The Dignity of Being a True Child of God
If you’ve ever carefully studied the epistles of the New Testament, you’ll discover that there is a wide difference between the disciples of old and the disciples of today. You’ll also agree that there is such a polarizing division between the conducts of the early churches and that of most churches today.
One of such conducts that were characteristic of the early church, which is almost extinct in our generation, is making the right judgments about those who call themselves “believers.” The leaders of the early churches knew that not everyone who came to church, who behaved well, and who did one work or the other in the church were genuinely saved. That was why the apostles wrote to the churches to beware of wolves who came to them in sheepskins. That is, those who professed to be Christians but were, in actual fact, children of the devil (Romans 16:17). They understood that there is dignity in being a true child of God. And they knew that those who faked the Christian identity would soon bring disaster upon the flock and the Church would loose this dignity.
The leaders of the early churches were so serious about the issue of “false Christians” that they often wrote to address such people. They were critical to the point of requesting that they withdraw from such. (2 Thessalonians 3:6; 1 Corinthians 5:11). These apostles were not like most of our contemporary church leaders who are blown away by mere display of talents and youthful exuberance. The early apostles were not puppets to money and women. Rather, they were sober and vigilant, and diligently watchful over the flocks.
What Dignifies A Child of God
In the early churches, it was not enough to “say” that one was a believer. One needed to “live” it. A genuine child of God is recognized as a child of God on earth, in heaven and in the kingdom of darkness. The dignity of a child of God is to be recognized as such in these three realms.
Our Dignity In Hell
The story is told of seven sons of a Chief Priest who were so inspired by the authority with which a servant of God cast out demons that they decided to try it out themselves. They had studied the servant of God as he went through their city and cast out demons. They watched closely and noticed a pattern in the way he does it, so they decided to experiment with their discoveries.
One day they made an altar call for those who are possessed by evil spirits. As they stood before one man who was possessed by an evil spirit trying to cast the evil spirit out, they were faced with the greatest shock that they never prepared for — the evil spirit spoke: “Jesus I know, and I am acquainted with Paul, but who on earth are you?”(Acts 19:15 J.B. Philips).
Their experiment was a disaster. The evil spirit pounced on them and wounded them badly. In their struggle to escape, they were stripped naked. They jumped out of the window as they ran for their lives.
They wanted the dignity of a child of God when they were not. They were not recognized in the kingdom of darkness, even though they had successfully deceived people into thinking they were correct ministers of God who could carry out deliverance sessions. Here is what dignifies us as a true child of God, we have authority over satan and all forces of darkness.
Our Dignity In Character
Christians were first called so in Antioch, not because they believed in Jesus, but because they lived like Him. To live a life above reproach is an impossible expression in the world, this possibility in Christ brings dignity to a child of God. In fact, ministerial appointments were not based on church attendance in the early church, it was based on character.
Consider the appointment of deacons in Acts 6, the disciples were told to submit the names of “men of honest report” among them. You need to know that “a man of honest report” is not just someone who confessed to be a Christian by mere mouth. Rather, he/she is someone who had won the approval and testimony of men that, indeed, he was a child of God. Among the seven who were named, Stephen stood out, not just as a child of God but as a man of integrity, faith and full of the Holy Ghost (Acts 6:5). This same Stephen ended up being the first martyr of the early Christian faith.
A true child of God is dignified on earth based on the quality of life that he exhibits which is impossible for a mere man.
Our Dignity In Heaven
Now, if one is known on earth and in the kingdom of darkness as a child of God, one also needs to be known in heaven. Jesus said many will come to Him on the last day, and He will tell them: “I have never known you. Go away from me, you have worked on the side of evil!” (Matthew 7:23 J.B. Philips). The Scripture did not say “some”, but “many”. We can’t live our whole lives on earth assuming we are God’s, only to be faced with the greatest shocking denial of our lives on the judgment day.
We don’t have to wait till the last day before we know our identity with God. Jesus got that dignity when He was approved by God at River Jordan and the Mount of Transfiguration (Matt. 3:17; 17:5). God confessed before the eyewitnesses that Jesus was His beloved son. Herein is a true child of God dignified, when he is approved by God as His (Rom. 8:16).
Where Do You Stand?
Have you ever had the crisis of doubting your sonship in Christ? Then you must ask yourself these questions:
- Am I known by the devil as a child of God or I am still a puppet to the powers of darkness?
- Am I a puppet to sin, self and the world or I live victoriously above them?
- Am I a puppet to sickness, demon possession and witchcraft or I live above them?
- Am I known to fellow believers as a child of God or I live a double life?
- Can my pastor/spiritual leader/disciple-maker vouch that I am a child of God with a good report or I live as a psychopath?
- Does Christ Himself know me? Does He speak and lead me by His Spirit? (Romans 8:14) or I am yet to ascertain my identity with God?”
The answers we give to these questions will bring us face-to-face to the reality of who we truly are, as opposed to who we claim to be, or who men think we are. Remember, the dignity of a true child of God is revealed in his/her recognition on earth, in heaven and in hell.
This article is extracted from a message preached by Joseph Ola Okunola in our weekly Bible Study AT HIS FEET. Click this link to download the message.
