Children of God

Introduction

Going out to eat was not a common occurrence as a child. The only times we went to McDonald’s was when dad was on vacation. One of the most vivid memories I have is going to Kentucky to spend a week with grandparents. Papa Mays, my mother’s father, would take us out to eat almost every night. I knew two things. He was rich and he must have known what it was to be a kid. It didn’t matter if we went to the Dairy King or Joe & Claudine’s (a local restaurant)—I ordered the same thing: hamburger, french fries, and a chocolate shake. About halfway through the meal, my grandfather would look at my drink and say “you want another milkshake.” Now that is like asking a poor man if he would like another dollar. I never expected him to do that, but when the words were spoken I never hesitated to get another.

God’s Gift

You probably have similar memories of childhood—a special gift given when you didn’t expect one. God has done the same thing for us. Listen to what John says about receiving God’s gift. What does it mean to “believe in his name”? Names played an important role in the ancient world. Abram meant “big daddy” or “boss man.” He was given a new name—Abraham—which means “father of many.” Names are important. What does Jesus’s name mean? Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua, which means “Lord saves.” God in Matthew 1 said he would be named “Immanuel,” which means “God with us.” When John says we are to believe on the name of the Word he has in mind not only accepting the name but trusting in what the names suggest. In other words, belief in the name means to trust the person who bears the name of Jesus and Immanuel as one who has come into the world and who saves. It means to trust him as a person and to trust what he claims. With that kind of faith, John says God responds.

The Power to Become Children

He gives us the power to become children of God. Notice first that God gives us the power. We have no claim to relationship with God. We can’t claim that we have enough goodness. We cannot claim to have enough wealth. We cannot claim to have enough influence. God gives us the power or authority to become children of God. Unless God acts on our behalf we have no relationship. While it is true that we must have trust in the name of Jesus, God still gives. God’s grace has no effect without faith, but it is still God’s favor to give. He is God. When we trust that he sent his son for us, he will be gracious to us. But he is still God. We cannot presume upon that grace.

Second, notice that he gave us “the right” or the power or the authority to become his children. What God gives us is the power or authority to claim to be his children. This suggests that there is a changing of status. Before God’s gift we were not his children. With his gift we are allowed to become his children. We had nothing to secure this new status. Only God could confer it. Only God could make it possible.

Sitting at the Dairy King in Mayfield, Kentucky, I had no power to get a second milkshake. I had no money. I had nothing to bargain with. I couldn’t claim to have influence with the milkshake maker. The truth was I could ask for it, although I had been taught such would be improper, but even in the asking I could not guarantee a favorable response. It wasn’t until my grandfather offered it to me that the possibility even existed that another milkshake would be mine. My status changed because my grandfather offered to make it happen. God does the same thing. We trust him and his name. He offers for a change in status to take place.

Family and Community

What God offered was a change of status from being without a family to becoming part of his family. Paul refers to this as being adopted. John has in mind a community of believers who trust in God. We all become children. At the end of this gospel account, Jesus will pray for unity among his children. John wants us to understand that we are together because of the gift of God. We have been allowed to change status because of God’s gift. We can be called God’s children because of God’s divine favor. The whole idea of being a child suggests provision, care, protection, and trust. The parent provides, cares for, and protects. The child trusts. This is the relationship which is ours because of God’s divine favor. As God’s children and siblings we share this time to revel in God’s grace and the unity which we have.

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