Treasures New and Old

Christian Behavior: Identity in Christ – A Child of the King!

“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

– Romans 6:4

I know that we have our lives to live here on earth, and therefore, must deal with things worldly: jobs, food, shelter, relationship including with lost individuals, etc., and it seems at times that our spiritual lives are kind of a shadow against the “real” physical lives we must lead. Yet while we walk in this present, evil world, we also have a unique and special relationship in the Kingdom of Heaven. Let’s explore that relationship in this article. First, a reminder of the seven principles of a disciple of Christ.

Seven Principles Recap:

We must always strive to be like Him and understand that we can never be better than Him
Always remember that Christ is our Master – others may be teachers or counselors, or brethren, but He is our Master
The Master is coming back and will ask for an accounting
Hold fast to the truth, don’t stray, avoid the gray areas
Disciples serve one another – as our Master gave example
Stay in the Master’s Book
Be a vessel of honor

Who Are We?

You accepted Christ as your Savior. You repented of your sins. That means that with God’s help, you have turned away from the sinful life you were leading and are now attempting to walk in the light that God gives us. But it can be a real struggle. Sometimes, I really don’t know what I am doing, and frankly, I don’t always feel different. Yet the Scriptures clearly teaches me that I am different, and that I am now in a brand new and most unique relationship – I am now a child of the King!

John 1:11-13: “He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

Of course, “sons” cover daughters as well. So we could say “children of God”. The new relationship occurs the moment we accept Christ as our Savior and repent of our sins. You may not get a birth certificate signed by some renowned doctor. You may not get an adoption certificate certified and provided by the court. But you are recorded in the Lamb’s book of life as now being a child of the King. You have become a member of the family of God Himself!

What about Angels?

Angels in different verses in the Bible are called messengers, watchers, morning stars, hosts, sons of the Mighty, sons of God, and, of course, angels. But the term “sons” is quite different for them than for us. They are servants of God, but we are adopted onto the family of God. Thus, they do not enter into the inheritance that we are given. They cannot fully understand (as intelligent and brilliant as they may be) salvation, the forgiveness of sin, and what it means to be redeemed – an experience only we can have. I suspect they have a head knowledge, but not a heart knowledge since the faithful angels have never fallen, and therefore, do not need redemption while the fallen angels cannot be redeemed, and therefore, will never experience it.

As a new creature in Christ, you are now able to do what other humans without Christ cannot do – walk by faith in newness of life. It is not a “feelings” issue, but a truth issue. We, as new creatures, need to learn to walk in the truth even when we don’t feel like it. God declared it so, and therefore, it is so. Look at some of these verses that declare the truth of your new creature status:

Let’s Look at Adoption

Below are some verses that mention our status as adopted into the family of God. Let’s examine them and glean some key points:

Romans 8:15: “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”

Romans 8:23: “And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.”

Galatians 4:5: “To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”

Ephesians 1:5: “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,”

The spirit of bondage is what we had while we were sinners without Christ. Bound by sin and unable to break free – fearful of eternal judgement.

But we now have the spirit of adoption – that is, that we are now adopted children of God, and therefore, can walk in the knowledge that we no longer fear the bondage of sin as we once did, nor do we fear eternal judgment.

We are able to now say to God one of the most endearing words – Abba – Father – Daddy, if you please. Only children can call their father Daddy.

Romans 8:23: reminds us that the adoption is in phases. As we are first saved and justified as if we never sinned by God, we still must go through a process of cleaning up called sanctification (to be sanctified is to be set apart for something special and to be made holy for that purpose), and finally, we will be glorified – to wit – provided our eternal heavenly body that Paul says is the redemption of our body and the final completion of our adoption. It is like we are adopted, but the orphanage is getting us ready to be received by the new family we have been adopted into. Cleaned up, new clothes, manners, etc. One day, we will arrive at our new home. It is ours already, but we are simply not there yet.

