Embracing Our Identity as God's Beloved Children

Devotional

Day 1: The Privilege and Reality of Being God’s Child

To be called a son or daughter of the Most High is the greatest privilege a human can experience, yet it is often taken too lightly. The love of God is so profound that He has redeemed a people for Himself, setting them apart to make His glory known throughout the earth. This adoption into God’s family is not just a title but a new identity, purchased by the blood of Christ, freeing us from the penalty, power, and presence of sin. As children of God, we are called to abide in Christ, living in the confidence of our relationship with Him, and not shrinking back in shame when He appears. This relationship is the foundation for both our joy and our obedience, as we live out our new family identity. [02:22]

1 John 2:28–3:3 (ESV)
“And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him. See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.”

Reflection: In what ways have you taken your identity as God’s child for granted, and how can you intentionally “abide in Him” today to live out the privilege of your adoption?

Day 2: Our Desperate Condition and God’s Gracious Intervention

Every person’s greatest need is not material or relational, but spiritual: we are dead in our trespasses and sins, unable to relate to God or save ourselves. This spiritual deadness is not just a weakness but a total inability, leaving us under the wrath of God and following the desires of our flesh. Yet, God, in His mercy, intervenes—not because of anything we have done, but because of His great love. He makes us alive together with Christ, raising us up and seating us with Him in heavenly places. This transformation is a miracle of grace, not human effort, and it is the foundation of our hope and new life. [16:11]

Ephesians 2:1–7 (ESV)
“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”

Reflection: What evidence do you see in your life that God has made you alive with Christ, and how does this awareness shape your gratitude and dependence on Him today?

Day 3: God’s Sovereign Choice and Our Response

Becoming a child of God is not the result of our own initiative or decision, but of God’s sovereign choice and calling. Jesus makes it clear that we did not choose Him, but He chose us, and all whom the Father gives to Jesus will come to Him and never be cast out. This truth humbles us, reminding us that salvation is not a self-improvement project but a supernatural work of God’s grace. Our response is not to delay or presume upon tomorrow, but to repent and believe the gospel, surrendering our lives to Christ and trusting in His finished work. [24:28]

John 15:16 (ESV)
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”

Reflection: Is there any area where you have been relying on your own efforts or delaying your response to God’s call? What would it look like to fully surrender to His sovereign choice today?

Day 4: The Miracle of New Birth and the Gift of Grace

The miracle of salvation is that God brings life where there was only need and inability. Like the paralytic who could bring nothing but his need, or the criminal on the cross who could only ask to be remembered, we come to Jesus empty-handed, relying solely on His authority and grace to forgive and transform us. This new birth is not based on our qualifications or efforts, but on God’s initiative and mercy. When we truly behold the love of the Father, we are moved to continual surrender, not treating grace as a license to sin, but as the power to live as new creations. [33:42]

Matthew 9:1–7 (ESV)
“And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.’ And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, ‘This man is blaspheming.’ But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, ‘Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Rise and walk”? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins’—he then said to the paralytic—‘Rise, pick up your bed and go home.’ And he rose and went home.”

Reflection: What “need” or area of helplessness can you honestly bring to Jesus today, trusting Him to meet you with His grace and authority?

Day 5: The Duty and Evidence of True Sonship

Being adopted into God’s family brings with it a natural duty: to pursue holiness, righteousness, and purity as a response to God’s love. The evidence of true sonship is not perfection, but a genuine desire to follow Christ, battle the flesh, and grow in obedience. This is not a casual association, but a life marked by transformation and hope in Christ’s return. As we abide in Him and purify ourselves, we reflect His character to the world, living as salt and light and showing the immeasurable riches of His grace. [14:15]

Romans 12:1–2 (ESV)
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Reflection: What is one specific way you can pursue holiness or obedience today as a response to God’s love and your identity as His child?

Sermon Summary

To be called a son or daughter of the Most High is the greatest privilege a human can experience. Yet, it is easy to take this privilege lightly, forgetting the immense cost and love that brought us into God’s family. The blood of Christ has redeemed us, setting us apart to make His glory known. This adoption is not just a status; it is a relationship that brings both joy and a natural duty. The Christian life is a balance between the reality of our sonship and the responsibility that flows from it. If we focus only on relationship, we may lack obedience; if we focus only on duty, we lose the joy of being loved children. True Christian living is empowered by affection for God, which stirs us to obey—not out of mere obligation, but out of love.

