But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, (John 1:12 ESV).
I'm sure that most Christians have asked the questions “What does God want?” More specifically, “What does he want of me? Why did God create me? Why am I here?” Many Christians have spent their lives searching for meaning in their lives. For many years I did the same. And, much like the simplicity of the Gospel, the answer is a simple one: God wants a family. He wants children. He wants sons and daughters to love and to dote over and to share his life with. He wants us.
When I first came to this realization it came as a shock to me. In the denomination I grew up in God was far off. He was One to placate, serve and to fear. Although we spoke of God's love it was never a reality, at least not for me. But when I started reading the Bible I found this reality: I am a son of God. Of course this is different than being the Son of God but I am part of God's family. Jesus is not only our Savior, Healer and Redeemer, he is our brother. And this is true for every believer.
For you are all sons [and daughters] of God, through faith in Christ Jesus. (Gal 3:26 ESV)
As a believer knowing that you are a child of God is vital to living a victorious Christian life. But when we come to this realization we begin to understand our identity in him. In order for us to live victorious Christian lives we need to understand all that we have access to as his children. We must be fully convinced that we really are part of his family before we can access what is ours as children of God. Ever believer is a son or daughters of the King, the Creator of the universe. But what does that mean to us as Christians?
What is a King?
A king is one who rules over a geographical area and it's people and who has responsibility for the care of that geographical area and its/his people. He also has the right to exercise his will and authority within that kingdom.
A king's children are called princes and princesses. Because they are his children they carry his authority in the kingdom but they also have full, unfettered access to the king. You and I, as children of God also have full, unfettered access to our King, God the Father and as such we carry his authority. This is an important point. Just as your children have authority to act on your behalf (to act in your stead) God has given us his full authority to act as his agents upon the earth. We also have full unfettered access to him 24 hours a day 365 days a year.
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16 ESV).
He is always available to us. We can confidently go to him at any time with any need, any problem big or small and we can be certain that he hears us.
A Child of God or a Creation of God?
We've all heard the phrase - “Everyone is a child of God.” In a way this is true but more accurately we are all God's creation. The Bible tells us that it is only those who have received Christ who are truly his children.
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, (John 1:12 ESV)
Notice that it is all who receive him by believing in his name that are his children. Therefore technically (and Biblically) those who do not receive and believe in him are not his children. Everyone is a creation of God, but only those who have received Jesus as their Lord and Savior are truly children of God.
Adam and Eve were children of God, but when they sinned they became alienated to him. They became separated from God. Because of Jesus' work on the cross that separation is no more for those who have received him. We have been fully adopted into God's family and therefore have the same rights and privileges as the natural born Son of God, Jesus.
For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” (Romans 8:15 ESV)
The implications and the benefits of being a child of God are tremendous. This means that we can speak and act in his authority, as his proxies as Adam and Eve did before the fall. It means that all that Adam and Eve enjoyed in the Garden of Eden is ours if we avail ourselves of it, by believing the benefits are ours. The key to the Kingdom of God is believing. If we do not believe in the benefits of Kingdom we will not be able enjoy them.
True Sons and Daughters of God
Jesus answered, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?" Then he pointed to his disciples and said, "Look! Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does what my Father in heaven wants is my brother, my sister, and my mother." (Mat 12:48-50 GNB)
What is Jesus saying here? He is not denying that he has a human family – his mother and his half-brothers and half-sisters. What he is saying is that those who have received him (which are the ones who do his will) are his family – the family of God. He is saying that you and I, who have received him are his brothers and sisters. He is saying that he is not only our Savior, our Lord and our friend, but that he is also our brother.
For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” (Romans 8:15 ESV)
In the natural the adopted child same rights as the natural born son. The adopted child of God (you and me) have the same rights as the natural born child of God (Jesus). Have you considered that as a child of God you have full access to all that Jesus is – that everything he has is also yours as a child of God? You have the same access to God the Father as Jesus has because you are in Jesus and he is in you.
When my sons were teenagers they could go to the refrigerator and get whatever they needed whenever they wanted because they are my children. Because they are my children it was also their refrigerator. As adults they can still go to the refrigerator anytime they desire because they are my children. They can walk into the house without knocking anytime because they are my children.
The same is true of us with our heavenly Father – we can go to his refrigerator (Where our needs are met) and get what we need when we want because we are his children. We can approach God with our needs anytime, night or day and he hears us, because we are his children.
Beloved, if our heart does not accuse us, we have confidence with God. And whatever we ask, we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments, and we do the things pleasing before Him. (1 John 3:21-22 LITV)
Every believer shares in the inheritance of Jesus.
[Jesus] in whom we also have been chosen to an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of the One working all things according to the counsel of His own will,
(Eph 1:11 LITV)
Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. (Heb 9:15 ESV)
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (Rom 8:16-17 ESV)
Of course our eternal inheritance is eternal life with Jesus in Heaven. Our salvation is obtained by our faith in Jesus and his perfect work. Paul says that we are “Fellow heirs with Christ”. In other words since we are now in him and part of the family of God we get to share in all that he deserved. This is not just for the future, but for today.
For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. (Eph 2:6 NLT)
Right now – right at this very moment in a way we cannot understand every believer is sitting with Jesus Christ in Heaven. Right now! As I've heard one pastor preach, “We get to participate in everything that Heaven currently enjoys.” Every believer's spirit is joined with the Spirit of God!
Jesus himself said, “The rustler comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I have come to give life—complete, full, and abundant—beginning here and now. (John 10:10 The Remedy New Testament)
This abundant life is ours here and now. We do not have to wait for it in the sweet by and by. We can believe and receive it now. In his death and resurrection Jesus took upon himself everything that we deserve and exchanged it for everything that he deserved. This is called The Divine Exchange.
Jesus was punished that we might be forgiven. (Isaiah 53:4-5)
Jesus was wounded that we might be healed. (Isaiah 53:4-5)
Jesus was made sin with our sinfulness, that we might be made righteous with His righteousness. (Isaiah 53:10, 2 Corinthians 5:21)
Jesus tasted death for us that we might share His life. (Hebrews 2:9)
Jesus was made a curse that we might receive the blessing. (Galatians 3:13-14)
Jesus endured our poverty that we might share His abundance. (2 Corinthians 8:9, 2 Corinthians 9:8)
Jesus bore our shame that we might share His glory. (Matthew 27:35-36, Hebrews 12:2, Hebrews 2:9)
Jesus endured my rejection that I might have His acceptance with the Father. (Matthew 27:46-51, Ephesians 1:5-6).
He was cut off that we might be joined to the Lord. (Isaiah 53:8, 1 Corinthians 6:17)
Our Old Man was put to death in Him that the New Man might come to life in us. (Romans 6:6, Colossians 3:9-10
If you'd like to find out more about the Divine Exchange you can go to https://www.derekprince.com/books/the-divine-exchange and https://www.derekprince.com/radio/418.
Because we have received Jesus we are a child of God.
As a child of God we have complete access to God, 24/7.
We are sons and daughters of the King.
We have the King's (God's) authority.
We have equal standing with Christ as his brother and sister. (We are not God, nor will we ever be. God has chosen to share his divine nature with us (2 Peter 1:4).
Jesus took what we deserved (eternal death and condemnation) and gave us what he deserved (eternal life and all its benefits). (The Divine Exchange).
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. (1 John 3:1 ESV)
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, (Rom 8:16 ESV)
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. (Rom 8:14 CENT).