Wherein lies the dignity of those who have God for their Father?
(1) They have greater honor than is conferred on the princes of the
earth; they are precious in God's esteem. 'Since you were precious in
my sight, you have been honorable.' Isaiah 43: 4. The wicked are dross
(Psalm 119: 119), and chaff (Psalm 1: 4); but God numbers his children among
his jewels. Malachi 3: 17. He writes all his children's names in the book
of life. 'Whose names are in the book of life.' Philippians 4: 3. Among the
Romans the names of their senators were written down in a book, [the enrolled fathers]. God enrolls the names of his children,
and will not blot them out of the register. 'I will not blot his name
out of the book of life.' Revelation 3: 5. God will not be ashamed of his
children. 'God is not ashamed to be called their God.' Hebrews 11: 16. One
might think it were something below God to father such children as are
dust and sin mingled; but he is not ashamed to be called our God. That
we may see he is not ashamed of his children, he writes his own name
upon them. 'I will write upon him the name of my God;' that is, I will
openly acknowledge him before all the angels to be my child; I will
write my name upon him, as the son bears his father's name. Revelation 3: 12.
What an honor and dignity is this!
(2) God confers honorable titles upon his children. He calls them
the excellent of the earth, or the magnificent, as Junius renders it.
Psalm 16: 3. They must needs be excellent who are of the blood royal of heaven; they are the spiritual phoenixes of the
world, the glory of the creation. God calls his children his glory.
'Israel, my glory.' Isaiah 46: 13. He honors his people with the title of
kings. 'And has made us kings.' Revelation 1: 6. All God's children are kings,
though they have not earthly kingdoms. They carry a kingdom about them.
'The kingdom of God is within you. 'Grace is a kingdom set up in the
hearts of God's children. Luke 17: 21. They are kings to rule over their
sins, to bind those kings in chains. Psalm 149: 8. They are like kings.
They have their insignia regalia, their ensigns of royalty and majesty.
They have their crown. In this life they are kings in disguise; they are
not known, therefore they are exposed to poverty and reproach. 'Now are
we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be.' I
John 3: 2. Why, what shall we be? Every son of God shall have his crown
of glory, and white robes. 1 Peter 5: 4; Revelation 6: 2: Robes signify dignity,
and white signifies sanctity.
(3) The honor of those who have God for their Father is, that they
are all heirs; the youngest son is an heir. God's children are heirs to
the things of this life. God being their Father, they have the best
title to earthly things, they have a sanctified right to them. Though
they have often the least share, they have the best right; and with what
they have they have the blessing of God's love and favor. Others may
have more of the venison, but God's children have more of the blessing.
Thus they are heirs to the things of this life. They are heirs to the
other world. 'Heirs of salvation' (Hebrews 1: 14); 'Joint heirs with Christ'
(Romans 8: 17). They are co-sharers with Christ in glory. Among men the
eldest son commonly carries away all; but God's children are all -
joint-heirs with Christ, they have a co-partnership with him in his
riches. Has Christ a place in the celestial mansions? So have the
saints. 'In my Father's house are many mansions. I go to prepare a place
for you.' John 14: 2. Has he his Father's love? So have they. 'That the
love wherewith You have loved me may be in them.' Psalm 146: 8; John 17:
26. Does he sit upon a throne? So do God's children. Revelation 3: 21. What a
high honor is this!
(4) God makes his children equal in honor to the angels. Luke 20:
36. They are equal to the angels; no, those saints who have God for
their Father, are in some sense superior to the angels; for Jesus Christ
having taken our nature, says Augustine,
has ennobled and honored it above the angelic. Hebrews 2: 16. God has made
his children, by adoption, nearer to himself than the angels. The angels
are the friends of Christ: believers are his members, and this honor
have all the saints. What a comfort is this to God's children who are
here despised, and loaded with calumnies and invectives! 'We are made as
the filth of the world,' etc. 1 Corinthians 4: 13. But God will put honor upon
his children at the last day, and crown them with immortal bliss, to
the envy of their adversaries.
The Happiness of God's Children
Deliver Us from Evil
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