Who's Child Are You?

Who's Child Are You?

1 John 3:1-9

Jesus

" 1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.² Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

³ And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

⁴ Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

⁵ And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

⁶ Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

⁷ Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

⁸ He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

⁹ Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God."

 

My dad, oldest son Alex, and me.

circa 1993

 

 

  Many a time growing up, I heard, "You look so much like your dad."  Now that I am a YOUNG [emphasis mine] adult, and my dad is in heaven with the Father, and with Jesus I hear it even more often.  Seeing how many people came to dad's funeral seven years ago, so many people came I can only remember the tears, the hugs and the love of Christ shown me through my family members who are Believers, and the overwhelming response of the members of Glade Baptist church were he was ordained, where he received his sight, and where Jesus changed a family's life.  Dad had no enemies when he passed, except Apollyon the enemy of mankind and God Himself.  As people came by the casket and spoke to me, they spoke of how kind he was to work with.  People he had worked with in the early 80's spoke of his tenderness, selflessness, meekness.  Dad was a child of Christ, he wasn't always though.  I remember the days when he was a curser, when he drank, when he let his emotions rule him.  I remember more the day he and mom made their confession to Christ, and how dad was indeed a new man.  He was not the former man he was.  That day after church, after Jesus, he came home and poured out the alcohol, his speech was miraculously changed the moment he received Christ.  Life got better instantly.  It was because dad had life for the first time in his life, he was living!  He had become a son of God. 

 

  The remarkable traits of the Lord had began to indwell and manifest in dad's life, and he exhibited the resemblance of Christ and God's own heart and character.  Did dad still make mistakes?  Yes.  Did dad still have to "PUT OFF" the "old man" and battle sin?  Yes.  It was grace that empowered him to live, and faith by which he walked.   Dad lived out his faith, he visited the nursing homes, hospitals, funeral homes and shut ins.  Dad followed Jesus with all that was in him.  It wasn't that dad was a great man, but the fact he had the great Savior Jesus in his life.  They were intimate so much so that the intimacy they shared led dad to not live "in sin."  Dad made it a purpose not to tread God's gift of grace underfoot.  He was so grateful that God would love him and call son.  That God would forgive him past, present, and future transgressions was more than enough for him to live as a son of the Most High God. 

 

  There is the worldly misnomer that all of mankind are God's children.  Let us be perfectly clear and certain about this, ONLY those who come to Jesus, accept His grace, redeemed and regenerated are His sons and daughters.  The rest are only His creation.  That is the difference Beloved.  Jesus should be so evident, so overwhelming in our lives, that we are not our own any more, but reflections of our Father in Heaven.  A life that has received grace, is a grace changed life.  Grace is a happening word, an action word that brings change.  It is by faith that we come to Jesus, and receive His grace.  Then we are sons and daughters of God.  Everyone else is of their father the Devil.  Scripture leaves no room to think contrary to this fact.  So, again, who's child are you?