The Children of God
A Sermon on John 1:12-13
Originally preached Feb. 10, 1963
Scripture
12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Sermon Description
Can Christians know that they are the children of God? Can they know that they have been forgiven of all sins and made new in Christ? The answer given by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones in this sermon on John 1:12–13 is a resounding yes. Part of the gospel hope is the peace in the full assurance that God is for His children. The Bible gives a number of different ways that Christians can test themselves to see if they are truly in the faith. Dr. Lloyd-Jones presents these tests to see if Christians are truly in a relationship with God or if they are self-deceived. He asks “how do you respond to your sin? Is it to fall back in legalism?” If so, this might be a sign of resting in works rather than in what Christ has done. Another sign is questioning if there is interest in the church and the things of God. Just as a natural child is interested in what their parents find interesting, so also spiritual children are interested in the things of God. This sermon calls all to believe in Jesus, and that those that do can know that they have been truly saved by Him!
Sermon Breakdown
- The sermon focuses on what it means to be a child of God according to John 1:12-13.
- To be a child of God, you must receive and believe in Jesus Christ.
- The most important question is whether you are a child of God. You must examine yourself to make sure you have a genuine experience of faith.
- The first test is your relationship with Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Without him, you cannot become a child of God.
- The second test is your relationship with God the Father. As his child, you will instinctively love him, be proud of him, and be concerned for his affairs and kingdom.
- Another test is how you feel and react when you sin. A child of God will feel like they have hurt their Father and will run to him for forgiveness. They know he will show them mercy.
- The third test is your relationship with the Holy Spirit. A child of God has the Holy Spirit living inside them. They are aware of the Spirit's presence and leading in their life.
- One evidence of the Spirit is understanding spiritual truths. The Holy Spirit gives Christians insight into the meaning of Scripture and doctrines like the incarnation.
- Another evidence of the Spirit is occasional special illuminations of Scripture. The Holy Spirit sometimes gives sudden new insights into familiar Bible passages.
- If you have experienced the Holy Spirit in your life, you can be assured you are a child of God. God will not abandon you, even if you go through times of difficulty.
- In summary, the three tests of whether you are a child of God are your relationship with the Son, the Father, and the Holy Spirit. Examine yourself to make sure you meet these biblical tests.
The Book of John
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.