Child of God
By Rev. Heidi L. Barham | June 22, 2025
Click here to listen to the service
Read Galatians 3:23 – 29 (NIV)
As I reflected on today’s sermon, something came to mind that I want to ask us all to consider. When we meet someone new, we often introduce ourselves to one another and talk about what we do for a living, where we went to school or where we live, or perhaps what some of our favorite hobbies and pastimes are.
But rarely, including even in faith-based and religious settings, do we ever introduce ourselves by sharing what is arguably the most consequential thing about who we are... which is that each of us is a CHILD OF GOD.
It says so, right here in our text for today, but before we take a closer look at that text... I want to invite us to do something that might seem a little odd, but I hope you will indulge me.
I want you to turn to the person next to you and say, “Good morning, my name is __________ and I am a child of God.” (That’s all I want you to do. This is not a time for chit chat... just turn to the other person and say...)
So, you may be wondering what the point was for of all that.
Well, it’s simple.
I want to encourage us to remember that each person we interact with... whether it is someone we are meeting for the very first time or someone we have known our entire lives... whenever we make contact and connect with that person... we are connecting with another CHILD OF GOD.
That means regardless of what that person looks like on the outside or where that person lives or how that person votes or how much money that person has in their bank account... the most important thing we need to know about that other person is that they are indeed a CHILD OF GOD.
Now, as we turn our focus back to the text for the morning, I want to invite us to give particular attention to the last two verses (28 and 29) and listen to those verses again as they are found in the Message Paraphrase:
Read Galatians 3:23 – 29 (NIV)
As I reflected on today’s sermon, something came to mind that I want to ask us all to consider. When we meet someone new, we often introduce ourselves to one another and talk about what we do for a living, where we went to school or where we live, or perhaps what some of our favorite hobbies and pastimes are.
But rarely, including even in faith-based and religious settings, do we ever introduce ourselves by sharing what is arguably the most consequential thing about who we are... which is that each of us is a CHILD OF GOD.
It says so, right here in our text for today, but before we take a closer look at that text... I want to invite us to do something that might seem a little odd, but I hope you will indulge me.
I want you to turn to the person next to you and say, “Good morning, my name is __________ and I am a child of God.” (That’s all I want you to do. This is not a time for chit chat... just turn to the other person and say...)
So, you may be wondering what the point was for of all that.
Well, it’s simple.
I want to encourage us to remember that each person we interact with... whether it is someone we are meeting for the very first time or someone we have known our entire lives... whenever we make contact and connect with that person... we are connecting with another CHILD OF GOD.
That means regardless of what that person looks like on the outside or where that person lives or how that person votes or how much money that person has in their bank account... the most important thing we need to know about that other person is that they are indeed a CHILD OF GOD.
Now, as we turn our focus back to the text for the morning, I want to invite us to give particular attention to the last two verses (28 and 29) and listen to those verses again as they are found in the Message Paraphrase:
In Christ’s family there can be no division into Jew and non-Jew, slave and free, male and female. Among us you are all equal. That is, we are all in a common relationship with Jesus Christ. Also, since you are Christ’s family, then you are Abraham’s famous “descendant,” heirs according to the covenant promises.
Now, I found it interesting that in the Life Application Study Bible, the commentary points out that in biblical times, there were some Jewish men who started out their day by praying and giving thanks to God for not making them a Gentile, a slave, or a woman (Life Application Study Bible, 2005, p. 1972).
And while it may seem hard to believe that someone would be that audacious and make that their prayer, those words are somewhat reminiscent of the prayer of the Pharisee we read about in Luke 18 (11) who “stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.’”
However, what the Apostle Paul is pointing out in our text for today is that when it comes to the family of believers... we should not be praying prayers that extol division... because each one of us... regardless of gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or any other descriptor or identifier... each one of us is a CHILD OF GOD.
This is in line with the message that Paul shared with the Colossian Church when he wrote, “Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all” (Colossians 3:11).
And that in turn points us to what Paul wrote to the Corinthian Church, “For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink” (1 Corinthians 12:13).
And to the Ephesian Church, he wrote:
And while it may seem hard to believe that someone would be that audacious and make that their prayer, those words are somewhat reminiscent of the prayer of the Pharisee we read about in Luke 18 (11) who “stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.’”
However, what the Apostle Paul is pointing out in our text for today is that when it comes to the family of believers... we should not be praying prayers that extol division... because each one of us... regardless of gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or any other descriptor or identifier... each one of us is a CHILD OF GOD.
This is in line with the message that Paul shared with the Colossian Church when he wrote, “Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all” (Colossians 3:11).
And that in turn points us to what Paul wrote to the Corinthian Church, “For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink” (1 Corinthians 12:13).
And to the Ephesian Church, he wrote:
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all (Ephesians 4:4 – 6).
Simply put it all boils down to this one indisputable fact that bears repeating... especially in light of recent events... each one of us is a CHILD OF GOD.
But the fact of the matter is that we create arbitrary categories and classifications… and look for ways to separate and segregate… and establish hierarchies and systems that are designed to isolate and insulate.
