Daily Devotionals
Devotional: February 12th
FATHERHOOD AND SONSHIP
Beloved, now are we children of God, and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be. We know that, if He shall be manifested we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him even as He is. - 1 John 3:2
THE doctrine of the New Testament about the Fatherhood of God and the sonship of man does not in the slightest degree interfere with these three great truths, that all men, though the features of the common humanity may be almost battered out of recognition in them, are all children of God because He made them; that they are children of God because still there lies in them something of the likeness of the creative Father; and, blessed be His name! that they are all children of God because He loves and provides and cares for every one of them. All that is blessedly and eternally true; but it is also true that there is a higher relation than that to which the name " Children of God " is more accurately given, and to which in the New Testament that name is confined; and if you ask what it is, let me quote to you three passages in this Epistle which will answer the question: "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God," that is the first; ’ Every one that doeth righteousness is born of God," that is the second; " Every one that loveth is born of God," that is the third. Or, to put them all into one expression, which holds them all, in the first chapter of John’s Gospel you find this, in the great words of his prologue: "To as many as received Him to them gave He power to become the sons of God." Believing in Christ with loving trust produces, and as the result of that belief, doing righteousness and loving the brethren prove, the fact of sonship, in its highest and its truest sense.
What is implied in that great name by which the Almighty gives us a name and a place as of sons and daughters? Clearly, first, a communicated life; therefore, second, a kindred nature which shall be "pure as He is pure "; and, third, growth to full maturity.
This sonship, which is no mere empty name, is the aim and purpose of God’s dealings, of all the revelation of His love, and most especially the great gift of His love in Christ. Has that purpose been accomplished in you? Have you ever looked at that great gift of love that God has given you on purpose to make you His child? If you have, why has it not made you one? Are you trusting to Jesus Christ, whom God has sent forth that we might receive the standing of sons in Him? Are you a child of God because a brother of that Saviour? Have you received the gift of a Divine life through Him? My friend! remember the grim alternative: a child of God or a child of the devil! Bitter words, narrow words, uncharitable words - as people call them! And I believe, and therefore I am bound to say it, true words, which it concerns you to lay to heart.
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