1 John 3:1 – Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

Your position in Christ covers your sin, your failure, your weakness, your frality.

John 1:6-13 – There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.  He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

There is no better position in life than to be God’s child. He does not have grandchildren or stepchildren. Wow! A child of God! What does that entail?

We have been given a new family. No longer part of that family of anger, exasperation, irritation, and crossness.

Ephesians 2:1-3 – And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

We now belong to the household of God. We have a family who will love us and encourage us. While there is much that is imperfect in today’s church (because it is made up of imperfect people), it is the church family that is there in times of difficulty. It is in the church family that we find community.

Ephesians 2:11-13 – Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.  Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.

We have rights and privileges as part of the new family.

• The joy of knowing our sins are forgiven and we have peace with God.

1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

• 2. We have, through Jesus, power to overcome the tempations and attacks of Satan.

James 4:7 – Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you

• .We have the Word of God.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 – For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when you received the word of God which you heard of us, you received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually works also in you that believe.

• We have the Holy Spirit, Christ in us.

Acts 2:38 – Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

• We have the privilege of being used of God to bless others.

1 Peter 2:9 – But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.