November 28

Now are we the sons of God. - 1 John 3:2.

BELIEVERS are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection, called so because then every thing will be displayed and revealed. It will then “appear what they shall be.” But now under all their disadvantages they are the “sons of God.” Every thing is not future with the Christian. He is now saved by grace; believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, he is justified from all things, from which he could not have been justified by the law of Moses. Now, though they are despised, and reproached, and persecuted by the world. The apostle had just said, “The world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.” It does not discern the excellency of the Christian character; even the apostles were regarded “the filth and offscouring of all things.” And the Saviour himself “was despised and rejected of men.” Therefore, said he, “Marvel not if the world hate you: ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love its own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”

Even in their elevated and sanctified condition they may suffer much in their persons, connections, and circumstances. This is so far from being incompatible with sonship that the apostle says, “If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?” And again, “If ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards and not sons.” Now, though assailed hy the enemy of souls. Some of God’s children are ready to say, “As to temptation, I think none know so much of it as I. The enemy of my soul follows me into the closet, and into the house of God, and even to the Supper of the Lord; he embitters all my comforts, and I fear will destroy my soul at last.” But he never will; although

“He worries whom he can’t devour,

With a malicious joy.”

Believers are the sons of God even when they are destitute of inward peace and joy. When Isaiah describes a believer as one “who feareth the Lord, and obeyeth the voice of his servant,” he at the same time represents him as “walking in darkness, and having no light.” David says, “Thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.” And the church thus expresses herself:-“I will wait upon him who hideth himself from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.”

Yes, Christians are now the children of God, though full of doubts and fears. They should always exercise the fullest confidence in God; yet what wonder is it if they should feel self-suspicious, after being so often betrayed by the enemy of souls! self-delusion is not only possible, but as common as it is dreadful. Therefore let us seek to exercise holy confidence in the power and grace of God. How much does our peace of mind depend upon our thus realizing that we are “the sons of God”!