Becoming a child of god (John 1;12-13)

Scripture reading:
(12) Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of god - (13) children not born of natural descent, not of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of god.


Observations:
The previous post was not particularly uplifting.

We saw that Jesus came to the world and that the world, as a whole, rejected him.

This passage brings some more uplifting news. Whilst the majority of people rejected Jesus, some believed in him. To these people, the gospel says, Jesus gave the right to become children of god.

Normally, when I believe in someone, seeing them succeed fills me with encouragement and enthusiasm. Seeing them fail brings fills me with disappointment, particularly if the failure is for ethical reasons.

People who succeed and live an honorable life provide others with inspiration, encouragement, belief, a role model and many other positive things. But what heroes and mentors can give to others who believe in them pales in comparison to what Jesus gives to his followers – the gift of becoming a child of god.

When looking at this passage, I think there are three important questions to consider:

(1) Who gets to be a child of god?(2) What does it mean to be a child of god?(3) By whose design do we become god’s children?

Who gets to be a child of god?Simply put – those who believe in Jesus.

This is a highly controversial point. Some believe that a truly loving god would think of everyone as his children. They feel that everyone should be able to go and be with god in heaven when they die.

But the gospel does not support this viewpoint. The gospel specifies only one way for us to enter god’s family – to believe in Jesus.By human logic, this may not seem fair. But god, our creator, decides who enters his family. We don’t make that decision – god does.

What does it mean to be a child of god?

It is interesting to note the words used here – a child of god. When I look at my relationship to my earthly parents, I make three key observations:


• Being a child is who you are, not something you earn.

I did nothing to earn the privilege of being the son of my parents. I just simply came out.

If I had simply ‘came out’ of somebody else’s womb, I would not be a child my parents. Nothing I did – no amount of good works which I performed for them – would have changed one fact - I would not have been their son.

But, fortunately for me, I came out as my parents’ son. I did not earn the right to be the son of my parents, I just came out that way. It’s simply who I am.

Being a child of god is something that you are at your very core being. You don’t earn it, if you believe in Jesus, you simply are that way. It’s just who you are.


• Second, being a son is permanent.

Many times, I have not done the right thing by my parents. But no matter what I do – no matter how many arguments I have with them or how many times I dishonor them – one thing will not change - they will always be my parents and I will always be my son.

Similarly, there are times in our lives where we all wander from god’s ways. When this happens, he may provide some fatherly discipline. But no matter what we do, as long as we believe in

Jesus, we will always be his children.

Our heavenly father will never expel us from his family. God has a permanent place reserved for us in his family and nothing will ever change that.


• Finally, being a son is intimate.

When you are a member or employee of a club or organization, you get actively involved in the activities of that club or organization. But at the end of the day, you go home.

You may work together to achieve some common goals, but you do not relate intimately with them in the same way that you relate to your own family.

God shares an intimate relationship with his children. He is not cold, dispassionate or detached from our lives.

No. He cares for his children like a father cares for his son.

Being a child of god is a phenomenal gift which believers in Christ have been granted through Christ and his sacrifice on the cross.

By whose design were we made a child of god?In short – god’s. (v13)

Believers in Christ have been chosen by god to be born of god. This was god’s deliberate design.


Prayer:
Dear heavenly father,

Lord, the whole world, including all of the people in it, and yes – including us, has rejected you – our creator. You have every right to be angry. You would have every right if you were to turn your back on us in disgust.

Yet, in spite of all this, because of your pure love and your great mercy, you still invite believers into your great family. You and only you have made us this way.

We cannot earn a place in your family and we have no right to be there. But, in your great mercy, you have made us your sons and daughters.

We can only stand in awe. We can only fall down on our knees and say “Thank you, Thank you.” I am astounded when I think that you, great and holy creator, love me, a lowly, sinful human being, enough to grant me a place in your great family.

In your great name I pray.

Amen.