Identity in Christ

02 – Children of God

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

Ephesians 2:19 KJV

I and everyone who receives the salvation of our Lord Jesus Christ are members of the household of God.

Member: a person belonging to a particular group of people
Household: a house and its occupants
Citizen: an inhabitant giving allegiance

We are no longer strangers or aliens, foreigners.

Before giving allegiance to the King of kings, Jesus Christ, we were strangers to the household of God

Our identity begins in Christ Jesus.

Humbling ourselves and giving our allegiance to Christ Jesus our King and Savior
- Surrender: to yield power, control, or possession of another
- Here I am Lord, I surrender
Without this step our efforts are of our own flesh and not the grace of God

We are the recipients of a great gift.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV

We must begin with a step of faith to believe that what God says is true.

We are in need of a Savior (and that is not ourselves)
God has provided that Savior (Jesus Christ)
He gives the faith to believe to those who will humble themselves

And He said, “Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of My Father.”

John 6:65 KJV

The Father draws us to the Son, Jesus Christ
We either do, or do not, give our allegiance to Christ Jesus, acknowledging Him as our Lord and our King
Those who do these things by faith are welcomed into the household of God
- We become members of the family of God
- We belong to a particular group of people

We become children of God.

But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to the, that believe on His name:

John 1:12 KJV

“He gave the right to become”
- This implies that we did not have this right, or power, before He, God, gave this right, or power, to us
- What was that right?
  - To become children of God

If we need to be given the right, or power, to become something, then we must not have already possessed it.

Being given the right is a transition
- It is a gift from God, from the Father
- It was not something already within us
- It was not something we produced by our works, or by our own effort

This is a new birth of sorts.

It is a birth of our spirit, a coming to life out of the dormancy it existed in

Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 1:13 KJV

Again, it is God who brings this to pass, not the will or efforts we put forth
It is by the grace of God through the faith He has given to us, and put in us
- We must humble ourselves to truly receive this truth, believe it, and act upon it in faith

This is important for new believers as it is the foundation of life in Christ.

We must surrender our lives to Him

This is important for established believers as a defense against pride, which destroys, and as a reminder of our humble beginnings.

We must never take back what we have surrendered

What was the right given to those who received Him?

The right to become children of God

So, when someone says, “We are all children of God,” is that position correct?

When did “we all” become children of God?
Did “we all” receive Him, or surrender to Him?
“Everyone”, or “we all”, is not correct as not all receive Him and therefore not all are given the right to become children of God
- All are His creation, not all are His children

We are given the right to become children of God by receiving Him

That is, by accepting the truth that Christ Jesus is the Savior that we need

We have the right to do it, now how do we do it?

I believe this is where the surrender comes into play
- We must act upon the faith that the Father put into us
  - The faith to believe

If we say we believe, but we do nothing to act upon it, do we truly believe?

We may intellectually believe the truth, but our salvation is not an intellectual exercise
When Christ calls us to follow Him, we must actively do something, that is, we must follow Him
We need to live out, or make active, our faith that the Father has given to us

What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?

James 2:14 KJV

The Apostle James asks the question
- The faith is a gift from God
- The faith enables us to believe and to receive the truth of the Savior and of our need for Him
- What do we do with that faith?
- What do we do with the right given to us to become the children of God?

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

James 2:17 KJV

We must act upon the faith
- Our action keeps the faith from “being alone”, or being by itself and dead

James warns us that belief without action is a dangerous spot where deception lurks.

Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

James 2:19 KJV

The importance is in what we do with the belief, with the faith that was given to us

James then asks the important question.

But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

James 2:20 KJV

We do not produce saving faith; it is a gift from God
- Our acting upon that faith perfects it so it may do what it was intended to do

We all, as children of God, enter the household of God in the same way.

We receive the gift of faith from the Father
We have the faith to believe the truth of Christ Jesus as our Savior and of our need for Him
We act upon that faith and belief in the surrender of our lives to Him
- We answer the call to follow Him
By virtue of our acting upon that faith, we become the children of God

This is where our identity in Christ begins.

