Many in the younger generation suffer from identity confusion. When we ask them “Who are you?” they cannot answer. They do not know where their value comes from. Some even question the most basic things about themselves, like those who suffer from gender dysphoria and do not know whether they are male or female. A few days ago, I watched a dialogue between Jordan Peterson, a very bright psychoanalyst, and Abigail Shrier, the author of “Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters” They were concerned with what scientists call the epidemic that has been going on, especially among girls. And sadly, therapists in Canada and some States in the US are no longer allowed to try to treat this dysphoria but are forced to agree with whatever the patient feels about themselves.
As I said before we have to know who we are. Our children should know who they are. Otherwise, they will be confused and lost in this secular, atheist, chaotic and confusing world. Therefore, today we will continue the sermon series on the importance of having the right self-identity in Christ. We have learned that first, we are humans, created in God’s image. So, we are much more valuable than animals! We are God’s best creation. Second, we are sinners who need God’s forgiveness. Third, we are forgiven and loved by God. And now fourth is “We are children of God.”
Some Christians wrongly believe that everyone is a child of God. They think because human beings are created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27), therefore, all humans are all His children. The Bible says no. Every human being is designed by God and loved by Him, as we have learned before. But because of our sin, 2 Corinthians 4:4 says we live under the tyranny of Satan, the god of this world. In John 8:44, Jesus told the Jews who did not believe that He is the Messiah, the Son of God, “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” Not only them, but all humans are also actually enslaved by sin and live to follow its rules (John 8:34). Sin separated humans from the holy God. Our sin must be forgiven, and our sinful natures restored before we can have fellowship with God and become His children.
I. Who can be children of God? Let us read John 1:12-13. ”Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” These verses explain that only those who receive Jesus in their hearts as their Lord and Savior and believe in His name are given the right by Jesus to become children of God. So, children of God are not born naturally but born of God. Jesus taught that becoming children of God means we must experience the new birth (John 3:3). In other words, we can only become His children when we are adopted by Him. Paul says in Eph 1:5, “he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.”
II. What are the marks of children of God?
a. They are new creations. 2 Corinthians 5:17 describes: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” To be a child of God means our old sin nature is replaced with a nature that wants to please the Lord. We still sin (1 John 1:8), but we have “an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1).
b. They do what is right and love other brothers and sisters. 1 John 3:10 says, “This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.” John is not referring here to legalists who work to try to earn God’s favor (Titus 3:5). He is describing the life of someone who has truly received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The life of a child of God will be radically different from the life of an unbeliever. A child of God has a desire to live in a way that pleases the heavenly Father, a life characterized by love (1 Corinthians 10:31).
c. Their lives are led by the Spirit. Romans 8:14 - "For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.” A child of God is no longer a child of the devil and no longer plays in the devil’s backyard. God sets about transforming His children through the power of the Holy Spirit, and they begin to take on a family resemblance. Paul says in Phil 2:14-15 – “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky.” If we do not begin to look like our Heavenly Father in word, desire, and action, we are most likely not His.
III. What are the privileges of being children of God?
a. We can call God, “Father.” God is our Creator. He is so great and glorious. Because He adopted us to be His children, we may call Him “Father.” That is why in the prayer that Jesus teaches us, we can begin our prayer by saying “Our Father Who is in heaven.” In Rom 8:15b, apostle Paul says, “the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him, we cry, 'Abba, Father.” “Abba” was an Aramaic term that is best translated as “Daddy”—a term of the greatest intimacy. A child does not always (or even often) address his father as “Father”; likely, he has a different term for him that shows his loving, trusting familiarity with his father, such as “Dad” or “Papa” or “Daddy.” And this is how Christians can approach the all-powerful Creator of the universe, who sustains every atom in existence moment by moment! When I studied in Fresno, my son, Ivan, was still little. One day he called my friend from Europe, “Uncle Andre …” And my friend told him “Please don’t call me uncle, I am not your uncle.” Ivan didn’t know that the culture in America (and Europe) is different from his home country where children call their parents’ friends ‘uncle’ or ‘auntie’ to show respect. Praise God, He not only allows us to call Him, ‘uncle’ but ‘Father.’ Martyn Lloyd-Jones is worth quoting here: “Let us notice the word ‘cry’… we cry ‘Abba, Father.’ It is a very strong word, and clearly, the apostle has used it quite deliberately. It means ‘a loud cry’ … it expresses deep emotion … It is the spontaneity of the child who sees the father … and not only spontaneity but confidence.” (Romans Chapter 8:5-17, pages 240-242)
b. We have the promise that “we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Heb 4:16). The child of God trusts his Father to supply all his needs “according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:19). He is confident that the “Father in heaven will give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:11-13).
