4 Children of God
He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognise him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. John 1: 10 -13 [NIV]
There are only two possible responses to the person of Jesus. You can either reject him or receive him. There is no middle way.
John tells us that even though the world was made through Jesus, it was not a place where he was accepted. Indeed, he came to his own people, the Jews, and they rejected him – the long-awaited Messiah!
But all who do believe in him have the right, the authority, to become children of God. Because of the finished work of Christ on the cross, we have been reconciled to the Father and have been adopted as his children.
How great is the love that the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3: 1 [NIV]
We become God’s children because of God’s sovereign will, not because of anything we or our parents have done. We are not born Christians; we do not become Christians because someone had us baptised as a baby; we do not happen to be Christians because we live in a Christian society.
God makes us his children if we repent and believe; but the initiative lies completely with him.
Chuck Colson was President Nixon’s henchman. He was imprisoned for his part in the Watergate Affair, and became a Christian. On his release from prison, The Boston Globe commented:
If Mr Colson can repent of his sins, there just has to be hope for everyone.
And indeed there is.
Father, thank you for making me your child. Help me to serve you as one of your family. Amen.
David Long
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