Yes … Children We Are … And Glad of it!

“We are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.” (Romans 8.16, 17)

Can you wrap your mind around what that means to the beliver in Christ … the “child” of God?  Think of it!

•     We have been justified and made acceptable to God—Romans 5.1

•     We have been adopted into God’s royal family—Romans 8.16, 17

•     We have been given a citizenship in heaven—Philippians 3.20

•     We possess the indwelling Holy Spirit—1 Corinthians 6.19

•     We have been placed into the kingdom of the Son of God’s love—Colossians 1.13

•     We have the promise that the best is yet to come—a heavenly home—1 Corinthians 2.9

If you are indeed a child of God through faith in Christ, it matters not who you are in any other context or on any other level … you are a child of the King and you are as precious to him as any other member of His family.

Harriet Buell understood this great truth.  One Sunday morning while walking home from church she wrote the lyrics to one of our well known hymns.  Her lyrics were published by the Northern Christian Advocate, in February 1877.  John Sumner, a singing school music teacher, saw the words and composed the music without Harriett Buell’s knowledge.  The hymn, “A Child of the King” (click to listen) reminds us of who we really are in Christ!

My Father is rich in houses and lands; He holdeth the wealth of the world in His hands!

Of rubies and diamonds, of silver and gold, His coffers are full—He has riches untold.

My Father’s own Son, the Savior of men, once wandered o’er earth as the poorest of them;

but now He is reigning forever on high, and will give me a home in heav’n by and by.

 

I once was an outcast stranger on earth, a sinner by choice and an alien by birth;

but I’ve been adopted; my name’s written down—an heir to a mansion, a robe, and a crown.

A tent or a cottage, why should I care? They’re building a palace for me over there!

Tho exiled from home, yet still I may sing: All glory to God, I’m a child of the King.

 

Chorus:

 I’m a child of the King!  A child of the King!

With Jesus, my Savior, I’m a child of the King!