Under
Philippine civil law, a legally
adopted child acquires the same rights and privileges of a natural
born child. Stated differently, both natural born and adopted child
have the same rights and privileges. There is no
difference at all in their
rights and privileges, especially on their inheritance rights. The
same is true to our spiritual law in God’s kingdom.
Thus,
the Bible tells us, we are Joint-heirs with Jesus Christ in the
kingdom of God (Romans 8:17). Meaning, whatever rights and
privileges enjoyed by Jesus Christ as the only begotten Son of God,
we also enjoy, like the gift of eternal life, except
that we do not sit at the right hand of God (Acts 2:33 and Psalm
110:1), and we do not reign as King of kings (Rev. 17:14), and
neither are we called LORD of lords. (Rev. 19:16) but as “the
called, and chosen, and faithful ones” (Rev. 17:14).
Let
us review who God says we are: The Bible tells us that because of
our relationship
to Christ (assuming that we are true believers of Jesus Christ as the
Son of God and have confessed and repented of our sins and received
Him as such in our heart), we are forgiven (Acts 10:43); reconciled
to God (2 Cor. 5:18-19); new creations [born
again] in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17);
spiritual children of God and joint-heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:16-17);
God’s adopted [sons] children (Gal. 4:4-7), and God’s witnesses
(Mt. 28:19-20); and ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor. 5:20). We are
predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son (Rom. 8:29), and
“when he shall appear (referring to Jesus’ Second Coming), we
shall be like him” [meaning, our corruptible body will put on
incorruption, and becomes immortal] (1 Cor. 15:53), for we shall see
him as he is” (1 John 3:2 KJV). Most wonderful of all, like Jesus
Christ, God the Father’s only begotten Son, though we shall die
physically one day, we shall resurrect and will live eternally and
reign with him forever (Rev. 22:5).
Blessed
are those who BELIEVE in their
heart and have repented of their
sins and accepted Jesus Christ as their LORD and only
Savior for they become children
(Sons) of God (John 1:12) and like Jesus Christ, the LAMB of God,
theirs is the kingdom of heaven “and they shall reign forever and
ever” (Rev. 22:5).
Such
mysterious and wonderful truths as narrated above, should leave no
doubt about who we really are because of the love of God, if we
BELIEVE in Him and in Jesus Christ as His only begotten Son. Who
are we in the kingdom of God? If we are a born again believer, we
are the adopted son/daughter of God, even now.
(FGBMFI
Davao City Weekly Bulletin, January 12, 2013)
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