7.3 We Are God’s Children And We Will See Him As He Is

(1 John 3:1-3)

See how much the Father has loved us! His love is so great that we are called God’s children – and so, in fact, we are. This is why the world does not know us: it has not known God. My dear friends, we are now God’s children, but it is not yet clear what we shall become. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he really is. Everyone who has this hope in Christ keeps himself pure, just as Christ is pure.

7.2 Before, We Were Slaves; Now, We Are Children of God

(Galatians 4:1-7)

But now to continue – the son who will receive his father’s property is treated just like a slave while he is young, even though he really owns everything. While he is young, there are men who take care of him and manage his affairs until the time set by his father. In the same way, we too were slaves of the ruling spirits of the universe before we reached spiritual maturity. But when the right time finally came, God sent his own Son. He came as the son of a human mother and lived under the Jewish Law, to redeem those who were under the Law, so that we might become God’s sons.

To show that you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who cries out, “Father, my Father.” So then, you are no longer a slave but a son. And since you are his son, God will give you all that he has for his sons.

7.1 From The Beginning God Cares For His Children

(Hosea 11:1-4)

The LORD says,
“When Israel was a child, I loved him
and called him out of Egypt as my son.
But the more I called to him,
The more he turned away from me.
My people sacrificed to Baal;
They burned incense to idols.
Yet I was the one who taught Israel to walk.
I took my people up in my arms,
But they did not acknowledge that I took care
of them.
I drew them to me with affection and love.
I picked them up and held them to my cheek;
I bent down to them and fed them.

6.4 Human Wickedness And Divine Providence

(Psalm 36)

Sin speaks to the wicked man deep in his heart;
He rejects God and does not have reverence for him
Because he thinks so highly of himself,
He thinks that God will not discover
His sin and condemn it.
His speech is wicked and full of lies;
He no longer does what is wise and good.
He makes evil plans as he lies in bed;
Nothing he does is good,
And he never rejects anything evil.

LORD, your constant love reaches the heavens;
Your faithfulness extends to the skies.
Your righteousness is towering like the mountains;
Your justice is like the depths of the sea.
Men and animals are in your care.
How precious, O God, is your constant love!
We find protection under the shadow of your wings.
We feast on the abundant food you provide;
You let us drink from the river of your goodness.
You are the source of all life,
And because of your light we see the light.

Continue to love those who know you
And to do good to those who are righteous.
Do not let proud men attack me or wicked men
Make me run away.

See where evil men have fallen.
There they lie, unable to rise.

6.3 In Baptism We Are Raised To Live With Christ

(Colossians 2:9-15)

For the full content of divine nature lives in Christ, in his humanity, and you have been given full life in union with him. He is supreme over every spiritual ruler and authority.

In union with Christ you were circumcised, not with the circumcision that is made by men, but with the circumcision made by Christ, which consists of being free from the power of this sinful self. For when you were baptized, you were buried with Christ, and in baptism you were also raised with Christ through your faith in the active power of God, who raised him from death. You were at one time spiritually dead because of your sins and because you were Gentiles without the law. But God has now brought you to life with Christ. God forgave us all our sins; he canceled the unfavorable record of our debts with its binding rules and did away with it completely by nailing it to the cross. And on that cross Christ freed himself from the power of the spiritual rulers and authorities; he made a public spectacle of them by leading them as captives in his victory procession.