“And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the spirit of his son into your hearts, crying, Abba Father” Galatians 4:6 (KJV).
The Old Testament ministers served as servants. They did not enjoy or attain the sonship status. They related to God as Jehovah, God Almighty. It was a servant – master relationship. Jesus became the first begotten son of the father when he was quickened from the dead and rose again. All believers who are born again under the new covenant are brought into father-son relationship with the glorious privilege of having God, not just as a creator or a savior but as a father. As sons, they have the right to call God Papa since they are begotten of God through Jesus redemptive work. They are born into the family of God having God’s DNA; being partakers of God’s divine nature. It is simply amazing that people who were once dead in sins and trespasses, as a result were enemies of God can become members of his family. “Behold what manner of love the father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not” 1 John 3:1 (KJV). This sonship status makes us heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.
We share in his nature and eternal destiny. We cannot fully grasp the implications of our sonship except through the revelation of the Holy Spirit. All that God has are ours. Christ willingly shares with us as co-heirs. The more we grow in understanding of our sonship the more we understand and appreciate our sonship position and the father heart of God, the more our fears and timidity are replaced with faith and confidence and our despair with hope. We will enter boldly to the throne of grace to receive help in times of need. Our prayer and fellowship will assume a different meaning.
Not only do we begin to enjoy sonship benefits, we will gladly accept and enjoy sonship responsibilities. What a joy to know that Jesus is not only my Lord but also my senior brother; a joint heir with me and that we are joint benefactors of our father’s will, co-executors of our family responsibilities and preservers of our family values.
PRAYER: Papa, may this understanding of my sonship status affect my fellowship with you, with my brethren and my service in the family in Jesus name.
Rev. Vincent Diolu