All too often, we see differences and distinctions as reasons to denigrate rather than a cause to celebrate… but at the end of the day, the truth remains... each and every one of us is a CHILD OF GOD.
Now, I do realize that this may be somewhat of a bitter pill for some people to swallow, (no one here of course!) ...but the fact of the matter is that God loves us all... and God has given each one of us His Son as our Savior... that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life (see John 3:16).
And whoever means just that, whoever!
Now at the risk of stating the obvious, we are living in a world that feels more divided than ever… but that is not what God desires nor is that how God intended for us to live... we have been called to be part of the body of believers... a family made up of all God’s children.
It is in Romans 8 (15-17) that we read:
But the fact of the matter is that we create arbitrary categories and classifications… and look for ways to separate and segregate… and establish hierarchies and systems that are designed to isolate and insulate.
All too often, we see differences and distinctions as reasons to denigrate rather than a cause to celebrate… but at the end of the day, the truth remains... each and every one of us is a CHILD OF GOD.
Now, I do realize that this may be somewhat of a bitter pill for some people to swallow, (no one here of course!) ...but the fact of the matter is that God loves us all... and God has given each one of us His Son as our Savior... that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life (see John 3:16).
And whoever means just that, whoever!
Now at the risk of stating the obvious, we are living in a world that feels more divided than ever… but that is not what God desires nor is that how God intended for us to live... we have been called to be part of the body of believers... a family made up of all God’s children.
It is in Romans 8 (15-17) that we read:
The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Because of Christ’s sacrifice for us and because we have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit, each one of us can declare with confidence that, “I am a CHILD OF GOD,” with all the rights and privileges that entails.
But we also need to realize that with that declaration also comes the acknowledgement that there are certain responsibilities that we must live up to… namely, the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.
We are all probably familiar with the Great Commandment that can be found in both Matthew 22 (37 – 40) and Mark 12 (28 – 31).
It was the response that Jesus gave to the expert in the law who wanted to test Him by asking which was the greatest of the more than 600 laws and commandments that the Jews were living under.
Jesus summed it up like this, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Love God, love others, and love yourself with no exception… because the fact of the matter is that ALL of us are God’s children... and despite reports to the contrary, ALL really does mean ALL.
There is no picking and choosing based on who we like and who we don’t like… When Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34 – 35), He meant just that… love one another... there was no fine print and no disclaimers attached to that command. Jesus said, “...love one another.”
And we must also keep in mind the Great Commission which is found in Matthew 28:19 – 20, where we find these words of Jesus:
But we also need to realize that with that declaration also comes the acknowledgement that there are certain responsibilities that we must live up to… namely, the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.
We are all probably familiar with the Great Commandment that can be found in both Matthew 22 (37 – 40) and Mark 12 (28 – 31).
It was the response that Jesus gave to the expert in the law who wanted to test Him by asking which was the greatest of the more than 600 laws and commandments that the Jews were living under.
Jesus summed it up like this, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Love God, love others, and love yourself with no exception… because the fact of the matter is that ALL of us are God’s children... and despite reports to the contrary, ALL really does mean ALL.
There is no picking and choosing based on who we like and who we don’t like… When Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34 – 35), He meant just that… love one another... there was no fine print and no disclaimers attached to that command. Jesus said, “...love one another.”
And we must also keep in mind the Great Commission which is found in Matthew 28:19 – 20, where we find these words of Jesus:
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Love God, love others, love self... and then go tell everybody you can, ALL nations, about a love that is so great, that it went all the way to Calvary to bring salvation for ALL of us because each and every one of us truly is a CHILD OF GOD.
Now, for some, it may seem too good to be true that God’s gift of salvation is free for ALL who would receive it… that despite all of the things someone may have said or done in their past... God’s grace is free for the asking… but our job, our calling, our command is to help them to see the truth and explain that while they (and we) were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).
But just to be clear... what our job is NOT… is to decide who deserves to hear the truth about God’s grace, mercy and promised gift of eternal life that has been given to ALL who believe that Jesus is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9).
We have been given a tremendous gift, and all God wants is for us to share it with others freely, without reservation or hesitation... and without, I might add, judgment.
We should not try to hoard the gift of salvation by hiding it under a bushel basket or stashing it in the back of a closet so that others cannot see it… God wants us to put this gift proudly on display so others will witness it and want to obtain it for themselves.
Now most people would say it is not good to boast or to be proud... but when it comes to boasting and being proud in the Lord… well, that is a different matter altogether.
Paul had this to say about boasting in Romans 5:2b, “And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.” And then he went on to say (Romans 5:11), “Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”
Throughout his letters, Paul makes it clear that it is okay to boast as long as we are boasting about the Lord and what the Lord has done.
And if we stop and really think about it… the Lord has given us so much to boast about, that if we spent our time boasting about the Lord and all He has done for us… there would not be time for all the arguments and confrontations we see happening all around us.
But unfortunately, we live in a day and age where the focus is on all the wrong things. People spend so much time on social media.... listening to and reading the rhetoric that is out there... that they miss the truth about God and the truth that God’s love is for everyone... which means all of us can make the claim that we are a CHILD OF GOD.
