You Are A Son Or Daughter Of God

In this day and time, a lot of the members of the church have either forgotten who they really are or have never been taught who they really are in Christ. The lesson previously posted, "What and Who is God? What You Believe Effects What You Get," was written to present a clearer picture of God our Father. According to His Word, each of us that believe are His children. We are sons and daughters of Almighty God, we have gained this position not on our own but as the result of God having chosen us and through the death and resurrection of His son, Jesus Christ. As joint-heirs with Jesus Christ, we have been given a tremendous inheritance from God, the greatness of this inheritance we will not fully comprehend until the second coming of Jesus Christ. From the beginning God has proved that He is God through signs and wonders recorded in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. The servants of God in the Old Testament and the sons (children) of God in the New Testament received from God confirmation of His Word spoken with signs and wonders. In order to manifest the power of God as a witness to the world, we in the church need to reclaim the true realization of what we were transformed to be in Christ. When we believe that we are truly sons and daughters of God and have the power of God in Christ in us, then the world will see the signs, miracles, and wonders that were manifested by the prophets of old and the first century church.

We gained our position in God's family through our adoption by God. In the administration of the patriarchs of the Old Testament, the property of a father was divided among the sons of his legitimate wives with the oldest son getting a larger part than the rest. Unlike the patriarchal Mosaic law specifications of how an inheritance was to be disbursed, In the New Testament, God made Christ the heir of all things (Hebrews 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;) and then made available what Christ inherited to be equally shared by all who believe (Romans 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.). We were made heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ. We believers are heirs of the promise, heirs of righteousness, heirs of the kingdom, heirs of the world, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ. We now have access to God with boldnessand we can come to him as children to a father, we can tell Him all our complaints and wants, and we can boldly approach His throne of grace to claim grace and mercy to help in times of need.

We Are Sons And Daughters Of God.

Paul in preaching to the men of Athens on Mars' hill, made the clear statement to all present that God was not a God who required fancy temples or big church buildings. God did not reside in them when man did build them. Paul asked them the question, did the God who created all life and all things, need His creation to build Him a place to live? Paul also stressed to the men in Athens that God made all men of all nations of one blood, and in essence God does not discriminate because of outward appearance. He created alll men the same inside and what matters to God is what is in a man's heart. In His foreknowledge determined that they should seek him (not a hard thing since God is near by all of the time). Now that we have received the light of His Word, we are now all accountable to God for intentional failure to repent after receiving the Word of Truth. As we learn God's Word we are expected to apply it to our lives willingly and we must keep in mind that there will come a day in which the world will be judged by God in righteousness. God's call to "sonship" applies to all men and women of all nations and cultures "for we are also his offspring (children)."
_Acts 17:22-31; "24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; 26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; 27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: 28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. 29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. 30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead."_

As heirs of God, joint-heir with Christ, we have received the Spirit of Christ (spirit of adoption, Christ in you). We have received a new life immortal and will be resurrected when Christ returns. As born again believers we are led by the Spirit of God (through revelation and the scriptures) are are the sons of God. We are the children of God and are heirs of God and join-heirs with Christ. Having received the Spirit of adoption and can approach God as a son to his Father. The word "Abba" in Romans and again in Galatians is the Aramaic word for father used by Jesus Christ himself for God his Father. The following word Father is the Greek word "pater." Abba is the name taught to infants and indicates unreasoning trust where father expresses intelligent understanding of the relationship. These two words coupled together express the love and intelligent confidence and trust of a child. Throough our love, understanding, confidence, and trust the Spirit bears witness that we are the children of God and heirs of God. We no longer are positioned as the men of Gpd and prophets of the Old Testament as "servants," we have obtained the glorious position in the family of God as a son and heir of God. When we look back at the great display of power God formerly worked through His servants, much more we can see and realize the greater degree of God's power that is available to His sons. Also, in context of our adoption and being joint-heirs, Jesus Christ is in all actuality our big brother in the family of God. That is an awsome thing indeed. The entire creation (creature of vrs.19) had waited a long while in earnest expectation for our appearance. God looks at His children without distinction "neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female". We are equal in His eyes.
_Romans 8:9-19; "9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God."_
_Galatians 3:26-4:7; 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. 4:1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; 2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. 3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: 4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ."_
We have transcended past the highest attainable relationship of the Old Testament, that of the servant of God, and have received a position of power and authority in the family of God as He has positioned us into the body of Christ to fulfil our function.

