Basic HTML Version
Children of the Heavenly King, January 11
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us,
that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world
knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
1 John 3:1
.
Let no one feel that he is stepping down in becoming a child of God.
It was the only begotten Son of God who stepped down.... Leaving His
splendor, His majesty, His high command, and clothing His divinity with
humanity, that humanity might touch humanity, and divinity lay hold upon
divinity, He came to this earth, and in our behalf suffered the death of the
cross....
Christ has made an infinite sacrifice. He gave His own life for us. He
took upon His divine soul the result of the transgression of God’s law.
Laying aside His royal crown, He condescended to step down, step by
step, to the level of fallen humanity. He hung upon Calvary’s cross, dying
in our behalf, that we might have eternal life.... Does it seem a small thing
that He should endure all this, that we might be called the sons of God?
Does it seem a small thing to you to become members of the royal family,
children of the heavenly King, partakers of an immortal inheritance?
Such is the infinite goodness of God that through Jesus Christ’s merits
He not only spares but pardons and justifies us, and through the righteous-
ness of Christ imputes righteousness to us, and exalts and ennobles us by
making us children of His adoption. We become members of the royal
family, children of the heavenly King. He lifts men and women from
their degradation and exalts them in righteousness.... He calls them His
jewels, and a peculiar treasure unto Him. They are trophies of His grace
and power, and of His greatness and riches in glory. They therefore are
not their own, but are bought with a price, and through the extraordinary
office of the atonement of Christ have been brought into nearness and the
most sacred relationship to Jesus Christ. They are called His heritage, His
children, the members of Christ’s body, of His flesh and of His bones;
yea, they are joined to the Lord by intimate relationship with Him.
[18]
16