And Such We Are!

One of my favorite verses of scripture has grown to be 1 John 3:1, where the beloved Apostle John wrote, "See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not now Him." Every time I read this passage I am reminded that we are not just "called" children of God, we really are His children, sons through adoption! These are not just wonderful sounding words but wonderful and forever truths. In his letter to the Romans, the Apostle Paul wrote that "The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God". Praise God for this confirmation of truth that He has worked within us.

As His children, scripture reminds us that we are the children of promise; the promise of righteousness by faith. We are called to be imitators of God as beloved children. As His children we are called to be above reproach and to appear as lights in the world as we live in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation.

And as His children we possess a most glorious hope. In 1 John 3:2 we read, "Now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is." John is speaking of that which Paul said was "very much better", being with Christ. It is the culmination of our faith. It is the hope of  His children. His promised appearance and the awesome privilege to "see Him just as He is". The power of His presence and glory, seeing Him just as He is, will cause us to be like Him. May Jesus Christ be praised for being all sufficient in making us children of God!