I John 3:1 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.
Because we’re saved, we’re part of the family of God now. Right now. People live in different neighborhoods, some better, some worse than others. Some people are rich and some are poorer. Children born to these families didn’t have a choice of whom they were born to. Most would probably choose to be part of the rich and what all that brings. However, we do have a choice in whom our spiritual father is: God or Satan. While we had no choice in our natural parents, we do have a choice here. This privilege extends to our eternal home: heaven or hell. God convicted and drew us to him. He came looking for us. We had the privilege to accept him or turn him away.
By nature we’re creatures of God, but not everyone is a child of God. He’s not the Father of all men in the spiritual sense. We were created by God, We didn’t evolve. We have a soul. By nature we are not children of God. But by receiving Jesus Christ as Savior, we immediately became a child of God. A father loves his family. We all love our family, but God’s love surpasses our love. We can’t love without the Holy Spirit who lives in us. He is what helps us to love instead of get even. A father provides for the needs of his family. Dads do everything in their power to give their children at least the basics of life. Philippians 4:19 tells us that God will provide our need. How? Through Christ Jesus. We also give our kids some of their desires. Our heavenly Father is the same. Every now and then he gives me the desires of my heart. A father also protects his family. It’s his duty. God does the same. Look at the story of Job. God had a hedge about him to protect him. As in that story, if the devil jumps over the hedge, God’s grace is sufficient to bring us through. A family feels each other’s pain. We need and depend on each other. We need all our body parts for our body to work as it should. As the body of Christ, we need each other. Be protective of each other; don’t cut each other up.
We have a likeness to the ones who gave us birth. We’re to be like God and by that we will not have a lifestyle of sin. Verse 9 says 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. I fail. We all do. We are to ask God to forgive us. When we knelt and asked Jesus into our hearts, our sins rolled away. Old things passed away. Practicing a lifestyle of sin is gone. John tells us that if a person is truly born again, there will be a change. You won’t go on in your sin. Period! Verse 2 says 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. One day our sinful nature will be gone forever. We’ll be like him.
You have the privilege to choose the right father. Change your father to God. This comes with the distinct privilege of choosing your eternal home. Hell is no party. It’s outer darkness, constant pain. Heaven is royal splendor, constant comfort. God will care for us through eternity. I’m glad I changed fathers one day!
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 