Offspring of God: Heirs with Christ

Offspring of God: Heirs with Christ

"Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!" (1 John 3:1)

"For in Him we live and move and have our being... We are His offspring." (Acts 17:28)

"The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ." (Romans 8:16-17)

The Authority to Become Children of God

John declares a staggering truth: "To as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority to become the children of God."

Authority. Power. Privilege. Right. This is not a suggestion; it is a legal declaration. When you receive Jesus, you are not just a visitor, a servant, or a distant admirer. You become a child of God. You are adopted into His family. You are given the right to call Him Father.

This is not earned by good behavior. It is not inherited by natural birth. It is not achieved by human effort. John makes this clear: "Who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

Not of blood—physical lineage does not make you a child of God.

Not of the will of the flesh—human desire or impulse cannot produce this birth.

Not of the will of man—no human decision or effort can accomplish it.

It is of God. It is a supernatural birth. It is a divine work. When you believe in Jesus, the Holy Spirit gives you new life. You are born again. You are regenerated. You become a child of the Most High God.

This is your identity. You are not a mistake. You are not an accident. You are not a slave. You are a child of God. You belong to Him. He is your Father.

Behold What Manner of Love

John exclaims: "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!"

Behold! Look! Gaze! Marvel! This is not ordinary love. This is not common affection. This is a love that is beyond comprehension. The Father has lavished His love upon us. He has poured it out. He has given it freely. He has called us His children.

And we are children of God. Not just called, not just named, not just labeled. We are. It is our reality. It is our identity. It is our inheritance.

What manner of love is this? It is a love that reaches down to the lowest sinner. It is a love that adopts the orphan. It is a love that welcomes the outcast. It is a love that calls the unworthy "beloved." It is a love that makes us heirs with Christ.

This is the love of the Father. And it is for you.

In Him We Live and Move and Have Our Being

Paul stands before the philosophers of Athens and declares: "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth."

This is not a distant, indifferent deity. This is the Creator of all things. He made the world. He gave life and breath to every living thing. He determined the times and places where people would live. And He did all of this so that "men would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us."

God is not far from you. He is not hidden. He is not unreachable. He is near. He is close. He is present.

And Paul quotes a Greek poet: "For in Him we live and move and have our being." This is the truth of our existence. Our life is not self-sustaining; it is sustained by God. Our movement is not independent; it is dependent on Him. Our being is not isolated; it is rooted in Him.

And then Paul adds: "We are His offspring." This is not just a poetic idea; it is a spiritual reality. We are not distant creatures; we are His children. We are not unrelated beings; we are His family. We are His offspring—created by Him, sustained by Him, and called to seek Him.

This is the foundation of our identity. Before we ever believed, we were His creation. But through faith in Christ, we become more than creation; we become His children. We are born again. We are adopted. We are heirs.

Led by the Spirit: Sons of God

Paul writes: "For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God."

The mark of a child of God is being led by the Spirit. It is not just a doctrinal belief; it is a daily walk. The Spirit guides, directs, and empowers. The Spirit enables you to put to death the misdeeds of the body. The Spirit leads you in the path of life.

And then Paul declares: "For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship."

You are not a slave. You are not in bondage to fear. You have not received a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. Fear is the mark of a slave; confidence is the mark of a son. You do not cower before God; you run to Him. You do not dread His presence; you delight in it.

"And by Him we cry, 'Abba, Father.'" Abba is the intimate, affectionate term for a father. It is the cry of a child. It is the language of relationship. You are not addressing a distant deity; you are crying out to your Father. You are not reciting a formal prayer; you are speaking from the heart.

"The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children." This is the inner witness. The Spirit confirms our identity. He assures us that we are children of God. He gives us confidence, peace, and security. When doubts arise, the Spirit testifies. When fears assail, the Spirit assures. When the enemy whispers lies, the Spirit speaks truth.

Heirs of God and Co-Heirs with Christ

Paul continues: "Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ."

This is the inheritance of sonship. You are not just a child; you are an heir. You have an inheritance. Not a portion, not a share—all that belongs to the Father belongs to you. You are an heir of God. You are a co-heir with Christ.

What does this mean? It means that everything Christ has is yours. His righteousness is yours. His life is yours. His glory is yours. His inheritance is yours. You share in His sufferings, and you will share in His glory.

"If indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory." Suffering is part of the inheritance. It is not a sign that you are not a child; it is a sign that you are. If you are a child, you will share in His sufferings. But you will also share in His glory.

Paul concludes: "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."

The suffering is temporary. The glory is eternal. The pain is light and momentary. The glory is weighty and everlasting. Your present struggles are not the end; they are the path to glory. Your current trials are not the final word; they are the prelude to eternal joy.

This is the hope of the child of God. You are an heir. You have a future. You have a glory that is coming. And nothing can take it away.

Clear Conclusion: From Offspring to Heirs

God is your Father. He is the Creator who made you, the Sustainer who upholds you, and the Father who adopted you. You are His offspring—created by Him, born of Him, and sealed by His Spirit. You are led by the Spirit, you cry "Abba, Father," and the Spirit testifies that you are His child.

You are not a slave. You are not in fear. You are not alone. You are a child of God. And if you are a child, you are an heir. You are an heir of God and a co-heir with Christ. You share in His sufferings, and you will share in His glory.

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on you. It is a love that makes you His child. It is a love that makes you His heir. It is a love that will lead you through suffering to glory.

So do not live according to the flesh. Put to death the misdeeds of the body. Be led by the Spirit. Cry out to your Father. Listen to the Spirit's testimony. And rest in the promise: you are a child of God, an heir of God, and a co-heir with Christ.

Your present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in you.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What does it mean that "in Him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28)?

This means that our existence is entirely dependent on God. He is the source of all life. He gives us breath, sustains our bodies, and orders our steps. We do not exist independently; we exist in Him. This is both a humbling and a comforting truth. It humbles us because we are not self-sufficient. It comforts us because God is always near. We are not isolated atoms; we are held in the hand of our Father.

2. What does it mean that "those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God" (Romans 8:14)?

Being led by the Spirit means that the Holy Spirit directs, guides, and empowers your life. It is not a passive relationship; it is an active one. The Spirit leads you into truth, holiness, and obedience. He convicts you of sin and empowers you to overcome it. He guides your decisions and shapes your character. This is the mark of a child of God—not perfection, but a willingness to follow the Spirit's leading.

3. Why do we cry "Abba, Father" (Romans 8:15)?

"Abba" is an Aramaic term of endearment for a father. It is intimate, affectionate, and personal. It is the cry of a child, not a slave. When we cry "Abba, Father," we are expressing our deep relationship with God. We are not addressing a distant, impersonal deity. We are speaking to our Father. This cry is not just a word; it is a heart posture. It is the language of sonship.

4. How does the Spirit testify that we are children of God (Romans 8:16)?

The Spirit testifies through inner assurance, conviction, and peace. He confirms our identity as children of God. He gives us confidence in our relationship with the Father. When we are tempted to doubt, the Spirit reassures us. When we are tempted to fear, the Spirit comforts us. When we are tempted to feel abandoned, the Spirit reminds us of God's love. The Spirit's testimony is not always audible, but it is always real.

5. What does it mean to be a "co-heir with Christ" (Romans 8:17)?

To be a co-heir with Christ means that we share in His inheritance. Everything that belongs to Christ belongs to us. His righteousness is ours. His life is ours. His glory is ours. We share in His sufferings, and we will share in His glory. This does not mean we are equal to Christ, but that we are united with Him. Our inheritance is secure because He is secure. Our future is certain because His future is certain.