Children of God

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. (John 1:12-13)


This is one of those passages of Scripture that is probably just fine to be put forth without any comment or elaboration but since I'm here I'll share just a few thoughts.


It hit me today as I witnessed an infant baptism and there was talk about the child having become a member of God's family and just a couple evenings before I was at a concert and was told that we we're all God's children.  I know I've touched on this before but I think it's worth repeating.  For the record, if you have any trouble with what this verse says or what I am going to say, search the scriptures and discern for yourself (as you should with anything anyone tells about God). By the way, I think it's fine for a body of believers to come together to pledge their lives in the raising of a child in the way of the Lord.  It's a beautiful thing but I'm going deeper here.  Does it save?


When we emerge from our mother's womb all wet and wrinkled and are placed in her arms it is a gift from God, no doubt.  We are part of God's creation.  We have been born the first time; it happened as the result of a human decision to conceive a child (at least there were humans who willing chose to perform the act that led to the birth).  The Apostle Paul goes so far as to say we were enemies of God before we were born again. (See Romans 5:9-11)  But what transaction occurs to bring us from enemy status to actual adoption into God's family?  What is it that we have to do?  Can someone else do it for us? 


Let's examine a couple possibilities:


1) Baptism - does baptism save?


This is a long topic but here is the main point.  The Bible is very clear that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not the mere intellectual assent or head knowledge of Jesus' historical life but faith in him as the sole means of salvation from the consequences of sin.  John's passage above says that those who "believed in his name" were given the right to become children of God.  Baptism is an integral part of our faith and an act of obedience and an outward expression of our having died with Christ and also having been raised with him.  We were commanded to be baptized along with our repentance so it is not an optional thing for a confessed Christian.  Jesus talked about a baptism he had to undergo. He wasn't talking about water baptism but the actual event that baptism symbolizes, his crucifixion and resurrection. So if we baptize someone or are baptized ourselves that in-and-of-itself doesn't bring them or us into God's family.


2)  Being a good person. 


Well, the bible is clear and each of our lives proves the fact that none of us is really all that good.  We might do some good deeds and act kindly but in our hearts we all have greed, pride, lust, idolatry, and a host of other characteristics that the bible tells us separates us from God.  The Bible says, for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  Paul says in Ephesians, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." We can't earn our way into the family.


3)  Being Religious


See #2  Being devoted to God in Christ is a beautiful thing but religion per se and religious ritual never saved anyone.  Performing the sacraments, praying, and partaking in any religious ritual may be an act of obedience or of heartfelt worship (which comes after salvation) but they themselves don't save.


I will end as I started by quoting Jesus as was written in John's Gospel.  These words were spoken to a Pharisee named Nicodemus as Jesus explained the truth of the New Birth or being "Born again" into God's family  (John 3:13-18)



"No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.  Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son"


Believe....


Peace,


David