# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1910_S19
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

of the Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference of North America. 1910. 19

James 1:18. "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of
God," 1 John 5:1. "In Christ Jesus I have begotten you
through the gospel," 1 Cor. 4:15; cf. Gal. 4:19. — But "whosoever
denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father," 1 John 2:23.

In what sense are we God's children? Moses was called
a son of Pharaoh's daughter, Heb. 11:24. He was not her real
son, he was an adopted child. She treated him like
a son, but she could do no more. We Christians are called
children of God and are so. 1 John 3:1, 2 (original text: κληθῶμεν καὶ ἐσμέν); not only in name but in truth; not only
legally but really. God has regenerated us by his Spirit.
So we are no longer a natural man but a spiritual
man; partakers not only of the divine name but of the
divine nature, 2 Pet. 1:4. And we shall be like him,
1 John 3:2. We are "changed into the same image" of the Lord,
2 Cor. 3:18.

For what purpose has God made us his children?
"That we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures," James 1:18; cf.
Jer. 2:3. "So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman,
but of the free," Gal. 4:31. We are not purchased slaves,
but born to freedom. "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the
yoke of bondage. Ye have been called unto liberty. Only
use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but
by love serve one another," Gal. 5:1, 13. — "A son
honoureth his father. . . . If then I be a father, where is mine honour?"
Mal. 1:6. "Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness;
and receive with meekness the engrafted word,
which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word,
and not hearers only," James 1:21, 22.

How do we know that we are God's children? It is of
inexpressible importance that we are born of God. For
Christ assures us solemnly with a twofold oath: "Verily,
verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again,
he cannot see the kingdom of God," John 3:3. How, then, do we know
that we are God's children? "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our
spirit, that we are the children of God," Rom. 8:16. This Spirit God
imparts to us "by the hearing of faith," through the preaching of the
Gospel, Gal. 3:5. — "As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are
the sons of God," Rom. 8:14. "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the
Christ is born of God," 1 John 5:1. "Every one that loveth is
born of God," 1 John 4:7. "We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth
himself. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for
his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of
God," 1 John 5:18; 3:9.