THE PRIVILEGE OF GOD'S LOVE

THE PRIVILEGE OF GOD'S LOVE: WE ARE CALLED CHILDREN OF GOD

1 John 3:1 KJV 1900

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.

(KJV)

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.

Think how astounding this is, to be called a child of the Supreme Majesty of the universe, of the Supreme Intelligence and Power who created all things. There is no greater privilege than to be called a child of God. Two significant points are made.

1. It is the love of God that has bestowed the privilege of adoption upon us. No man is a child of God because of any merit or work of his own. Man has rebelled against God.

Man has chosen to go his own way in life and to do his own thing. He has wanted little if anything to do with God. He has not wanted the restraints of God upon his life; he has preferred to make his own way through life. Therefore, man has rebelled against God:

1. ignored God

2. neglected God

3. cursed God

4. disobeyed God

5. disbelieved God

6. rejected God

7. denied God

It is this that makes the love of God so amazing. It was while we were rebelling and opposing God—while we were sinners and enemies of God, while we were standing against God, while we were wrathful and at enmity with God, while we wanted little if anything to do with God—that God bestowed His love upon us.

Romans 5:6 KJV 1900

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

(KJV)

6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

Note that God's love is the giving of His Son to the world. God bestowed His love upon us by giving His Son to die for our sins. We know that God loves us because He gave His Son to die for us. It is the death of Jesus Christ that makes it possible for us to become children of God. How?

1. When Jesus Christ took our sins upon Himself, our sins were removed from us.

2. When Jesus Christ died and paid the penalty for our sins, the penalty was removed from us.

Therefore, God is able to receive us as righteous men and women, as being free of sin. When Jesus Christ died for our sins, He removed all sin from us; He freed us of sin. Therefore, God is able to accept us into His family, the family of God. God is able to adopt us as children of God.

John 1:12 KJV 1900

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:

The world does not know nor understand believers

This explains why believers are ridiculed, mocked, ignored, opposed, abused, rejected, and persecuted by the world. The persecution may come at work, at school, in the neighborhood, or anywhere else; the world just does not understand why believers act and live the way they do. The world does not understand...

· why believers separate themselves from the pleasures and things of the world.

· why believers deny themselves and live sacrificially so they can carry the message of Christ to the world, meeting the needs of the desperate.

· why believers go to church so much and talk so much about Christ.

Note why the world does not understand believers: because the world does not know Jesus Christ. Think about it: God's very own Son came into the world, but the world did not know Him. They wanted nothing to do with Him; they rejected Him. Now if the world rejected Jesus Christ, God's very own Son, they are bound to reject God's adopted children. The world is just unwilling to recognize and acknowledge that God is righteous and pure and just. They want nothing to do with a lifestyle that demands all that a person is and has. They are just unwilling to give sacrificially to carry the gospel around the world and to meet the needs of the world. They do not understand the nature of believers—that they are the children of God; that they can live no other life than that of following God. Why? Because believers know God in all of His love and the majesty of His being. This the world cannot understand.

Matthew 10:17 KJV 1900

But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;

(KJV)

17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;

QUESTIONS:

1. Can you think of any greater privilege than being a child of God?

2. What if anything can you do to cause God to call you His child?

3. If God's love for you were dependent upon your love for Him, would you be secure in His love? Why or why not?

4. The world does not understand believers. Why should this be counted a privilege? Why do so many believers try to fit in with the world?