Our Relationship to God Jn. 1:12 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO

We must understand our relationship to God if we are ever going to fully appreciate what he’s done for us and what we can do for him. Our relationship to God is patterned after Jesus’ relationship to God while he was here on earth. In our relationship to God, we come to him as:

Sinners – Rom 5:8 – Jesus was perfect but he became sin for us, we are sinners, ungodly and enemies, Capt. Wendell said, “The thing that qualifies us for salvation is that we are sinners in need of a Savior. That’s the only qualification there is. That’s the only qualification we need.”

Saints – 1 Cor 1:2 – As Jesus was clean while he was on earth even so are we now clean through him. We are sanctified and we are not what we were before we were saved. We are new creatures in Christ. That’s how God sees us and we must see ourselves the same way.

Sons – Jn 1:12 – Jesus Christ is the only begotten son of God. When we receive Jesus we become sons of God. We get to enjoy the same sweet fellowship that Jesus has with his Father. He has promised us anything and everything we need. We are not beggars who only show up when we have a great need and then skulk off to live out in the world. We are also granted the privileges of inheritance.

Servants – Eph 6:6, Phil 1:1 – Jesus came here not to do his own will but the will of his Father. Likewise, we are bought with a price, we are not our own, we don’t dictate to God, we do what we are told. So, while we have all the privileges of son-ship, we are not spoiled children. By serving the Lord we go to work in the family business.

Succorers – Rom 16:2, 2 Cor 6:2, Heb 2:14 – “helpers.” Jesus Christ is a succorer to us and we are to be succorers to others. Our relationship to God is not just about us and him. It is also about us and his brethren. We are the ministers for him and we are used by him to supply the needs of others. Who are you helping?

Sacrifices – Rom 12:1-2 – we voluntarily present our bodies a living sacrifice to God, as Jesus willing offered himself as a sacrifice for us. When you are offered to God you must first be “holy.” The Old Testament sacrifices had to be clean. Then you must be “acceptable.” The Lord didn’t accept Cain’s sacrifice and in Isaiah’s day he would not accept Israel’s sacrifices. We need to be holy and acceptable to God which is our reasonable service. As a sacrifice we are submitted and surrendered to God. Is your all on the altar of sacrificed laid?

Sufferers – 1 Pet 2:20-21 – Christ suffered for us leaving us an example that we should follow in his steps. “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution,” [2 Tim 3:12]. As a son of God, who serves the Lord and has willingly offered yourself to the Lord, you are going to suffer at some point. Just know that so when it comes you are not shocked. And go through the suffering the same way Jesus did. Take it patiently, don’t sin, don’t beguile others, don’t revile or threaten those under whose hands you suffer and commit yourself to God.

Conclusion: In our relationship to God, it’s not who we were but who we are. We are saints. We are sons, not beggars; we live inside the house. And yet we are servants; we have our job among the family chores. Our relationship to God is not all about what he can do for us, but rather what we can do for others on his behalf. We offer ourselves to God as selfless, not selfish. And we should be prepared to suffer for him like he did for us.