoted to sin.
• We were enemies – echthros – hated, the antithesis of agape love, we hated God.

We were unable or unwilling to do what was right, showing no reverence for God, while committing our existence to sin, living in hatred of God.

Then Christ came!

In Him we are justified by faith. ( Rom 5:1)

All of God’s Children have a PRESENT.

• We are reconciled to God.
• We have peace with God.
• Because of His grace.

Now we can presently rejoice in suffering and in God’s love (Rom 5:3-5). We can walk with God and rejoice in our present state and our future.

All of God’s Children have a FUTURE.

“Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” (Rom 5:2).

We have access to heaven, we rejoice in hope. Hope is not wishful thinking. Hope is anticipation of an expected outcome. Our hope resets in the Spirit’s guarantee (Eph 1:13-14).

If you claim to be God’s child, do you look like the Father? Can people see in you a family resemblance to Christ?

– Scott