Children of God: Born of the Father's Love

Children of God: Born of the Father's Love

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

"To as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority to become the 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." (John 1:12-13)

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.

The Fellowship of the Father and the Son

John writes: "The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us."

This eternal life—Jesus Christ—was with the Father from the beginning. He was in the bosom of the Father. He shared in the divine fellowship. And He appeared to us. He became flesh. He dwelt among us. He made the Father known.

And John's purpose is clear: "We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ."

The goal of the Gospel is fellowship. Not just knowledge. Not just doctrine. Not just forgiveness. Fellowship. Relationship. Communion. You are invited into the relationship that the Son has with the Father. You are brought into the divine fellowship.

This is the wonder of the Gospel: you are not just saved from something; you are saved into something. You are saved into a relationship with the Father and with the Son. You are invited into the eternal love that exists between them.

And John adds: "We write this to make our joy complete." Fellowship with the Father brings joy. Complete joy. Not partial joy, not temporary joy, not fleeting joy. Complete joy. The joy of knowing the Father. The joy of being His child. The joy of fellowship with Him.

Do Not Love the World: The Love of the Father

John warns: "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him."

This is a stark warning. The world—the system of values, desires, and ambitions that is opposed to God—is in direct competition with the love of the Father. You cannot love both. The world promises satisfaction, but it delivers emptiness. The world promises pleasure, but it leads to destruction. The world promises significance, but it produces shame.

The world is defined by three things: "The cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes, and the boasting of what he has and does."

Cravings of the sinful man—the desires of the flesh that rebel against God.

Lust of the eyes—the desire for what we see, the longing for possessions and pleasures.

Boasting of what he has and does—pride, self-sufficiency, the need to be admired.

These do not come from the Father. They come from the world. And the world is passing away. It is temporary. It is fading. It is destined for destruction.

But "the man who does the will of God lives forever." The one who loves the Father, who obeys His will, who lives for Him—that person has eternal life. The world and its desires pass away, but the child of God abides forever.

This is not a call to isolation; it is a call to allegiance. You live in the world, but you are not of the world. You interact with the world, but you do not love it. You engage with the world, but you do not conform to it. Your heart belongs to the Father. Your treasure is in heaven. Your identity is secure in Christ.

Whoever Acknowledges the Son Has the Father

John states: "Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the Antichrist—he denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also."

This is a clear declaration: you cannot have the Father without the Son. To deny the Son is to deny the Father. To reject Jesus is to reject God. The Antichrist is not just someone who opposes Jesus; he is someone who denies the truth about Jesus.

But the one who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. To believe in Jesus is to receive the Father. To confess Jesus as Lord is to be welcomed into the family of God. The Son reveals the Father. The Son is the way to the Father. No one comes to the Father except through the Son.

This is the Gospel. The Father sent the Son. The Son revealed the Father. The Son died for our sins. The Son rose again. And through Him, we have access to the Father. Through Him, we become children of God.

Clear Conclusion: From Orphans to Heirs

God is your Father. Not your distant Creator, not your indifferent Judge, not your harsh Master. Your Father. The One who loves you with an everlasting love. The One who adopted you into His family. The One who calls you His child.

This is not a position you earned. It is a gift you received. You were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. You received the authority to become a child of God when you believed in Jesus.

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on you. It is a love that invites you into fellowship with Him. It is a love that calls you to turn away from the world and its passing desires. It is a love that is found only in the Son.

So do not love the world. Do not be deceived by its promises. Do not be seduced by its pleasures. Instead, love the Father. Acknowledge the Son. Live as a child of God. And know that the one who does the will of God lives forever.

You are not an orphan. You are not alone. You are not unloved. God is your Father. He has chosen you. He has adopted you. He has called you His own.

Live like a child of the King. Walk in the confidence of your identity. Rest in the love of your Father.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I become a child of God?

You become a child of God by receiving Jesus Christ and believing in His name. This is not a physical birth but a spiritual one. It is a work of God's grace through faith. When you confess Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you are born again. You become a child of God. This is not based on your performance but on His gift.

2. What does it mean to be "born of God" (John 1:13)?

Being born of God means that your new life comes from God, not from human effort or natural lineage. It is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. When you believe in Jesus, you are regenerated—you receive new spiritual life. Your old nature is not just improved; it is replaced. You become a new creation. This new birth is the foundation of your identity as a child of God.

3. How do I know that God loves me as His child?

The love of God is not based on your feelings; it is based on His character and promises. You know God loves you because He sent His Son to die for you while you were still a sinner. You know He loves you because He has adopted you into His family and calls you His child. You know He loves you because He has given you the Holy Spirit as a seal and a guarantee. You can trust His love even when you do not feel it, because His love is not dependent on your emotions.

4. How can I love the Father and not the world?

Loving the Father means prioritizing your relationship with Him over the desires of the world. It means seeking His will, obeying His commands, and finding your satisfaction in Him. It means recognizing that the world's promises are empty and temporary, while God's promises are eternal. You do not need to withdraw from the world, but you must not love it—do not set your heart on its values, possessions, or pleasures. Instead, set your heart on God and His kingdom.

5. Can I have the Father without acknowledging the Son?

No. Jesus said, "No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). To have the Father, you must acknowledge the Son. To deny the Son is to deny the Father. The Son is the only way to the Father. There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. If you believe in the Son, you have the Father. If you reject the Son, you reject the Father. This is the exclusive claim of the Gospel.