What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are.... But friends, that’s exactly who we are: children of God. (v. 1-2)Often, I hear this relationship we have with the Father used to identify us as Christians - we are children of God, His sons and daughters. It's absolutely true, but the meaning of it often breaks down for me. As a parent of teenagers, I know that one of my roles is to help my children become independent and to separate from me. This is exactly the opposite of what God the Father is doing with me, His child. He is calling me to be completely dependent on and entirely inclusive of Him.
Then, what is the Holy Spirit evoking through John when He called us God's children? It seems to have much to do with our new identity in Christ. He's reminding us Whose image and Whose name we reveal. God is saying to us,
"You are Mine. The life that defines My Son now defines you. You are alive in Me. You are alive to Me. You are alive with Me.... The power to love is always in you." (66LL)As His children, His image-bearers, His power to love is now in us - that is who we really are (v. 1, 9, 11, 24).
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