Children of God

Date: January 17, 2023

Bible Scripture Verse – John 1:12

"Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."

Listen for God’s Voice

Heavenly Father, I pray that as I read and meditate on this verse, you will open my mind and heart to the truth it holds. Help me to see how it applies to my own life, and give me the courage to live out the principles it teaches.

Explore History – Who wrote it, when and to what audience? Key people in the story?

The apostle John wrote this book sometime in the late part of the first century. He was most likely writing this to both Jews and Gentiles to help give them a deeper understanding of who Jesus is and the significance of His life, death and resurrection. 

Study and Savor – Key Words

"Receive" - means to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. It means to welcome him into your life and acknowledge him as the Son of God. It's an action that requires faith and belief in Jesus.

"Believed" - to have faith in Jesus as the Son of God. It implies a trust and confidence in Jesus and his teachings. It also means to accept Jesus as savior and to follow him

"Right" – to have the privilege of being a child of God. It is the privilege of those who believe in Jesus and receive him, to be a part of God's family and have eternal life.

"Children of God" - refers to a spiritual relationship between believers in Jesus and God. It means that those who receive Jesus and believe in him are adopted as children of God and have access to all the blessings and privileges that come with being a part of God's family, including eternal life.

Summarize and Share

What a privilege it is to be Children of God. Do you realize what an honor that is? When we receive Jesus and believe in His name, we are given the right to be part of His family, and have eternal life. We get to experience all the love, grace and blessings that come with being a child of God. We have brothers and sisters in Christ who share in our faith and journey with us. We are able to support each other and grow together in our understanding and love of God.

We also get to approach God with the confidence of a child. Just like when children and grandchildren come to us with trust and faith, we can go to God with that same trust, knowing that as our loving Father, he wants the best for us. 

I pray that you will continue the daily steps you’ve been taking in being in the Word and building a stronger relationship with God and never forget God’s love for you. 

Bible Cross Reference

Galatians 3:26 - "So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith." This verse emphasizes the importance of faith in becoming children of God, as it is through faith in Jesus that we receive the privilege of being children of God.

1 John 3:1 - "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" This verse reminds us of the love that God has for us, and how through Jesus we are called to be children of God.

1 John 5:1 - "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well." This verse emphasizes the importance of belief in Jesus as the Christ and the love for God and his children, as the requirement for being children of God.

Romans 8:16 - "The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God." This verse emphasizes the role of the Holy Spirit in bearing witness to our spirits that we are children of God, it also highlights the importance of the Spirit's work in confirming our status as children of God.