Identity: We Are Children
“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 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!” 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.”
-Romans 8:14-17
ONE of the most precious themes in all of Scripture is that of the sonship of believers in Christ. This profound truth is filled with such hope and freedom and joy! In Christ, you have been adopted into the very family of God!
The term adoption carries with it a strong sense of compassion, love, and permanency. To be adopted means to be given a secure and lasting place in a family in which you did not formerly belong.
Dear one, we must savor this remarkable aspect of our salvation! We were once “by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us” has brought us into His own family (Ephesians 2:3-4). Can there be anything sweeter?
As God’s adopted children, He has bestowed upon us the incredible privilege of an affectionate and loving relationship with Him as our Father. The word, Abba, is a term for father that conveys the authority, warmth, and intimacy of a loving father’s care.2 Jesus Himself used this same term for God as He was praying in the garden before His crucifixion (Mark 14:36). We have been granted access to the very throne of God, and given the right to address God in the same manner as Christ, Himself does. This is a marvelous privilege indeed.
Paul continues his description of our privilege as children of God by reminding us of the inheritance that is ours in Christ.
“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our Spirit that we are the 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.”
-Romans 8:16–17
When you become a child of God, you become an heir of all that God owns. There is no greater inheritance in all the universe. All that belongs to God is yours in Christ. We have nothing to offer Him in return, and yet He has offered us a glorious inheritance that we could never deserve.
As you face the joys and sorrows of your life here on earth, you can stand with confidence in the hope of Christ—a hope that stretches far above and beyond your worldly circumstances. You have inherited the right to share in Christ’s triumphant victory over sin and death. You have the hope of life for eternity. The grave no longer holds any power over you, and you have the blessed assurance of seeing your baby again!
But this beautiful promise is also accompanied by a difficult reality.
“provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.”
-Romans 8:17
Dear one, God does ask much of His children. We know that as followers of Christ—as His beloved children—we will also partake in His suffering. But, as you consider your inheritance that is guaranteed by the precious blood of Christ, you can conclude as Paul did that, “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:18)
We can trust, that even in the midst of our suffering, God is taking care of us—His children.
“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. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who thus hopes in Him purifies himself as He is pure.”
-1 John 3:1-3
Is not our adoption into the family of God a marvelous things to behold? The riches that have been bestowed upon God’s children are rich indeed. Could there be any greater joy than knowing that our beloved children who have gone home before us are sharing in the inheritance of Christ? And someday, we too will join them in the presence of our heavenly Father.
Don’t forget whose you are.
In Christ, you are a child of the Most High God.
Ashlee is a Content Director for Hope Mommies. She and her husband, Jesse, have four children on earth and two little ones in Heaven.
You can get to know her more by reading her blog, https://beyondundone.wordpress.com/
Amanda
May 19, 2016 (10:15 pm)
I loved this so much. Thank you. Identity is not in our suffering but in Christ! Amen!