Being children of God and Joint-Heirs with Christ carries certain privileges. However, there are certain obligations as well. Let us consider them both.
God is our Father and Jesus, also a child of God, gave us His example of how to address the Father in prayer. Matthew 6:9, “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father who art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy name.” The way He looks at us is the completion of this fact as we see in 2 Corinthians 6:17 and 18, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”
We may wear the proper name. Acts 11:26, “And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” Also we read in Acts 4:12, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
We enjoy the protection of God. 1 Peter 3:13,14, “And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled.”
We receive the proper provisions as well. What are these? “Water” unto eternal life. John 4:13,14, “Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”
“Bread” of life. John 6:51, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
We can enjoy the promises and what promises they are! Consider…we have the complete remission of past sins. Acts 2:38, “Then Peter said them, repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
Access through prayer and repentance. Acts 8:22, “Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.” And also, 1 John 2:1,2, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
We have obligations too and must respect the authority of God. Just consider the Jews under the law of Moses. God expected them to obey him but just as importantly, to honor His authority. Look at Exodus 20:3 and 4, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:” Now this was of course God’s will for Israel in the flesh.
We today, must respect the authority of God. Matthew 4:10, “Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”
We must honor the name. James 2;7, “Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?” And Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
We must defend the cause. Phillipians 1:17, “But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel.”
We must wear the armor of God. Ephesians 7:17, “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:”
Have respect for the word. Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
Be active accomplishers of the will of God. James 1:22, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” There seem to be vast numbers of people in the religious world today that think their religion only should exist within their own hearts. If our faith is real, it requires us to keep the commandments of God. Those who do not keep His commandments have no faith. And remember. Only active and obvious Christianity can change the world anyway. Christianity that does not change us into godly creatures is not really Christianity the way God would have it!
Obey the commands of the Lord as a faithful child might expect to receive an inheritance. Revelation 22:14, “Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”