How can "we are His offspring" influence our identity as Christians? The Verse in Focus “ ‘For in Him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are His offspring.’ ” (Acts 17:28) What “Offspring” Literally Means • Not a distant creature but family—born of God’s creative act (Genesis 1:27) • A status secured, not symbolic: “But to all who received Him…He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12) • Carries legal weight: heirs, not houseguests (Galatians 4:6-7) Identity Re-Defined by Divine Parentage • Likeness: Created to reflect His character (Ephesians 4:24) • Security: A Father who never forsakes (Hebrews 13:5) • Worth: Value set by the Creator, not culture (Matthew 10:31) • Purpose: Designed for good works prepared beforehand (Ephesians 2:10) • Inheritance: “If children, then heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17) • Discipline and Guidance: “For the LORD disciplines the one He loves, as a father the son in whom he delights” (Proverbs 3:12) Daily Implications 1. Confidence in Prayer – Approach God as Father (Matthew 6:9) 2. Freedom from Performance-Based Identity – Acceptance rooted in birth, not behavior (Titus 3:5) 3. Family Resemblance – Pursue holiness because the Father is holy (1 Peter 1:15-16) 4. Love for Fellow Offspring – “Everyone who loves the Father loves the child born of Him” (1 John 5:1) 5. Hope in Suffering – A Father uses trials to mature His children (James 1:2-4) 6. Mission Mindset – Represent the family name to a watching world (2 Corinthians 5:20) Living It Out • Start the day reminding yourself: “I am God’s offspring—nothing today alters that.” • Replace self-loathing thoughts with truth: “I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). • Treat the church as siblings, not strangers. • Face temptation by recalling the family likeness you bear. • Anticipate the future: “When Christ appears, we will be like Him” (1 John 3:2). Summary Snapshot Because we are literally God’s offspring, our identity is anchored in His fatherhood, shaped by His character, secured by His love, and aimed at His purposes. Everything we think, feel, and do flows from that unshakeable family bond. |
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