Children of God

We use the term "child of God" too loosely, in a way that God doesn't. John says in his Gospel that Jesus' work on the cross gave us the right to become children of God which implies that without faith in that work we are not children of God. We bear his image by default of creation but that doesn't mean we are his children, the family resemblance isn't enough to have it simply in the flesh. We need the new hearts He promised through the prophets and made possible through the giving of the Spirit in order to reveal God to the world. The Spirit doesn't sanctify our desires in the sense that whatever we now do is sanctified, He sanctifies us by changing what we desire. That process though requires effort on our part, the spiritual disciplines matter.

In Romans 8, Paul says all creation eagerly awaits the revelation of the children of God. Why? Because it has been subjected to futility, wasted effort and energy, kept from reaching its potential, because of the sin and sins of mankind generally. If all creation awaits that revelation and groans in childbirth, shouldn't that tell us something of our duty towards creation? Doesn't it also say that all are not children of God?

We need to understand the mystery of Christ in us but we also need to understand the reality that sanctification is a participation sport as well. We need to practice the disciplines of study, prayer and fasting, just as Jesus himself practiced them. As I have started exercising lately I see evidence that my body is changing, I don't have new muscle tissue, but the muscle I had is becoming stronger. The disciplines work in our lives in the same way. Unfortunately, I see my dedication to working out as greater than my desire to practice some of the disciplines, and I see also the results or lack thereof in certain areas of my life.