As sons and daughters of God the promise to us is that all things will work together to produce good things in our lives because we love God and we were called in agreement to His anticipated outcome for us. God knew well in advance who we are and that we would come to believe. We were foreordained by God's divine will and decree, we were called to justification and to share in the glory of Christ Jesus. As sons of God, with God on our side, nothing and no one can stand against us as we stand on God's Word. Being justified by God, condemnation by man has no importance at all. We are God's "elect," and elect means that we are an exclusive group of people chosen by God. As sons of God, Christ Jesus makes intercession (intervens for us) for us to God. As sons and daughters of God we are More Than Conquerors through Christ Jesus.
_Romans 8:28-37; "28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. 31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us."_

In the application of the things we have received from God we are encouraged to not be unequally yoked (joined or linked) together with unbelievers. The logic behind this facet of our walk as children of God is the same thing illustrated over and over in the Old Testament. By spending more time with the unbelievers around you, than with like minded believers, you open yourself to their negative influence. Like the old saying goes, If you hang around the barber shop long enough you'll end up with a hair cut. God does not mean that we totally seperate ourselves from unbelievers, just that we should associate more with our brothers and sisters in Christ (Romans 12:10). In the first letter to the Corinthians it says, 1Corinthians 15:33 "Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners." This literally means that evil associations corrupt good morals. God say in love prefer the company of you family in God, the body of Christ and He will be a Father to us and we will be His children. We can not seperate form the unbelievers around us completely and still be able to carry of the ministry of reconciliation each of us has been given by God, but we can choose to fellowship with like minded believers in preference over than hanging out all the time with unbelievers.
_2 Corinthians 6:14-18; "14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."_

Furthermore, as sons and daughters of God, we are told to let this "mind" (intention) be in us as it was in Christ Jesus. Jesus Christ did not think it was taking glory from (robbery) God to be "equal - well matched" with God (kinda indicates a team player relationship with God - in simple terms). As Jesus Christ humbled himself and took on a position of a servant to his disciples and believers and humbled himself to be obedient to God, we to must remain humble with a heart for service toward our brothers and sisters in Christ and in serving God. By doing so, as God exaulted Christ for his submission and servitude, God will also exault us with Christ, when Christ Jesus returns to claim his body the church. Through the Spirit, God works through His children to accomplish His will in the world. We are in truth the sons of God in the middle of a crooked and perverse nation of darkness, but by the light of God's Word we are the shinning lights of God in the World and it is the light of God in Christ in us that that we hold forth to the world, the word of life. It is our introduction of God's light into the darkness around us that dispels that darkness and allows for the rescue of people from the darkness to the light. It is also the growing light of the church on the move in holding forth God's Word, that can enable the darkness of a crooked and perverse nation to be illuminated with the light of God's Word.
_Philippians 2:5-16; "5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain."_

As sons and daughters of God we truly have been transformed into the children of Light. In 1 John 1:5 the Word says, "This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." Through God's mercy and grace we have had the darkness of this world removed from us through redemption, sanctification, justification, and remission of sin. No matter how much or how little you understand of God's Word, you have the same radiance of the light of God and the same capabilities as any other member of the body of Christ (son of God). We are no longer walking blind in the spiritual darkness of the world, but have the spiritual vision and understanding available to us so we are not surprised by the signs of the time coming, nor or we blind to the spiritual battle ongoing around us. Being awake and with sight in the light of God we have put on the breastplate of faith and love, we have the hope (anticipated waiting) of salvation. God has appointed His sons and daughters to eternal life in Christ in heaven. We are not to allow any man deceive us by teaching God's Word having an exaggerated sense of self-importance. We, as sons of God, were not chosen by God to experience the wrath (the tribulation) but to obtain our salvation as members of the body of Christ which he will come to gather together.
_Ephesians 5:6-8; "6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:"_
_1 Thessalonians 5:1-10; "1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him."_

We are to be called the sons of God, we are to believe this fact in our own minds that we are the sons and daughters of God. The world controlled by our adversary will not know us (acknowledge us for what we are) and will reject us as it rejected and refused to know our lord and savior Jesus Christ, but that is of no conqequence and is something that Jesus himself revealed in the teachings of his ministry here on earth.. Right Now we are the sons of God. We can not understand what our immortal body, that we will one day have will be like, but we do know for certain that when Jesus Christ returns we will have a body like his.
_1 John 3:1-2; "1 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. 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is._
Now Are We The Sons of God, right here and now, from the point that you believed that Jesus was the Christ, God's son given for our redemption and raised from the dead by God for our justification and righteousness.