The Importance of Faith (Part 3): Sons of God

The Importance of Faith (Part 3): Sons of God

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26).

It is a great blessing to be the “sons of God.” John wrote, “See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God” (1 John 3:1). Through His great love, He sent Jesus to die on the cross so that we could “receive the adoption as sons” (Galatians 4:5).

As Paul continued discussing our adoption, he stated two benefits that we have as children of God. “Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying ‘Abba! Father!’ Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God” (Galatians 4:6-7). First, being sons of God is important because it means we have access to the Father (Galatians 4:6). We are able to “draw near with confidence to the throne of grace” (Hebrews 4:16) and have the assurance that as we pray to God “He hears us” (1 John 5:15). Second, being sons of God is important is because it means we have an inheritance (Galatians 4:7). This inheritance is “imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for [us]” (1 Peter 1:4).

Paul told the Galatians that we are “sons of God through faith” (Galatians 3:26). As we have seen already in our study, we cannot please God without faith (Hebrews 11:6). Believing in Christ gives us “the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). The word right means power or authority. We have no authority to be children of God without faith. We can only become God’s children through faith.

How do we become “sons of God”? Obviously it is “through faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26). But from a practical standpoint, what does this mean? As we consider the illustration used in the Scriptures about becoming sons, we must think of this in terms of being born again. Jesus told Nicodemus, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). When Nicodemus, thinking in natural terms, questioned Jesus about how this could be done, Jesus explained, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5).

When Jesus talked about being “born of water” He was referring to water baptism. This is why Paul, immediately after stating that we are “sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26), wrote, “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (Galatians 3:27). We are “born again” when we are “baptized into Christ.” Faith makes us a proper candidate for this.

The opportunity to become children of God is not limited to a certain group of people. Rather, it is open to all. In the next verse, Paul wrote, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). When Jesus gave His apostles the Great Commission, He said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16). Everyone, regardless of their background, can hear the gospel, develop faith, and respond in obedience – which includes being baptized into Christ.

As the gospel and, therefore, salvation is open to all, it is clear that being a child of God does not come as a result of one’s physical birth. Instead, one becomes a child of God through their spiritual rebirth – being born again in the waters of baptism, an act to which we submit by faith.


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Comments

  1. Jonathan sareno says

    Well said. Thanks for the very edifying lesson. To God be the glory.

    God bless!