[Biblemat] A) GOD'S CHILD

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  A very good Wednesday
(Fourth of July) to each and everyone.  May God bless you and
yours with independence and freedom throughout all of your lives.
Here is an article from my files:

GOD'S CHILD

     "Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed
upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such
we are" (1 Jno. 3:1).  What a great privilege it is to be called
God's child!  Of all things valued, this honor should be esteemed highest.  
Many would think it grand to be the child
of a worldly celebrity, but they apparently think lightly of being children 
of the King of kings and Lord of lords.  Surely,
if one believes in the Almighty, he would consider being God's child a 
treasure indeed.

     Who is a child of God?  He is one who has received the
spirit of adoption (Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:4-6).  But what is involv-
ed in receiving the spirit of adoption?  One must have heard
the Word of Truth in order to believe the gospel (Rom. 10:17).
Through faith he must have turned from sins in repentance,
confessed his faith in the Christ, and been baptized into Christ, thus being 
born again (Acts 2:38; Rom. 10:10; Gal. 3:
16,17; 1 Pet. 1:17-23; Jno. 3:3-5).  He then must continue to
be led by the Spirit of God as that Spirit directs through the
Word of God (Rom. 8:14).

     If one would be acknowledged by God as His child, one
must live an obedient life.  Acceptable children are obedient
children (1 Pet. 1:13-16).  One aspect of that obedience is the
duty to be a peacemaker (Matt. 5:9).  Still another duty is to
love one's enemies and pray for them (Matt. 5:43-48; Lk. 6:35)
To be accepted as a child of God, one must also do the right-
eousness of God (1 Jno. 3:1-10).  He must maintain a separat-
eness from the corruption of sin (1 Cor. 6:14-18).  He must 
also accept the discipline of God, which He administers to
every son He receives (Heb. 12:4-13).  As one can see from
these Scriptures, being accepted by God as His child is not
achieved or maintained without considerable effort and care.

     Perhaps one can appreciate more the great blessing of
being God's child by considering some essentials of this
Father-child relationship.  The first consideration should be
the authority of the Father.  God, as Father, has the right to
direct the lives of His children.  He has done so through the
instruction Christ has given.  The love of the Father for His
children is also evident in the things He had done for the
children (1 Jno. 3:1; Heb. 12:6; Eph. 5:1).  His provident care
makes His children blessed (Matt. 6:7,8,19-34; 7:7-11).  He
disciplines (instructs, corrects, rebukes) all His children (Heb.
12).  Because of God's being such a Father, His children honor Him with 
reverence and obedience (Heb. 12:9,10,28).
They trust Him as an all wise and just Father (Matt. 6:19-34;
1 Pet. 5:7; Heb. 13:5,6).  Because they are His children, they
have access to Him, to communicate to Him their needs (Jno.
9:31).  Finally, this relationship carries with it the blessing of
the inheritance -- an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled,
which does not fade away, reserved in heaven for faithful
children of God (Rom. 8:16,17; 1 Pet. 1:3-6).

     Now, doesn't it appeal to you to be an acceptable child of
God?  The opportunity is yours; the choice if yours.  ----------
Gilbert Alexander.   </HTML>
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