Sadly, however, there are some folks who try to create standards and protocols in a mistaken attempt to determine who is and who is not deserving of God’s love. Those folks would profess to know the mind of God and decide who is worthy of the gift of salvation… declaring who is going to hell based on some arbitrary criteria that they have put into place.
But let the record show, it is not up to any one of them (or us) to make those judgment calls... because none of us has been afforded that privilege… that honor belongs to God and God alone.
And I, for one, am glad that I don’t have to make those decisions… because based on my own past experience, I would surely make a mess of things.
But the good news is that neither you nor I have to bear that burden. We simply get the joy of telling others about Jesus and showing them the love of Christ through all that we say and do.
And yes, it really is that simple.
If we look at 2 John 6, we read, “And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.”
But just what does it mean to walk in love... especially in this broken world that we live in?
To walk in love is to walk in faith, loving others just as Christ loved us…
And on the off chance there might be some confusion about how Christ loved us... in 1 John 3:16 we read, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.”
Now let me set your minds at ease... loving others as Christ loved us does not mean we have to literally get up on a cross and lay down our lives for someone else. But it does mean that we ought to live sacrificially... not just looking out for ourselves and our own wellbeing... but doing what will be for the greater good of others.
To walk in love means following the example of the Apostle Paul who wrote, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” (Philippians 2:3-4).
To walk in love means recalling the words of the Prophet Micah who said, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).
To walk in love means walking in the knowledge that God has promised to never leave us nor forsake us.
To walk in love means having the blessed assurance that God walks with us both now and for all eternity... because God is faithful and loves us just that much that He wants to be with us forever.
And because of God’s great faithfulness... each of us can feel safe and secure knowing that beyond a shadow of a doubt we are now and will always be a CHILD OF GOD…
Amen.
Hymn of Discipleship: Great Is Thy Faithfulness #86
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Now, for some, it may seem too good to be true that God’s gift of salvation is free for ALL who would receive it… that despite all of the things someone may have said or done in their past... God’s grace is free for the asking… but our job, our calling, our command is to help them to see the truth and explain that while they (and we) were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).
But just to be clear... what our job is NOT… is to decide who deserves to hear the truth about God’s grace, mercy and promised gift of eternal life that has been given to ALL who believe that Jesus is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9).
We have been given a tremendous gift, and all God wants is for us to share it with others freely, without reservation or hesitation... and without, I might add, judgment.
We should not try to hoard the gift of salvation by hiding it under a bushel basket or stashing it in the back of a closet so that others cannot see it… God wants us to put this gift proudly on display so others will witness it and want to obtain it for themselves.
Now most people would say it is not good to boast or to be proud... but when it comes to boasting and being proud in the Lord… well, that is a different matter altogether.
Paul had this to say about boasting in Romans 5:2b, “And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.” And then he went on to say (Romans 5:11), “Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”
Throughout his letters, Paul makes it clear that it is okay to boast as long as we are boasting about the Lord and what the Lord has done.
And if we stop and really think about it… the Lord has given us so much to boast about, that if we spent our time boasting about the Lord and all He has done for us… there would not be time for all the arguments and confrontations we see happening all around us.
But unfortunately, we live in a day and age where the focus is on all the wrong things. People spend so much time on social media.... listening to and reading the rhetoric that is out there... that they miss the truth about God and the truth that God’s love is for everyone... which means all of us can make the claim that we are a CHILD OF GOD.
Sadly, however, there are some folks who try to create standards and protocols in a mistaken attempt to determine who is and who is not deserving of God’s love. Those folks would profess to know the mind of God and decide who is worthy of the gift of salvation… declaring who is going to hell based on some arbitrary criteria that they have put into place.
But let the record show, it is not up to any one of them (or us) to make those judgment calls... because none of us has been afforded that privilege… that honor belongs to God and God alone.
And I, for one, am glad that I don’t have to make those decisions… because based on my own past experience, I would surely make a mess of things.
But the good news is that neither you nor I have to bear that burden. We simply get the joy of telling others about Jesus and showing them the love of Christ through all that we say and do.
And yes, it really is that simple.
If we look at 2 John 6, we read, “And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.”
But just what does it mean to walk in love... especially in this broken world that we live in?
To walk in love is to walk in faith, loving others just as Christ loved us…
And on the off chance there might be some confusion about how Christ loved us... in 1 John 3:16 we read, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.”
Now let me set your minds at ease... loving others as Christ loved us does not mean we have to literally get up on a cross and lay down our lives for someone else. But it does mean that we ought to live sacrificially... not just looking out for ourselves and our own wellbeing... but doing what will be for the greater good of others.
To walk in love means following the example of the Apostle Paul who wrote, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” (Philippians 2:3-4).
To walk in love means recalling the words of the Prophet Micah who said, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).
To walk in love means walking in the knowledge that God has promised to never leave us nor forsake us.
To walk in love means having the blessed assurance that God walks with us both now and for all eternity... because God is faithful and loves us just that much that He wants to be with us forever.
And because of God’s great faithfulness... each of us can feel safe and secure knowing that beyond a shadow of a doubt we are now and will always be a CHILD OF GOD…
Amen.
Hymn of Discipleship: Great Is Thy Faithfulness #86
