THEY SHALL BE CALLED THE CHILDREN OF GOD
MATTHEW 5:9
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”
Introduction:
We are not God’s children by nature, but rather by adoption. Our nature is contrary to that of the Lord and therefore strangers. Paul says in Ephesians 2:12, “That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.” He tells in Romans 8:15 that we have received the “Spirit of adoption,” “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”
Now there are some things about being His children by adoption that we should consider.
I. THE RIGHTS AND ROYALTIES OF BEING CHILDREN BY ADOPTION
A. We have the right to a new name, Revelation 2:17, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.”
1. Before, a slave, now a child of God, Romans 8:16, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:” Galatians 3:26, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”
2. Before, a sinner, now a saint, Ephesians 2:19, “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;”
B. We are heirs and joint heirs with Christ, Romans 8:17, “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”
1. Heirs by God’s promise, Galatians 3:29, “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
2. We are “heirs according to the hope of eternal life,” Titus 3:7, “That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
II. OUR ADOPTION INTO GOD’S FAMILY
A. Man adopts to supply a defect, because he has no children of his own, but God does not adopt for this reason.
B. God has a beloved Son, Matthew 3:16-17, “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
1. Jesus is just like His Father, Hebrews 1:3, “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;”
2. He is worth more than the angels of heaven, Hebrews 1:4, “Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.”
C. When man adopts, he adopts but one heir while God adopts many, Hebrews 2:10, “For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.”
1. The estate of a man may be small and therefore suitable for only one heir.
2. The Lord has enough for all of His sons, John 14:2, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”
D. Man adopts with relative ease, but God adopts at great expense.
1. To make us creatures cost but speaking a word, Genesis 1:26-27, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”
2. To make us sons cost the spilling of blood, Matthew 26:28, “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” John 19:34, “But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.”
E. Man adopts and settles earthly privileges upon the heir, but God give heavenly privileges to His heirs:
1. Justification, Romans 3:24, “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:”
2. Glorification, Romans 8:30, “Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”
3. God is our God, Hebrews 8:10, “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:”
CONCLUSION
God paid a high price to redeem us and make us his children. His only begotten Son spilled His own blood to save us from our sins. We will all enjoy the blessing that His sacrifice made possible. The least we can do is to love Him enough to follow His Word and serve Him with humility.