It is the same for all who enter the Household, or the Kingdom, of God
This is why no one may boast
- How can anyone boast as all had come by the same method?
  - Humbling oneself and surrendering to the Lord and King, our Savior, Jesus Christ

Children Of God, A Deeper Look

Episode 10 Addition

Who are the Children of God?

As we saw in the initial study, those who believe are given the power to become children of God.

But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:

John 1:12 KJV

We discussed how being given “the right” implies the right was not present before the action that gave the right, that being the belief in Jesus as Lord and receiving the truth of the Savior. This is all done by faith, which is provided as a gift of God if we will receive it.

Christ Jesus, our deliverer, saves us from the penalty of sin which is enforced by the law. The law is established as a guardian for us until Christ Jesus comes into the picture. Because of the law we see our failures and short comings – our sinfulness. But we are justified through faith in Christ.

But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Galatians 3:25-27 KJV

As we learned in the previous episode, baptism is a part of our proclamation of faith. We were baptized into Christ and have put on Christ. Though we are individuals in the flesh, we are one as the body of Christ.

All of creation longs for the revealing of the children of God. All creation has carried the burden of the corruption of sin.

For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

Romans 8:19-22 KJV

The children of God come onto the scene in freedom to follow Christ, having been set free from the bondage of the law into the freedom that comes in following Christ. Those who truly follow Christ are led by holy Spirit.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Romans 8:14 KJV

God had a plan for all of this to take place in order to set us free from sin and its penalty, the second death. God’s plan will be completed and it will be on His timetable.

But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Galatians 4:4-7 KJV

Through faith in Christ Jesus, we were taken as servants and became sons. Now we have the Spirit of God in our hearts through which we walk in faith and obey the commandments of our Lord, Christ Jesus. We no longer need to sin for we are no longer enslaved to sin. We now have the power to resist evil and to do that which is good in the sight of God.

The children of God are true disciples who are committed to Christ Jesus and to doing His will rather than their own. To live a life that is pleasing to God requires sacrifice in self-denial, denying one’s own selfish desires. They live for the sake of the Kingdom of God, and they love one another as Christ commands them to do. Glorifying God in word, thought, and deed is their focus in everyday life. Maturing in faith and growing in hope, they trust in God, and God alone, for all they need. Though on occasion they may stumble into sin, they by no means live a sinful lifestyle, that which is opposed by God.

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

1 John 3:4-10 KJV

The children of God are called out and set apart. They have entered into a rewarding calling. They praise God with thanksgiving for the privilege of co-laboring with God for the sake of the Kingdom of God.

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

1 Peter 2:9 KJV

This life is their training ground and their trial run for their position in the Kingdom to come. They will lead others in righteousness and love and purity. They are called to separate themselves from the world and its lusts. They hear the call, and they respond, and their victory is in Jesus who overcame the world.

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

2 Corinthians 6:17-18 KJV

Their reward is experiencing the fullness of the love of God. It was the love of God that drew them to Christ. It is the extravagant love of God that helps keep them. They are reborn as their spirits connect with the Spirit of God. This is not a physical rebirth, but of the Spirit, through faith in Jesus Christ. The apostle John declared such love and new birth.

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not.

1 John 3:1 KJV

It does not end there, simply knowing that of being a son or daughter of God. The accompanying and following actions reveal the truth. Through sanctification the believers become disciples and then overcomers. They grow more like Christ as they are called to do.

And every man that hath this hopes in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.

1 John 3:3 KJV

But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, “Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

1 Peter 1:15-16 KJV

For they are called to be like Christ.

And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Ephesians 4:23-24

They become like Christ, and they are hidden in Christ as they walk with Him in obedience in love.

For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

Colossians 3:3-4

So I encourage you to dig deep into your identity in Christ and live a holy life that is wholly pleasing to Almighty God. Your reward will be great!