4 Gifts You Receive as a Child of God

When you make the personal choice to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior you are then therefore adopted as a child of God. Genesis 1:27 reveals to us that all humans are made in His image, but it is through faith that we become children of God (Galatians 3:26). As a child of God you are given many gifts, ones that are not to be squandered by hiding them under a lamp or covering them away, but fully embraced to live vibrantly as a true member of God’s family.  

Gift of Freedom  

Salvation through Christ is the gateway to true, full freedom. John 8:34-36 explains that as sinners we have all been in bondage,   

“Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:34-36 

When we come to faith and salvation through Christ it is then that we are set free from said bondage because of His sacrifice on the Cross. John Piper explains it in such a way as, “In other words, if we will not be children, we will be slaves. And the slave does not remain in the house forever. The children do.” (Piper, 1). As a child of God, we are no longer held in chains any longer, nor do we walk the journey of life alone. We have every opportunity to live a full, abundant life (John 10:10) with the knowledge that our sins have been forgiven. In practical application this means every time the Enemy comes to remind you of mistakes or guilt you can rebuke Him in the Name of Jesus, for Jesus has pardoned you. The red in your ledger of wrongs no longer is held against you, for His blood has made it white as snow.  

Living in freedom is also seeking deliverance from God for the shackles that have sought to grip your family line. Through His power, not your striving, you can be free from what has attacked your human lineage for you are now part of the family of the Lord. True freedom is not just a gift for some children of God, it is a gift for all children of God who seek His face for it. 

Gift of Eternal Life  

Our time on this planet is but a breath, but the only way to everlasting life is through Jesus Christ. John 3:16 speaks plainly in sharing,

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16 

Faith in Christ is the key for eternal life (both now and beyond death), the only key. Society likes to stir a narrative that being a good person or doing good works will grant you access to Heaven, but only Christ can do that. That is not to say we should not make our best attempts to do right by others and to serve others with kindness and love, but those actions should be with motive of living as Christ followers—He has called us to love Him and others. It is imperative that we also recognize that Eternity will be filled with so much more than we can even begin to comprehend. Randy Alcorn covers much of what Heaven will be like in his book, Heaven, including, “In accord with our service for Christ while on earth, we will reign with Him in heaven. This implies specific delegated responsibilities for those under our leadership (Luke 19:17-19). We judge or rule over the world and we judge and rule over angels (1 Cor. 6:2-3)." We will live and reign with Christ.  As our Made New Study exclaims, “We are joint heirs with Christ, sons of God, and part of His royal, ruling family. Think about how amazing that is! We are seated in heavenly placed next to Jesus, above all of the powers and principalities that He has already conquered.” (Made New Study, 96). Eternal life holds great expectation and promise for us all, and so much more than we can even imagine here and now.   

Gift of Security  

As children of God we have the gift of security in God. No matter what occurs on earth, no matter what happens to us in this lifetime, we belong to God. Romans 14:8 explains it as,  

“for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.” Romans 14:8 

Security can be found in knowing that we are His, as the hymn, In Christ Alone beautifully phrases,  

“No power of hell, no scheme of man 

Can ever pluck me from His hand 

Till He returns or calls me home 

 Here in the power of Christ I'll stand”  

(Adrienne Camp and Geoff Moore & The Distance).  

There is peace that assures us in even the fiercest storms when we know these truths and when we stand firm in conviction and authority rooted in Christ Jesus. We can tap into this security when natural disasters, plagues, or tragedies occur. Undoubtedly, others will begin to notice that we are not slaves to fear, for our heart postures and mindsets are fastened to God. This offers us the ability to move forward with courage as joy is always set before us. Security in Christ is knowing we are ultimately held by Him, no matter what the future may hold.  

Gift of Access to the Father  

As children of God we have access to Him through faith in Christ. John 14:6 confirms to us that,   

“Jesus *said to him,  "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” John 14:6  

Having access to God allows us to seek His counsel, receive His grace, mercy, and kindness, ask Him for help or gifts, and to know Him personally. Think of a child coming before their father to ask for something, how that familiarity, love, and relationship is one where a child can make large requests because that child is a son or daughter. Now imagine how much grander it is with our Father, God with us. Matthew 7:7-11 explains it as,  

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. "Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone?  "Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?    “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!” Matthew 7:7-11 

Access to the Father as His child allows us to experience life under His protection, leadership, guidance, and to receive His agape unconditional love. Let us never forget what incredible gifts and access we have as children of the Lord Most High, may we steward them to the fullest extent.  

Sources:  

https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/how-to-become-a-child-of-god 

NASB   

https://www.epm.org/resources/2010/Feb/4/what-does-bible-say-about-heaven/#:~:text=In fact, Rev.,19:9).  

In Christ Alone by Adrienne Camp and Geoff Moore & The Distance 

Made New Study, The Rooted Truth