Jesus Give's Us Power to Become God's Children

Christ Triumphant - A Devotional by E.G. White

Jesus Give's Us Power to Become God's Children

Today's Text: But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: John 1:12

The Message:      We are the Lord's property. Christ has paid a sum for our ransom that in no way can be computed. He gave Himself a living offering to God. He bore the sins of the transgressor, that God might be just and yet be the justifier of the repenting, believing sinner. In the wilderness of temptation He overcame every temptation on the point of appetite. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and in His weak condition Satan assailed Him. But He answered not with His own words, for Satan was ready to enter into controversy had He done this.... The insinuating temptation was presented, "If thou be the Son of God, command that this stone be made bread." But the "if" was not accepted, and there was no ground for controversy....      In His human nature Jesus gave evidence that in every temptation wherewith Satan shall assail fallen human beings, there is help for them in God if they will take hold of His strength, and through obedience make peace with Him....      All heaven was watching the working of the enemy against Christ when tempted in behalf of the fallen race. And all heaven is watching the strivings of every individual soul under every temptation by which men and women shall be beset. If they will resist the temptation, if they will not yield on any point, Satan cannot have the victory. In the books of heaven will stand registered against your name that on such a day Satan sought to overthrow and ensnare one of My redeemed ones, but the tempted one looked to Me, the conqueror, and I gave him or her angels to press back the powerful foe....      And what will those answer who have turned away from light and from knowledge and lived a careless, self-indulgent life? The amount of evidence people have had presented before them, the number of talents they have received, the returns made to the Master-these will determine their destiny for eternity.      Those who have had privileges and opportunities and light upon light will find themselves brought into comparison with those whose religious advantages have been limited, but who have made diligent, persevering effort to lay hold on eternal life. Over such the Lord rejoices with singing.-Manuscript 49, 1897.

Commentary: My friend, the power to become sons and daughters of God comes only through the indwelling of Jesus Christ within our hearts and minds.  This indwelling is not possession, but submission to the controlling influence of the Spirit of God.  As we thus submit ourselves to Him, He will guide our thoughts and desires that we may overcome every temptation to evil. Jesus while on the this earth spoke the beatitudes in the sermon on the mount saying "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." (Matthew 5:9), but before we can become peacemakers on this earth there was a process that we needed to go through.  That process began with verse 3 saying "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (4) Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. (5) Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. (6) Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. (7) Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. (8) Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." As we come to Christ with a broken and contrite heart, He begins the process of transformation.  When we recognize that it was our sins that put the Son of God on the cross, we will be poor in spirit and we will mourn for what we have done.  As Christ forgives us of our sins and we begin to look unto His lovely character and are changed by beholding Him.  Our pride turns into meekness and we will hunger and thirst after His righteousness, for we will see that our righteousness is as filthy rags.  As we take upon the righteousness of Christ we will become merciful towards others, and as we are thus cleansed from all unrighteousness our hearts will be pure.  When this happens we will strive to become peacemakers, sharing the good news with all that we come into contact with; bringing the peace that comes only through forgiveness of sin. My friend, if you desire to become a child of God, you must first come to Jesus just as you are, confessing your sins before Him that He may forgive you and cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).  Forgiveness of sins is not enough for us to be called children of God, we must be also cleansed from all unrighteousness.  This is the transforming power of the Spirit of Christ living within our lives, and by Him living within us we become children of God. May we look unto Jesus, that He may not only forgive us of our sins, but cleanse us from all unrighteousness today. God bless,

Video of the Week The Sin Against the Holy Spirit - Allen Stump This message is about the sin against the Holy Spirit, the sin for which there is no forgiveness. Is this the ultimate state of emenity against God or can there also be a specific sin so great that it cuts away salvation forever?