Are you a child of God?
John 1:11-13

 There is a need to redefine our theology today; most of us grew up believing certain things that have been passed from generation to generation.  We have believed them without questioning.  There are lots of things people believe today just because it makes them feel better about themselves; however, that doesn’t mean their beliefs are accurate or true.  Sometimes we believe things without applying logic or reasoning.  We don’t research it ourselves to see if they are true.  As disciples of Jesus we need to know what God has said and says in his book, the Bible.  Our theology will be messed up if we don’t know the teachings of the Bible.  For example, most people believe they are children of God just because they are humans and believe God exists.  What does the Bible say? Who are the children of God? How does a person become a child of God?

John 1:11-13
John said that Jesus came and was rejected by his own people, but to those who received him, those who believed in his name.  Jesus gave the right (authority) to be made children of God.
To be born of God you must believe in Jesus, God’s only Son.
Faith in Jesus is a prerequisite for anyone to be authorized or be given the right to be a child of God.

Believe what about Jesus?

One must believe that Jesus is who he claim to be, the Savior and Lord.  The Messiah (Christ)
Jesus is God’s solution to our sin problem
Jesus is the only way one can enter heaven.
One day every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Php.4:11

I John 5:1 everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah is born of God. (Those who reject Jesus as the Christ are not children of God)

Gal.3:26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  Clothed or joined with Christ at baptism.
Anyone can become a child of God (Whoever believes, John 3:16.
Hebrew or Greek, slave or free, male or female.  Anyone has the opportunity to be made a child of God and become heirs of the promise.
God took the initiative to adopt us as his children.  Ephesians 1:5 HE predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.

 Yes God took the initiative; he made the plan; however, people still must choose.  They must believe in Jesus in order to be God’s child and heir of salvation.
 Whoever believes in him…

What happens to those who don’t believe in Jesus?  They already stand condemned –John 3:15-18
John 3:36 whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.

God has given everyone the privilege of having a loving relationship with him as his child, with all the eternal benefits.  But people must choose Jesus because refusing Jesus is to refuse eternal life.  Refusing Jesus is to choose hell as the place of your final destination.

The Story of a Son
author unknown

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art. When the Viet Nam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.

About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door.  A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands.

He said, “Sir, you don’t know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly. He often talked about you, and your love for art.

The young man held out his package. “I know this isn’t much. I’m not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this.”

The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture. “Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It’s a gift.”

The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.

The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection  On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. “We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?”

There was silence. Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, “We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one.”

But the auctioneer persisted, “Will someone bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?” Another voice shouted angrily, “We didn’t come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Goghs, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!  “But still the auctioneer continued, “The son! The son! Who’ll take the son?”

Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. “I’ll give $10 for the painting.” Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.

We have $10, who will bid $20?” “Give it to him for $10. Let’s see the masters.” “$10 is the bid, won’t someone bid $20?” The crowd was becoming angry. They didn’t want the picture of the son. They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections. The auctioneer pounded the gavel.  “Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!

A man sitting on the second row shouted, “Now let’s get on with the collection!” The auctioneer laid down his gavel, “I’m sorry, the auction is over.”

“What about the paintings?”

“I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings. The man who took the son gets everything!”

God gave his Son 2,000 years ago to die on a cruel cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is, “The Son, the Son, who’ll take the Son?” Because you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything