Legal And Vital Sons Of God

Legal And Vital Sons

 Of God!

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not (1 John 3:1).

Rather than use the Greek word “huios” for “sons,” which refers to the sons of figurative kingship, the word “teknon” is used in 1 John 3:1 to express that we’re the vital sons of God; His sons and daughters in truth, because we’re actually born of Him. In 1 John 3:2, he tells us, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God”; not in the future, or when we get to heaven, but NOW. It’s a statement of fact; a present hour reality, that as Christians, we are the bona fide, legal, and vital sons of God.

Understand that the legal aspect of redemption was what made the vital experience of eternal life possible. 1 Corinthians 6:20 says, “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” This is the legal aspect of redemption; the fact that you were bought with a price.

Then, verse nineteen tells us, “What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” This shows that God has brought us to live in His class of being, and has poured Himself into us, thereby making our physical bodies His tabernacle of witness; His living temple. This is the vital aspect.

Now, the vital aspect of our sonship is that you’re born of the Spirit of God; you’re born of the Word of God (1 Peter 1:23). As a result, you now have the life of God in you; you’re no longer ordinary; you have the supernatural life. Being born again, you’ve become the “tecknon” of God; the legal and vital son of God. As a result, the Bible says “…God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father” (Galatians 4:6). Take advantage of your privileged position as a child of God in truth.

Prayer

Dear Father,

I thank you for the legal aspect of redemption, which made the vital experience of eternal life possible. Now, I’m a participator in the divine experience; an associate of the God-kind. Therefore, the effect of this life is apparent in everything that I do, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

FURTHER STUDY

1 John 5:4-5; Colossians 1:12

DAILY SCRIPTUREREADING

1 Year Bible reading plan: Matthew 13:24-43; Genesis 44-45

2 Year Bible reading plan:  Matthew 7:21-29; Genesis 19