Unshaken | Be the Man God Made You to Be: Your Identity in ChristChikamu

Day 4: You are a Son of God - Assurance of your sonship and what this entails.

Before placing your faith in Jesus, sin created a barrier between God and you, disrupting the intended father-son relationship.

John 1:12 tells us that there is a restoration of this relationship through Jesus: "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." Jesus Himself further deepens this concept when He explains later in this same Gospel account to His disciples in John 3:3, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again."

Placing your faith in Jesus fundamentally changes your status before God. You are no longer defined by sin or your imperfection; instead, you are cleansed and restored through His sacrifice on the cross.

As a son of God, you inherit the blessings of this redemption.

This new relationship with God as your Father comes with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, enabling you to live a life led by His guidance and access to His presence, rather than fleshly desires.

Unlike a slave, who serves without the assurance of family ties or inheritance, you are received as a son through this spiritual adoption. This new standing assures you of a permanent place in God's family, characterized by intimacy and authority.

The parable of the prodigal son, as recounted in the Gospel of Luke, beautifully symbolizes this reconciliation. The prodigal son, having squandered his inheritance, repents and returns to his father, expecting rejection and hoping for at least a place in servitude.

Instead, he is met with an unexpected celebration of his return. The father doesn't just take him back reluctantly; he welcomes him with open arms, with joy, and a celebratory feast. He restores the son to his place in the family, completing the restoration with symbols of honor and belonging, like a ring and a robe.

This is the story of your own return to God. When you realized your desperate need for Him and decided to return, God didn't receive you as a slave, but as a cherished son. He's been waiting for your return ever since sin separated you from Him, and He was ready to restore you fully to your place in His family. Your relationship, once marred by your departure, is renewed, and you are welcomed back not as a servant but as beloved child of the Living God.

This is the work of God’s unconditional love and grace for you manifested through Jesus Christ.