"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." (Romans 8: 15)
Do you know that you have a Father in heaven who cares about you?
How much does He care about you?
Here are some verses to consider:
"4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:" (Ephesians 2: 4-6)
God sees you in His Son, Jesus!
For this reason, Paul writes:
"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren." (Romans 8: 29)
Jesus is the firstborn, which necessarily implies that there is a second-born, a third-born, and so own.
John explains who these other "borns" other:
"1Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." (1 John 3: 1-3)
Now, let's learn a little more about this Spirit which we receive, the Spirit which informs us at all times that we are children of God:
"8And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged." (John 16: 8-11)
and
"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1: 7)
The Spirit of Sonship which we receive from God gives us power, reminds us of His love, and grants us a sound mind, one which is settled and calm, not frazzled and stressed, wondering about God's love and wandering from His peace.
You have "Daddy" in heaven who cares for your, not just an absentee Dad who sometimes thinks about you:
"17How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!" (Psalm 139: 17 [17 is the number of victory!]
and
"6Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? 7But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows." (Luke 12: 6-7)
More importantly, because of our standing in Christ Jesus, we can expect the following from our Daddy:
"31What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." (Romans 8: 31-34)
He is for us. Imagine that: the very Creator of the Universe is your Redeemer and Father, too. He gave up His first born Son, that you would receive His standing before God the Father as Father. You can be assured that any need you have, He is more than ready to provide. He justifies us, now, actively, and forever, with an everlasting righteousness (Daniel 9: 24) which declares: "You are my beloved son, in whom I am well-pleased." (Matthew 3: 17) We have this assurance because we are in Christ, not in ourselves.
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4: 13)
and then
"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4: 19)
Our Daddy supplies according to, not merely out of his riches.
Yet the greatest reason that God loves us, because we are in Christ, is that He loves as much as He loves His Son:
"23I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me." (John 17: 23)
And how long has God the Father loves His Son?:
"24Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world" (John 17: 24)
It's important that we know our Father.
Yet how best to know the Father? By knowing the Son:
"8Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? 10Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." (John 14: 8-10)
and
"Who [God the Father] hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:" (Colossians 1: 13-15)
and
"2Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord," (2 Peter 1: 2)
Know who you Father is, and you know how much He loves you when you know Jesus: who He is, what He has done, and how much He loves you.
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