There are a lot of influences in this life that tell us who we are. From the time we’re born until the time we die, we are defined by many things. Take a moment to think about that. What are some things that you have been defined by?
It’s vitally important that we know who we are in Christ, who God says we are. The world. Our background. Our successes. Our failures. Do not get to define us! God gets to say who we are!
Galatians 4:4-7 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.
There’s some foundational truth here: God sent His son (Jesus), so that we could be adopted by God! Now that we’ve been adopted, we’re children of God. Since we are His children, we are heirs! Wow. It’s amazing, isn’t it?! It’s amazing that Jesus coming would not only bring us salvation but also a perfect father and an inheritance!
Look at these 3 definitions from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heir for heir:
- one who receives property from an ancestor : one who is entitled to inherit property
- one who inherits or is entitled to succeed to a hereditary rank, title, or office
- one who receives or is entitled to receive something other than property from a parent or predecessor
As a heir, we will receive something from God!
Romans 8:17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs- heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Most of us will never share the full sufferings of Jesus, but we all have struggles and challenges in this life. But what a hope that we will share in His Glory! Why do we get to share in the glory of Jesus? Just because God adopted us and made us heirs!
Titus 3: 3-8 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.
When God’s kindness and love appeared, He saved us! Not because of how perfect we were or all the good things we’d done but because of God’s great mercy on us and the redeeming death and resurrection of Jesus! And now, we are also heirs of eternal life!
As flawed and broken as you are, as flawed and broken as I am, God has saved us because of His great mercy and has given me, given you, the hope of eternal life!
It’s quite amazing.
Why. Why would God do this? Who am I that He would do this great thing for me? Let’s go all the way back to the beginning.
Genesis 1:26-27 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals and over all the creatures that move along the ground. So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”
Check out this note from the Zondervan NASB Study Bible: Man is the climax of God’s creative activity and God has crowned him with “glory and majesty” and made him “to rule” over the rest of His creation (Ps 8:5-8). Since Man was created in the image of the divine King, delegated sovereignty was bestowed on him.
Wow!
Psalm 139: 13-14, 16 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
Matthew 10:29-30 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Ephesians 1:3-5 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will
Why? Why would God do this? This is why: He created us! We are the peak of His creative activity! We were created in the very image of GOD! And He loves His creation. It’s quite remarkable, but it’s true. He knit us together. All the days He’s giving us to live were written in His book before we were ever born! (He has a book about us?! A topic for another day!)
God loves His creation so much that He is aware when sparrows (dirt cheap sparrows) fall from the sky. He loves us so much that He even knows the exact number of hairs on our heads! So weird! Who cares the number of hairs?! (I’ll admit, when it starts falling out you care about the number a bit more, I get it, haha) It’s one of the most complex and intricate details about us and yet He is aware of them all!
God has given us every spiritual blessing (think if we could truly grab hold of that one!!)! He chose us! He chose YOU, before He ever created the world! An interesting thought, isn’t it?! If you ever wonder why He hasn’t destroyed this world yet, He is aware of the humanity that He loves that is yet to come! He chose us to be adopted according to His pleasure and will! Wow!
If all of that isn’t a call to worship, I don’t know what is! Worship the Lord that has given you all that and more!
Do you know this God?! Have you been saved through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, as it said in Titus 3? Now is the time! He’s calling you. It’s not an accident that you’re reading this. Seek Him! He can be found!
Questions? Send me an email. I’d love you hear from you.
You are:
- -A Child of God
- -You are an Heir of God
- -You were made in the image of God
- -God knows all about you, even the number of hairs on your head
- -God chose you before the world was even created
- -You were chosen in advance to be a child of God
