You Have Rights

You Have Rights

It is common for people to say that we are all children of God, but that is not true of those who have not been reborn. They have been born of Adam’s seed. They have been born of flesh, born of water. That is their lineage and from that they inherit only fleshly traits. They cannot be children of God because they are citizens of the earth.

In John 3:5-7 Jesus said “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’” (NIV) Jesus said people must be born again or they cannot enter heaven. Only the children of God have that right. Only citizens are allowed in.

In John 1:12-13 we find some help in understanding what Jesus means when He speaks of being born again.

John 1:12-13

“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” (NIV) The word translated “right” or in some versions “power” is ἐξουσία (exousia). It means right, power, or ability. Jesus makes all who believe on Him able, authorized, or empowered to become children of the Father.

The moment you change your mind about God, sin, and righteousness and believe that Jesus is God who came to earth as a human person and gave His life to take away your sins, you become a citizen of heaven. Citizens have rights. The moment you become a citizen, you get the right to call yourself a child of God. When you say that, you are telling the truth about yourself. Therefore, John is able in 1 John 3:1 to say, “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (NIV)

Christian, you are a child of God. You were born of God’s seed. You were born of flesh and water, yes; but you have now been born of the Spirit. You have been reborn. That is your lineage and from that you inherit godly traits. You have been made completely new at the core. Scripture makes this clear in many ways. 2 Corinthians 5:17 puts it this way, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (NIV)

Do not allow the enemy to lie to you about who you are. He would love for you to think that rebirth is just figurative, or a metaphorical way of talking about spirituality. When he tries to make you think that you are no different than you were because you struggle with ungodly behavior or have ugly thoughts remember these verses that tell you what God says is true. Remember that he is defanged, and he is all bark and no bite. Remember that truth is his Kryptonite.

Point your thoughts at Jesus and stand up for your right to be called a Child of God.