Galatians 4:5 reminds me that Paul is writing to Roman citizens, and they had a specific understanding of adoption that makes our adoption even more special. In Roman law, a natural born son had certain privileges, was subject to tutors as the father demanded, and training and restrictions, etc. The son was not entitled to inherit from the father unless in the father’s eyes he had deserved it. When that happened, the father would have a celebration and legally “adopt” his son which ensured his inheritance and subsequent leadership over the household at the death of the father. We are so adopted. It is understood that our adoption includes two things: (1) acceptance of the Father, (2) full inheritance as an adopted child.

Ephesians 1:5 has two important points for us to consider: (1) We were predestinated to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself even before the foundations of the earth – even the universe. We were destined to one day be called, to be wooed, and to be adopted. Kind of like a couple who choose to adopt a child even before he/she is born, so loved ahead of time is that child. (2) The adoption of Christians is incredible in that it is all wrapped in the good pleasure of His will. He, in His good pleasure, wanted and adopted you who believe for His pleasure! We are His children as per His pleasure. That means two things to me: (a) that He has great pleasure in us, and, (b) that we are adopted to please Him as sons and daughters would want and be expected to pleasure their father.

You Are God’s Children!

Look at these verses. I’ll have a few comments at the end of this selection.

Luke 20:36 (emphasis added): “Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.”

Romans 8:16-17 (emphasis added): “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”

Romans 8:21 (emphasis added): “Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.”

Romans 9:25-26 (emphasis added): “As he saith also in Hosea, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. And it shall come to pass, that in that place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.”

Galatians 3:26 (emphasis added): “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”

Ephesians 5:1 (emphasis added): “Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children;”

A few points to note:

As children of the resurrection, we cannot die eternally. We may face physical death (or might not at the Rapture), but we will never face the second death as His children.

As children of God, we are heirs. Not just heirs, but joint heirs with the King Himself – Jesus Christ!

As children of God, we experience glorious liberty in Christ. We are free from the bondage of sin; it has no more dominion over us!

While the world rejects us, even, perhaps, one day our own country rejects us; we are never to be rejected by God as both citizens of Heaven and children of the living God.

How did we become children of God? By faith in Jesus Christ – the King.

Now, since you are a child of God – follow Him, keep His commandments, congregate with fellow children of God, and look forward to the coming of the King!

Some Closing Thoughts, Dear Children!

Beware of those who wish to spoil you and corrupt you with the things of the world. Stay focused on Christ who is God and has all of God’s power and character. As His kids, you have all that you need to succeed as children of God. “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:” (Colossians 2:8-10).

Since you are a child of the King, you really need to act like it. Next month, we will talk a bit about maturity. For now, know that you are joined with Christ in a very unique way which is why we are joint-heirs with Him. When we sin, we drag Jesus and the Holy Spirit into that sin with us. As children of the King refrain from youthful lusts. Love not the world or the things that are in the world. Keep your focus on Christ.

Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to a harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

– 1 Corinthians 6:15-20 (bold added)

It causes me to be in awe of God that He so loved me that He chose me to be His child; that we should have the status in the universe for all eternity to be known as the children of God. Fanciful Hollywood movies occasionally depict some worthy person (or if they do some worthy act) to get “their wings” which, of course, implies a desire to be named among the angels one day. Of course, as angels-in-training, they have some miracle powers to help that troubled family solve their problems. But there is something so much higher, better, glorious – God’s children! We can’t yet imagine the great things that means for us!

And one day we will be like Him. If you have this hope in you, strive to keep yourself pure and ever ready to meet the King face to face.

1 John 3:1-3: “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”

Final thought: Just as we are now children of the King, we are also going to be the Bride of Christ and forever joined with Him. Let’s get ourselves ready to meet Him! “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (Revelation 21:1-2).

Maranatha!

May God bless you all!

Bro. Joe

References

Kress, J. (2021). On Being a Disciple – Seven Principles.

Article Archives

Privacy Policy