Who are children of God?

WED EP Reflection 07/08/20

The Apostle Paul had spent a considerable time explaining how it is only by faith that we obtain Salvation and are ultimately justified. In order to understand where Paul is coming from, we need to review what was going on at the time. Paul had already converted to the way from Judaism, knowing what he now knew about Jesus Christ fulfilling the law; his understanding of Holy Scriptures made more sense to him than before. So, he observed his fellow Jews practicing religion as he used to. He now could see pitfalls. He had been there so He knew. He could recognize his own people’s zeal, believing that the works of the law could provide salvation for them. Paul knew that they had no idea about the real question of the heart.

Their issue is unfortunately not unique to them alone. Paul’s challenge also reverberates in our time as well. Is it easy for us to go through the motions, and do all the things we are convinced are required and then let ourselves entertain the idea that we are doing well in God? When we leave the issue of our hearts untouched, there is no way, lasting change can take place. The heart is the seat of mind and soul; the consciousness; the motivation. If our hearts are not really seeking God, then we are seeking the glorification of ourselves.

We see this in Paul’s challenge: “Not all of Abraham’s children are his true descendants.” In the biological sense, Ismael and Isaac’s children are all linked to Abraham. However, in the spiritual sense it is different, Ismael son of Hagar the servant is different from Isaac son of Sarah who is a son of the promise. All Christian believers become true descendants of Abraham by the promise God gave him: “I will make your descendants numerous like stars in the heavens.” So NOT all biological descendants are true descendants that way! Paul’s challenge was: “If you think Salvation is automatic because you are biologically linked to Abraham, think again!” Just because you are biologically linked, does not make your heart pure before God. Paul shows them that He cares about them so much that he would be prepared to be cut from Christ if that would help them in any way, but being true descendants of Abraham is different: V. 8: “This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as descendants.” Could it be that they were going through the motions and yet were far from the Salvation of God, unable to see the connection with Jesus Christ, Son of God, in whose name Salvation is possible.

This can be terrifying to think you’ve got it but the truth being that you don’t. It’s like being in that wedding banquet story of Jesus not knowing that one’s clothes were not appropriate for the occasion and he was thrown out. Wearing inappropriate clothes may mean having behaviors and actions that are not worthy. Being in the covenant with God is an initiative of God. Christ loved us all, and hopes that we would all respond to his love and follow him. This covenant is not forced on anyone. But we have to cooperate with the grace of God, we have to agree to walk in the way of this covenant with God. This is the choice God has designed for all believers.

I am blessed to be part of a community of faith full of the grace and love of God, we are brothers and sisters in every sense of the words. If worldly bodyguards are trained to take a bullet for their employers, then how about this: If or when the bonds of our love for each other in Christ are challenged, would we take a bullet for each other? I have your back, would you have mine? Ultimately, Jesus showed us real love, he showed us that He has our back, he demonstrated it by taking a bullet for us when he went on the cross. His sacrifice was ULTIMATE because Salvation came to us through him. I will end with this verse for your enjoyment.

John 1: 12 “But to all who received him, who believed in His name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or the will of the flesh or the will of man, but of God.”