The world does not recognize us because we are different, set apart by God’s love and transformed by His Spirit. This difference is not superficial; it is the result of a supernatural work. We are not finished yet—though we are already God’s children, we still battle the flesh and long for the day when we will be made like Christ. The Christian life is a battleground, not a playground. We struggle with sin, but our hope is in the promise that when Christ appears, we will be glorified and see Him as He is. Until then, we catch glimpses of His likeness in each other, in acts of love, and in the Scriptures.

Our greatest need is not material or relational, but spiritual: to be made alive in Christ. By nature, we are dead in sin, unable to relate to God, and under His wrath. But God, rich in mercy, chooses us, calls us, and performs a miracle of new birth. This is not something we can achieve by effort or self-improvement; it is a gift of grace. Like the paralytic or the thief on the cross, all we can bring is our need. God’s love and mercy meet us in our helplessness, making us alive together with Christ. This new birth naturally leads to a desire for holiness and obedience—not to earn God’s favor, but as a response to His love.

The call is clear: repent and believe the gospel. Turn your life over to God, trusting that Christ’s death has satisfied God’s justice. This is not about perfection, but about surrender. Confess your faith, and let the love of the Father be your motivation and your hope.

Key Takeaways

1. Sonship is the highest privilege, not a casual status. To be called a child of God is to be set apart by the blood of Christ, redeemed for a purpose greater than ourselves. This identity should never be taken lightly, for it cost the life of Jesus and brings us into a relationship that transforms every aspect of our lives. The privilege of adoption is both a comfort and a call to live differently. [00:48]
2. The Christian life is a balance of relationship and duty. True obedience flows from affection, not mere obligation. When we understand the depth of God’s love for us, our hearts are stirred to obey—not to earn His favor, but because we are already His beloved children. This balance guards us from joyless legalism and from shallow, disobedient faith. [04:20]
3. Our spiritual condition apart from Christ is not just weakness, but death. We are by nature children of wrath, unable to relate to God or please Him. The greatest need of every person is not self-improvement, but resurrection—a miracle only God can perform. Recognizing our helplessness is the first step toward receiving God’s grace. [16:11]
4. Salvation is initiated and accomplished by God’s sovereign choice and miraculous work. We do not choose God first; He chooses us, calls us, and makes us alive by His Spirit. Like the paralytic and the thief on the cross, we bring nothing but our need, and God responds with mercy and new life. This humbles our pride and magnifies His grace. [23:30]
5. The evidence of new birth is a transformed desire to follow Christ and pursue holiness. True children of God are marked by a longing to be like Jesus, even as they struggle with sin. This is not perfection, but a new direction—a life surrendered to God, empowered by His Spirit, and motivated by the hope of future glorification. [29:18]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:48] - The Privilege of Sonship
[01:45] - Relationship and Duty in the Christian Life
[04:20] - Motivation for Obedience: Affection or Obligation
[05:10] - The Evidence of Being God’s Children
[07:05] - The Peculiarity of God’s People
[08:05] - The Tension of the “Already and Not Yet”
[08:57] - The Christian Life as Battleground
[12:01] - Glimpses of Christ in the Present
[13:29] - The Hope of Glorification
[14:15] - The Supernatural Work of New Birth
[16:11] - Our Condition: Dead in Sin
[20:34] - The Nature and Attributes of God
[23:30] - God’s Sovereign Choice in Salvation
[29:18] - The Signature of True Sheep
[32:34] - The Miracle of New Birth
[35:58] - The Thief on the Cross: Grace for the Helpless
[39:53] - Raised with Christ: The Purpose of Salvation
[41:46] - Responding to God’s Call
[43:25] - Repentance and Surrender
[44:44] - Confessing Faith and Encouragement

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

1 John 2:28–3:3 (ESV) — 28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.
29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.
1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

Ephesians 2:1–7 (ESV) — 1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins
2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—
3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,
5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Observation Questions

In 1 John 3:1, what does John say is the reason the world does not recognize or know the children of God?
According to Ephesians 2:1–3, what was our spiritual condition before God intervened?
In the sermon, what is described as the “natural duty” that flows from being a child of God? [[01:45]]
What does John say will happen “when he appears” in 1 John 3:2?

