John 1:12-13 (NKJV) But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
It is unfortunate that many Christians view God as more of a judge who is constantly looking to punish us, than a loving Father who is always looking out for us favourably. Such a view stifles spiritual growth and broods resentment, but if we truly understand that we are a child of God, our lifestyles will reflect our intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father.
Rembrandt’s painting “The Return Of The Podigal Son” captures the essence of what it means to be the child of God through his interpretation of the parable. Though the prodigal son has rebelled against the father, who had every reason to disown him, the father was gracious, loving, and merciful in restoring his sonship and his right to be in the household. Likewise, when we have chosen to receive the way back to God through the redemptive blood of Jesus, God has given us the right to be His children, and we need to identify ourselves as children of the living God.
No many Christian books talk about being a child of God or expound on the love of the Heavenly Father, possibly because with roughly 50% of marriages ending in divorce, many lack a proper understanding of the fatherly figure owing to the lack of an earthly example. As a result, many struggle to relate to the Heavenly Father in their prayers, their walk and relationship with Him.
Many start off our Christian lives trying to do things to attain God’s love and acceptance. Aware that we are sinners saved by grace, we pursue to be good Christians by observing the law to ensure that God will continue to love us. Though it may be a good intention done out of a pure heart to try and please God, we risk becoming legalistic or pharisaic if we fail to grasp the concept of Agape love. The reason one uses religious practices, rituals, and disciplines to earn God’s love and acceptance is because they only know of Phileo love, which is a conditional love, and they wrongly believe that this is how God loves them too.
However, we will never be close to God if we think that He operates on Phileo love because we are imperfect and need to deal with our weaknesses and temptations every day. We will subject ourselves to an emotional roller-coaster by feeling that God loves us on the days that we do well and furious with us when we succumb to the work of the flesh. Therefore, we need to understand that God changes not; He loves us the same every day, because We are His children and His love for us is unconditional.
Sermon Series: Sonship
活出神儿女的样式
约翰福音1:12-13凡接待祂的，就是信祂名的人，祂就赐他们权柄作神的儿女。这等人不是从血气生的，不是从情欲生的，也不是从人意生的，乃是从神生的。
不幸的是，许多基督徒更多地把神看作是不断想要惩罚我们的法官，而不是一位慈爱的，总是眷顾我们的天父。这样的观点会扼杀属灵的成长，滋生怨恨，但如果我们真明白我们是神的孩子，我们的生活方式就会反映出我们与天父的亲密关系。
伦勃朗的画作《浪子的回归》通过对寓言的解读，抓住了成为神儿女意味着什么的本质。虽然浪子已经背叛了父亲，父亲完全有理由不认他，但父亲是仁慈的，慈爱的，怜悯的，恢复了儿子的身份和在家庭中的权利。同样地，当我们选择通过耶稣救赎的宝血来接受回到神那里的道路时，神就给了我们成为祂儿女的权利，我们则要晓得自已经成为了永活真神的孩子。
很少有基督教书籍谈论成为神的孩子或阐述天父的爱，这可能是因为50%的婚姻以离婚告终，由于缺少世上的好榜样，许多人对父亲的形象缺乏正确的理解。结果使得许多人难以在祷告，灵修和与神的关系方面去理解天父。
许多人开始基督徒的生活时，试图做一些事情来获得神的爱和接纳。意识到我们是被恩典拯救的罪人，我们通过遵守律法来追求成为好基督徒，以确保神会继续爱我们。虽然这可能是出于试图讨神喜悦的赤子之心而生发的好意，但如果我们不能领会爱的概念，我们就有可能成为律法主义者或法利赛人。一个人之所以用宗教的实践、仪文和规条来赢得神的爱和接纳，是因为他们只知道菲利奥-有条件的爱爱。他们错误地认为神的爱也是这样有条件的。
然而，如果我们认为神是在菲利奥有条件的爱中运作，我们就永远无法亲近神，因为我们是不完美的，每天都需要处理我们的软弱和试探。我们将自己置于情感过山车上，当我们表现好的时候，我们会觉得神爱我们;而当我们屈服于肉体的工作时，祂就会对我们大发雷霆。因此，我们需要明白神是不改变的; 祂每天都一样爱我们，因为我们是祂的孩子，祂对我们的爱是无条件的。
讲章系列: 作为儿子的身份
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