“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”

There are several things of note in this passage, but let’s note that God sent His Son to redeem us that we might be adopted sons of God, the Father. So it is those who have been redeemed that are the sons or children of God and have the right to call Him Father.

In one sense He is the father of all that is living (Ephesians 4:6) but in another sense we who keep the commandments of God and love Him are in a closer, more intimate relationship with Him  than the rest of creation and are called the children of God.

Those who are redeemed (saved from their sins by baptism and thus bought by the blood of Christ and freed from the slavery of sin to serve the living God-Titus 2:14; Revelation 5:9), have a special relationship with God as sons of God and not merely subjects of His creation.

This is the right relationship to have with God. He cares for us and looks out for us as a father does his children and we reciprocate and  love God as He would all of His creation love Him. We revere and even fear God as the all powerful creator and sustainer of the universe, but because we obey and serve Him in all things we have the right to call Him our Father and He calls us His children.

Note, that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God (1 John 4:9-11), but as we read in the above passage we are adopted children of God by the grace God showed in offering His Son upon the cross. We can be certain though, that this grace is not automatically bestowed on individuals, but comes when we avail ourselves of that grace  and obey Him in baptism and thereafter remain in a covenant relationship with Him.It is possible to fall away and remove ourselves from this relationship (Hebrews 6:4-6).

1 John 3:10 says: “In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.” If we are to be the children of God we are to strive to be righteous and keep His commandments as found in the scriptures.

Jesus tells us to address God in prayer as our Father in heaven (Matthew 6:9), so we are to approach God as His children in all reverence and humbleness seeking what we will from Him and thanking Him in all things, as we would a caring and benevolent father who cares for and meets the needs of his children.

If we love God we will keep His commandments and He will love us as His children in return. This is above and beyond the love He has for mankind in general such that, if we do what He requires of us, He will save us and take us to live with Him for eternity at the end of time, when comes the final judgement.

We cannot earn this salvation, but must do what He requires to ensure we are subject to that salvation, for so He has commanded us. If we say we love Him, but do not keep His commandments we are a liar (1 John 2:3-6) and cannot be included among the children of God, the Father. Let’s place ourselves within the fold of God before it is too late.

May God bless you and keep you until next time.