The Results of a New Life in ChristNäide

PLACED INTO GOD’S FAMILY

1 John 3:2 - In a general sense, all men and women are the offspring of God in that He is the Creator (Acts 17:28–29). This relationship, however, is not sufficient to offset the penalty of sin, because all persons are sinners separated from God (Rom. 3:23). Therefore, for a person to become a child of God, a miraculous transformation must take place. The Bible refers to this change as being “born again” (John 3:3). Individuals who place faith in Jesus as Savior are born again into a new, spiritual, family relationship with God (Gal. 3:26). They gain God as Father (Eph. 4:6) and other Christians as brothers and sisters (Heb. 3:1). It is significant to note the term “brotherly love,” which Christians are commanded to have for each other (Heb. 13:1), is never used in the Greek language to refer to loving others as though they were your brothers. Rather, it is always used of loving those who are your brothers. So it is in the Christian faith: we are brothers and sisters with other Christians.

Not only are Christians the children of God by spiritual birth, we are adopted as well (Eph. 1:5). This implies a dramatic transformation of status from slave to son (Gal. 4:1–5). One is no longer in bondage to the master but becomes a free son, possessing all the rights and privileges of sonship. One of these benefits is the right to call God Abba, an affectionate term meaning “Father” (Rom. 8:15). This marvelous relationship carries responsibilities with it, as well as privileges. All who have the hope of having their “sonship” perfected someday are presently purifying their own lives. Since they bear the family relationship to God, they must also exhibit the family character.

This Bible study is an excerpt fromThe OPEN Bible, Published by Thomas Nelson Bibles