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says that being called a child of God is the highest privilege, but also a call to live differently. Why is this identity not something to be taken lightly? [[00:48]]
The pastor describes the Christian life as a “battleground, not a playground.” What does this mean for how believers should view their daily struggles with sin? [[08:57]]
Ephesians 2:4–5 says, “But God, being rich in mercy… made us alive together with Christ.” What does this passage teach about who initiates and accomplishes salvation?
The sermon warns against focusing only on relationship or only on duty. What are the dangers of each extreme, and how does true Christian living balance both? [[02:22]]

Application Questions

The sermon says it’s easy to take our adoption into God’s family lightly. Are there ways you have become casual or forgetful about the cost and privilege of being called a child of God? What would it look like to “behold” this love more intentionally this week? [[00:48]]
The pastor says true obedience flows from affection, not just obligation. Think about your own spiritual habits—are there areas where you obey God more out of duty than love? How could you cultivate more affection for God in those areas? [[04:20]]
The world doesn’t recognize us because we are “set apart” by God’s love. In what ways do you feel different from the world because of your faith? Are there situations where you are tempted to hide that difference? [[05:58]]
The sermon describes our greatest need as spiritual, not material or relational. When you face problems, do you tend to look for solutions in self-improvement or in God’s grace? How can you remind yourself of your need for God’s mercy this week? [[16:11]]
The pastor gave examples of the paralytic and the thief on the cross, who brought nothing but their need to Jesus. Is there an area of your life where you need to stop trying to “fix yourself” and simply bring your need to God? What would it look like to do that? [[32:34]]
The evidence of new birth is a desire to follow Christ and pursue holiness, even while struggling with sin. What is one specific area where you sense God calling you to grow in holiness? What step could you take this week to respond? [[29:18]]
The call is to “repent and believe the gospel”—not to be perfect, but to surrender. Is there something you need to surrender to God right now? What is holding you back from turning it over to Him? [[43:25]]

Sermon Clips

The Christian life is a battleground, not a playground. It's a battleground against natural inclinations of the flesh that are not yet finished. You say, well, I thought that when I got saved, it would be all fixed. Well, that's not been my experience, and I've never met a person whose experience it was. [00:08:57] (22 seconds) #ChristianLifeIsBattleground

``One day your faith will become sight. And everything you ever dreamed of, it will be better. You say, well, I've given up this, I've given up that, I've sacrificed this, I've stopped doing that in order to serve God. The one who believes in him will never be put to shame. There'll never be a buyer's remorse with the Lord Jesus. Everything you've ever given up, you'll be glad you did. [00:13:07] (36 seconds) #FaithTurnedToSight

You think your greatest need is a new job or more money or a new spouse or a better behaved kid. This is not your greatest need. Your greatest need is that your sins would be paid for by the blood of Christ. That's your greatest need. [00:17:24] (17 seconds) #GreatestNeedIsRedemption

If you want to, everyone who wants to come to Jesus for real, authentic, I mean, you're just sincere. Not to get rid of a consequence, but to come to God because you're a sinner. Everyone who wants to will be born again. He will not turn you away. [00:31:34] (18 seconds) #AllAreWelcomeToBeBornAgain

All we can bring is our need and all we can do is nothing. And this is the supernatural conversion. Thank you. Thank you. that enables the person to be changed and a new creation, which creates in them the desire to pursue holy living. [00:34:29] (18 seconds) #NothingButNeedAndGrace

The miracle God performs is not based on the quality of the petitioner or the efforts of said petitioner. It's based on his grace through his eternal plan to bring for himself a people saved by grace. [00:38:06] (19 seconds) #BeholdAndSubmitToGod

Behold what manner the love of the Father that we would be called children of God. If we behold it, by the way, the word behold in chapter 3 verse 1 is in the imperative. Behold see. See, behold, look. And it's in the imperative in the language. If you see it rightly, then you would submit continually. Will there be bumps and hiccups? Yes, there will. But to stand around and act as if, Hey, I've got my ticket to heaven. It doesn't matter how I live. This is blasphemy. It is unchristian. And probably you're not saved. It's contrary to everything. [00:38:29] (45 seconds) #WorshipAndLoveInTheMoment

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