What determines us a “child of God”? Is it what we do? How we behave? Is it where we come from? The apostle Paul said, “Those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.” Romans 8:14 NLT
In John 8 we read of how Jesus went to the Temple where a crowd gathered around Him to listen to Him teach. Here in the Temple Jesus revealed to the crowd who He is.
“Who are you?” they demanded. Jesus replied, “The one I have always claimed to be. I have much to say about you and much to condemn, but I won’t. For I say only what I have heard from the one who sent me, and he is completely truthful.” But they still didn’t understand that he was talking about his Father. So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross, then you will understand that I Am he. I do nothing on my own but say only what the Father taught me. And the one who sent me is with me—he has not deserted me. For I always do what pleases him.” Then many who heard him say these things believed in him. John 8:25-30 NLT
After hearing the message of the cross, it’s evident that some believed yet Jesus continued to speak on the subject and clarify some things.
Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32 NLT
Those who believed in Jesus after hearing the message of the cross then fell into conflict over what Jesus could possibly mean by being “set free”. They believed they were children of God as descendants of Abraham and therefore did not consider themselves slaves as needing to be set free.
“But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.” John 8:33-36 NLT
As children of God, led by the Spirit of God, we no longer walk after the lust of the flesh nor do we work to gain the position as child of God. Instead we receive our identity as children of God by believing in Jesus through the message of the cross which is the finished work of God—once and for all.
“For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!” Romans 6:10-15 ESV
“For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.” Hebrews 10:10 NLT
“Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, ‘Abba, Father.’ For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.” Romans 8:12-16 NLT
Jesus affirmed those of the crowd who were descendants of Abraham but placed emphasis on what it means to be considered his children.
“Yes, I realize that you are descendants of Abraham. And yet some of you are trying to kill me because there’s no room in your hearts for my message. I am telling you what I saw when I was with my Father. But you are following the advice of your father.” “Our father is Abraham!” they declared. “No,” Jesus replied, “for if you were really the children of Abraham, you would follow his example. Instead, you are trying to kill me because I told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing. No, you are imitating your real father.” They replied, “We aren’t illegitimate children! God himself is our true Father.” John 8:37-41 NLT
Notice how when Jesus told them if they were the children of Abraham then they would follow the example of Abraham yet they shifted and claimed God himself as their “true” father. This is where we see a clear point of deception being revealed. The example of Abraham was by faith yet they could not agree.
“I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ. In the same way, ‘Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.’ The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God. What’s more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would make the Gentiles right in his sight because of their faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, ‘All nations will be blessed through you.’ So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith.” Galatians 3:5-9 NLT
“Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation. By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen… It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God. It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise. And so a whole nation came from this one man who was as good as dead—a nation with so many people that, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them… It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, even though God had told him, ‘Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.’ Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead. How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight.” Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-12, 17-19, 32-34 NLT
Jesus had a harsh response to their claim of being children of God. He made it clear to them that as long as they do not listen to the words of God they are not the children of God.
Jesus told them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me. Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even hear me! For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don’t believe me! Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don’t you believe me? Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don’t listen because you don’t belong to God.” John 8:42-47 NLT
This is the understanding that faith without works is dead. Through our faith in Jesus, by the grace of God, we are made new, given new life, born of the Spirit of God, become children of God and heirs of the promise (Galatians 3:29). Our faith, by the grace of God, produces works of righteousness such as a renewed mind (Ephesians 4:23), an overcoming of sin and its power (1 John 5:4), and the great commission—making disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all Jesus has commanded (Matthew 28:19-20), the power and authority to cast out demons, heal the sick and raise the dead (Matthew 10:1), the fruit of the Holy Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23), and the gifts of the Holy Spirit—words of wisdom, words of knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, speaking in tongues, and interpretation of tongues.
But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.” James 2:18-24 NKJV
Those Jesus was addressing in the crowd at the Temple wanted to kill him. For they loved not the truth or they would have believed His words. Instead Jesus was hidden from them and left the temple.
