Living as Sons and Daughters of the King: Embracing God's Grace

Living as Sons and Daughters of the King

In this fast-paced world, we are constantly driven to earn. From a young age, we are conditioned to prove our worth by earning praise, grades, and even love. It seems that everything in life is about what we can earn, and we have become experts at striving and working hard to achieve our goals.

However, this mentality of earning can hinder us from fully experiencing the grace of God. We struggle to accept that God's love and salvation are freely given, without any need for us to earn it. We find it difficult to believe that we can simply receive God's favor as a gift, without having to work for it.

The Struggle to Receive

Why is it so hard for us to receive grace? The answer lies in our desire for control. When we work for something, we feel a sense of control and accomplishment. We believe that if we earn it, we deserve it. But God's grace turns this mindset upside down. It reminds us that we are not in control, and that our salvation is a gift we could never earn.

Imagine a child who has been given a beautiful present by their parents. The child is overjoyed and excited to receive the gift. They don't stop to think about whether they deserve it or if they have earned it. They simply receive it with gratitude and delight. This is the attitude we should have towards God's grace. We are like children, eagerly receiving the gift of salvation from our Heavenly Father.

The Gospel of Grace

In the book of Galatians, the apostle Paul addresses the issue of earning versus receiving God's grace. He confronts the Galatian believers who had been swayed by false teachers and had started to believe that they needed to earn their salvation through works of the law.

Paul reminds them of the true gospel, the good news that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ alone. He writes, "know that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham" (Galatians 3:7). Paul emphasizes that it is not through their works, but through their faith that they are counted as children of God.

He further explains, "For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith" (Galatians 3:26). Paul highlights the fact that in Christ, we are all sons and daughters of God. Our relationship with God is not based on what we can earn or accomplish, but on our faith in Jesus.

Three Promises for Children of Grace

As children of grace, we are not only saved by faith, but we also have the privilege of living in the freedom and blessings that come with our new identity. Here are three promises that God gives to his children:

1. The Promise of Adoption

When we put our faith in Jesus, we are adopted into God's family. Paul writes, "But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons" (Galatians 4:4-5).

Just as a loving father chooses to adopt a child, God chose to adopt us into his family. We are no longer strangers or outsiders, but beloved sons and daughters of the King. This promise of adoption assures us that we have a place in God's family and that we are fully accepted and loved.

2. The Promise of Inheritance

Not only are we adopted into God's family, but we also receive an inheritance as his children. Paul writes, "And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!' So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God" (Galatians 4:6-7).

As heirs of God, we have a share in his kingdom and all the blessings that come with it. We have access to the riches of God's grace and the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. This promise of inheritance reminds us that we have a future hope and an eternal destiny that is secure in Christ.

3. The Promise of Freedom

Finally, as children of grace, we are set free from the bondage of sin and the demands of the law. Paul writes, "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery" (Galatians 5:1).

Through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, we have been set free from the power of sin and the need to earn our salvation. We are no longer slaves to the law, but we are free to live in obedience to God out of love and gratitude. This promise of freedom assures us that we can rest in God's grace and trust in his work in our lives.

Living as Sons and Daughters

So how do we live as sons and daughters of the King? How do we embrace the grace that has been freely given to us?

First and foremost, we need to believe and accept that our salvation is a gift from God. We cannot earn it or work for it. We simply need to receive it with childlike faith and gratitude.

Secondly, we need to remember our new identity in Christ. We are not slaves or employees of God, but we are beloved sons and daughters. We have been adopted into his family and have an inheritance that cannot be taken away.

Finally, we need to live in the freedom that Christ has given us. We no longer need to strive and work for our salvation. Instead, we can rest in God's grace and allow his Spirit to work in and through us.

Conclusion

As we navigate through this world that constantly tells us to earn and strive, let us remember the truth of God's grace. We are not meant to be slaves, but sons and daughters of the King. We have been adopted into his family, we have an inheritance, and we are free to live in the fullness of his grace.

So, let us embrace our identity as children of grace and live in the freedom and blessings that come with it. Let us receive God's love and salvation as a gift, without trying to earn it. And let us rest in the knowledge that we are fully accepted and loved by our Heavenly Father.