Like Father, Like Son
Today's Verse:
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: ~John 1:12
Sometimes people will look at a little boy or young man, and they might say something like, “He is so much like his father.” To be known as the son of a man can be a rewarding compliment or a revolting curse to both son and father. The question boils down to in what way do you resemble your father? This morning, we are considering one of my favorite verses in the Bible. We are looking at what it means to be a son of God.
There is the solitary pathway.
Sonship is the means by which a person becomes a member of the family of God. Entrance into God’s family is not by physical birth. Physical birth brings us into a human family and with a sin nature. Sonship can only occur by the means of the new birth. The new birth is spiritual in nature and transforms a sinner into a son of God. Every sinner must humble himself and by faith receive the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. He must believe that the shed blood, death on the cross, and resurrection of Christ satisfies God’s demands for sin. He must believe that there is none other name given under Heaven among men, whereby we must be saved. Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
There is the supernatural power.
A sinner has no ability of himself in becoming a son of God. “Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (v. 13). This means that sonship is not accomplished through human descent or of blood; not by human deeds-nor of the will of the flesh; not by human desire nor of the will of man. Sonship is accomplished by the supernatural power of God once a person by faith accepts the Lord Jesus as Savior. John 1:12 says, “To them gave he power to become the sons of God”! John 1:13 tells us, “But of God”! God’s power takes a sinner out of darkness and places him into light. His power makes every sinner a new creature in Christ. His power adopts the sinner into God’s family and makes him a son of God!
There are the sublime privileges.
God is our heavenly Father Who cares for our every need. We can call on the Father in Whom there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. When we call on Him, we can cry out, "Abba, Father." We have the privilege of calling out to God at all times. Then there is the privilege of God’s never changing love. “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God” (1 John 3:1). He loves us with an everlasting love. He loves us with a love that never lets us go. Like the father of the prodigal son, He lovingly waits for us to come home to Him. “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.” He is ever merciful towards us. He is longsuffering and gentle with us, even when we do not deserve it.
There is the significant performance.
“That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15). We have the responsibility of living out a good testimony as sons of God. Our lives should bear resemblance to the One Whose family we are a part of. We are to demonstrate that we are above reproach and shine as lights in a world of darkness. We are to walk as children of the light.
In short, like Father, like son! If you have not placed your faith and trust in Christ as Savior, do so today and become a son of God. If you are a son of God, use your privileges as a son. Uphold the name of your Father in Heaven and testify of your relationship through an unblemished life.
Have a Christ-honoring God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Jeremiah 51-52
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