Westlynn Baptist Church
1341 East 27th Street, North Vancouver
Phone: 604.986.4516
Email: info@westlynnbaptist.com
Worship Services, In Person & Online: Sundays @ 10am & Russian Language Service @ 12pm     Online Giving
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  • There are No Orphans in the Kingdom of God

      Article by Pastor Sam Chua

    [12] But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, [13] who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:12-13 ESV)

    Of all the blessings that the Gospel of Jesus Christ offers to us as Christians, the greatest blessing by far is the royal privilege of adoption as children of the living God—sons and daughters who will live forever as heirs of the eternal kingdom which He has promised to those who love him. Justification by faith is a great blessing that is foundational to every other blessing and primary because of our greatest need to have our sins atoned for before a righteous God. But justification is the means to the ultimate blessing of eternal, intimate fellowship with the God who is our Father. And the security of this relationship that is built on divine love is the secret to the inimitable life of the Christian believer. If Christianity demanded obedience from its followers by threatening them with the sword and judgment, we Christians would only excel at protecting our own lives. But because our faith is built on a foundation of undeserved mercy and forgiveness through the God-man Jesus Christ who laid down his life in an ultimate sacrifice of love, we can tangibly portray divine love as we sacrifice our very own lives in our passionate pursuit to love and to share the Gospel with our fellow man, even if we are hated in the process. This our world cannot do, for mercy triumphs over judgment. And when the world excommunicates us as outcasts because of our faith, we can take heart in knowing that God is our Father and that there are no orphans in his Kingdom. It was J.I. Packer who wrote, “…you sum up the whole of the New Testament religion if you describe it as the knowledge of God as one’s holy Father. If you want to judge how well a person understands Christianity, find out how much he makes of the thought of being God’s child, and having God as his Father.” Father! What a short word! Yet one that has more facets and shines with more relational brilliance than the world’s most beautiful diamond!

    Child of God, do you think much of your undeserved adoption into the family of God? Do you realize that the mighty angels who stand in the heavenly throne room of God will never be blood-bought, redeemed, sons and daughters of God? When your life seems absolutely overwhelming, do you run to God as the Father of comforts who cares for you? Do you delight daily in your Father’s presence the way that a small child delights in simply being with his parent? Do you treasure the precious moments of your days as gifts of grace from a Father who takes great pleasure in showering you with blessings? Never forget Christian, that God did not just forgive your sins to spare you from hell. He forgave your sins so that you might be restored to what you were meant to be—a divine image-bearer who will worship him as King and love him as Father—forever.