“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:16,17).

From time to time it behooves us to step back and take a broad look at salvation. It helps us to remember our present standing in Christ, all stemming from His work of redemption. Indeed we “are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26). This theme dominates the favorite old hymn, “A Child of the King,” and we can use its chorus today and four verses to follow to remind us.

I’m a child of the King, A child of the King With Jesus my Savior, I’m a child of the King.

In the eternal counsels of the Trinity, God the Son chose to be our Savior. Creation had been “very good” (Genesis 1:31) in the beginning, free from sin and its penalty, death. But creation, in the person of Adam and Eve, rebelled against the Creator’s authority, opting for sin and the resulting separation from God and His holiness. Sin’s penalty must be paid, either by the sinner, with eternal estrangement from God ensuing, or that the penalty could be paid by an acceptable sinless substitute. Such was the penalty paid by Jesus our Savior, for “when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son” (Romans 5:10). This work of redemption was solely His work. “God sent forth His Son. . . . To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons” (Galations 4:4,5).

Think of it. Separated from God by our own sinful, rebellious choices. We were God’s enemies, under penalty of death. But “Christ died for our sins” (I Corinthians 15:3). Now an intimate Father-child relationship envelopes us. “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God” (I John 3:1).

And remember, our Father is the King. JDM