c. We receive discipline. Fathers who love their children always discipline their children. When parents discipline a child, they allow or introduce a milder form of pain to teach or mature the child away from behavior that will lead to far greater pain later. Hebrews 12:9-10 explains: “We have all had human fathers who disciplined us … but God disciplines us for our good.” Since we are His children whom He loves so much, God disciplines us when we disobey Him. As His children, our Father teaches us to do the right things. He wants us to grow and be better people. He changes us so that we can be like Jesus, our Lord, and Savior. When we ignore Him, He will warn us through His words and the works of the Holy Spirit in us. But if we continue to ignore and disobey Him, He will discipline us to get our attention. God’s discipline causes pain, but it is better to be disciplined by our loving Father than to suffer greater pain later. Therefore, Jesus says in Rev 3:19, “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.”
d. We have guaranteed eternal life (Ephesians 1:13–14; John 3:16–18). Jesus has already paid the entry fee for every person who trusts in His death and resurrection. Children of God live in the hope of seeing Jesus face to face, and so they “purify themselves, just as he is pure” (1 John 3:3).
To close this message, I would like to share with you Jonathan Than’s testimony that shows how someone lost his identity at a young age but by the grace of God, he found his new identity in Christ. Jonathan was born in Indonesia as a male. But since he was little, he liked to wear girl’s clothes and played with dolls. When he was 14 years old, his father found Jonathan wear women’s clothes. Because of that, his father beat him badly. But that did not stop him from thinking that he was a female trapped in a male body. When he was 19 years old, he decided to do surgeries to be a woman. His strong desire to have the body of a woman finally came true. Now Jonathan Than became Thania. He officially changed his name and gender to be female. She got married but when her husband found out that she was born male, he divorced her. Because she was pretty, many men liked her. She used her beauty to attract men and she became a high-class prostitute. In his testimony, Jonathan said, "I was happy with my job, I had lots of friends, money and whatever I wanted, I could buy it.” But she felt an emptiness in her life.
She moved to America and continued living as a transgender woman. She converted to Islam but after 12 years, she became a Christian. She found Christ’s love and be His child. And that was the beginning journey for Thania to find her identity in Christ. As she studied the Bible and prayed, the Holy Spirit worked in her heart and helped her to find the true identity that God intended for her. Jonathan said, “When I got the word of God about my identity, I realized it. And at that time, I wanted to repent to let go of my pride, my arrogance, my selfishness. I have to let it all go.” He continued explaining, “I've done breast surgery, genital surgery. I also got married. Everything I have passed and what I have passed in the past is my fake identity.” “I regret what I have done in my life and my sins. But I am also grateful that God can restore my life. God can save my life. Because God's grace is so real in my life,” he said. After repenting, he also let go of all the false attributes he was wearing, starting from removing the parts of the female organs he had implanted. Now, Jonathan Than has returned with his real identity as a child of God and a man. And God continues to use Jonathan to serve transgender people, like him.
Knowing that we are children of God gives us peace, joy, hope, strength, security, and confidence. It also helps us to see and accept ourselves just like what God sees and how He, our Father, loves and accepts us.
