Let us proclaim these verses out loud together:
Galatians 3:26-27 (NIV)
26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
Romans 8:14-16 (NIV)
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
“This baptism means Christians’ new parent is God the Father (‘Abba!’ cries Paul.) Their new siblings are other Christians. Their new name or most fundamental identity is simply ‘Christian’ – one of those who know Jesus as Lord and determiner of their existence. And their new inheritance is freedom, community and resources provided a hundred-fold…Thus Paul’s talk of adoption means that conversion is profound and thoroughgoing. Conversion creates a new person…It involves nothing short of resocialization. The biological family…is no longer the primary source of identity, support and growth.” [Rodney Clapp. Families at the Crossroads.]
We have been baptized into Christ and “born again” into a new identity. The Spirit testifies we have been adopted by God and are his children. We have God as our Heavenly Father. We are part of the Heavenly Father’s family. This is who we are!
Prayer: Abba, Father, thank you for the new identity we have in Jesus. Our old selves have died and we are made new. May we be deeply assured and certain we are children of God and loved by you. May those in our churches from the youngest to the oldest have encounters with you to deeply know they are children in God’s family. May you receive the glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Let’s worship and sing to “Who You Say I Am” by Hillsong Worship (click here).
-AS