Jesus answered, “If I want glory for myself, it doesn’t count. But it is my Father who will glorify me. You say, “He is our God,” but you don’t even know him. I know him. If I said otherwise, I would be as great a liar as you! But I do know him and obey him. Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad.” The people said, “You aren’t even fifty years old. How can you say you have seen Abraham?” Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I Am!” At that point they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus was hidden from them and left the Temple.” John 8:54-59 NLT
“Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NLT
Abraham was not a perfect man by any means. In fact, Abraham failed in the area of sincerity and living by the truth. In Genesis 12 we read of how Abraham told his wife Sarah to lie—to hide the truth of being his wife and declare herself as his sister. Abraham was made insecure because of her beauty and felt that as they were in Egypt the Egyptians would kill him and take her for themselves. Sarah’s beauty ended up captivating Pharoah and Pharoah blessed Abraham greatly with many gifts, as Sarah was taken into his palace. Then the Lord sent plagues upon Pharoah and his household until he released her.
“At that time a severe famine struck the land of Canaan, forcing Abram to go down to Egypt, where he lived as a foreigner. As he was approaching the border of Egypt, Abram said to his wife, Sarai, ‘Look, you are a very beautiful woman. When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife. Let’s kill him; then we can have her!’ So please tell them you are my sister. Then they will spare my life and treat me well because of their interest in you.’ And sure enough, when Abram arrived in Egypt, everyone noticed Sarai’s beauty. When the palace officials saw her, they sang her praises to Pharaoh, their king, and Sarai was taken into his palace. Then Pharaoh gave Abram many gifts because of her—sheep, goats, cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels. But the Lord sent terrible plagues upon Pharaoh and his household because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. So Pharaoh summoned Abram and accused him sharply. ‘What have you done to me?’ he demanded. ‘Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ and allow me to take her as my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and get out of here!’” Genesis 12:10-19 NLT
Instead of trusting in God for security and favor in Egypt, Abraham tried to secure his own safety and received a counterfeit favor from Pharoah. In lying, Abraham may have acquired many great gifts from Pharoah but he gave up the gift of God in his wife who would later conceive the promise of Isaac to bless him with descendants numbering as the stars of the sky and the sand of the seashore and by whom all the nations would be blessed (Genesis 22:16-18). Jesus, the Son of God having been born into this world as Savior, Redeemer and Blessed Sacrifice as son of David and son of Abraham (Matthew 1:1) being the firstborn over all creation and of many brothers and sisters (Colossians 1:15, Romans 8:29) would reconcile humanity back to the Father through His death and resurrection, that we may be born again of the Spirit of God believing on His name.
How great the Father’s love for us that even back to Abraham’s mistakes He provides correction (in the form of the plagues that caused Pharoah to release Sarah back to Abraham) in order that He may KEEP HIS PROMISES to us. Us—having been counted among the seed of promise as gentiles—as those once far off but brought near, as those who were not His people but are now His people.
“As He says in Hosea: I will call them ‘My People’ who are not My people, and I will call her ‘My Beloved’ who is not ‘My beloved,’ and, It will happen that in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’ Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: ‘Though the number of the Israelites is like the sand of the sea, only the remnant will be saved. For the Lord will carry out His sentence on the earth thoroughly and decisively.’ It is just as Isaiah foretold: ‘Unless the Lord of Hosts had left us descendants, we would have become like Sodom, we would have resembled Gomorrah.’ What then will we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith…” Romans 9:25-30 BSB
May we reconcile the lies we have believed of what it means to be a child of God and be thankful that God is who He says He is.
“Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus at night and said, ‘Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs You are doing if God were not with him.’ Jesus replied, ‘Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again’ ‘How can a man be born when he is old?’ Nicodemus asked. ‘Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time to be born?’ Jesus answered, ‘Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit. Do not be amazed that I said, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes. You hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.’ ‘How can this be?’ Nicodemus asked. ‘You are Israel’s teacher,’ said Jesus, ‘and you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, and yet you people do not accept our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever practices the truth comes into the Light, so that it may be seen clearly that what he has done has been accomplished in God.’” John 3:1-21 BSB
Be blessed!
Allyse Salinas
Painting by Mindi Oaten, “Messiah the King: Promise Fulfilled”
