AUGUST 17, 2023
“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.” (Gal. 4:6-7)
Paul describes the fantastic truth that those who come to Christ by faith are freed from slavery to the law and their sinfulness. They are adopted by God as His children, pointing to the Holy Spirit as the confirmation of this adoption.
God sends His Spirit to live in the hearts of His adopted sons and daughters. The Holy Spirit is referred to here by Paul as the Spirit of His Son. He moves into our hearts and gives us the right, along with Jesus, to call out to God as a young child. Abba means “father” in the Aramaic language. Because it’s easy for young children to say, like the English term dada, it’s what most young children would call their father. Without sinfulness and the law standing between God and us, we can live with God as little children do with a trusted father.
Many people wrongly believe that everyone is a child of God from birth. Since humans are created in God’s image, aren’t we all His children? The Bible says no. Every human being is designed and loved by God, but we can only become His children when He adopts us. Our sins must be forgiven and our natures restored before we can have fellowship with the One we have offended. Jesus taught that becoming children of God means we must experience the new birth. To be a child of God means our old sinful nature is replaced with a heart that wants to please Him, our sins are paid for, and our fellowship with Him has been restored.
For those who have come to God by faith in Christ, their slavery to sin and the law is over. They have become God’s beloved little children. And, as children of God, they are also His heirs. Because they are in Christ, they are entitled to share in all the inheritance that is due to Him from God the Father.
As a result, believers in Christ are entirely provided for throughout all of eternity. We are protected, loved, and included in the plans and purpose of our God. Without Christ, we would have nothing. Because we are in Him by faith, we have everything a child of God can have.
A child of God has an eternity in heaven guaranteed. Jesus has already paid the entry fee for every person who trusts in His death and resurrection. A child of God is eager to do good works because saving faith is a faith that changes us. They are no longer a child of the devil and no longer play in the devil’s backyard. God sets about transforming His children through the power of the Holy Spirit, and they begin to take on a family resemblance. If we do not start to look like our Heavenly Father in word, desire, and action, we are most likely not really His.
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