All

own; for he is a liar, and the father of it." who are living in the practice of what God has forbidden in His holy law, are under the dominion of Satan; who first set the example of transgression, which they are following, and is desirous of involving the children of men in the same ruin in which he himself is sunk.

But, for this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil; that the snares of Satan might be broken, and an end be put to his usurped dominion over mankind. This was the great object proposed by the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. His name was called Jesus, because He should save His people from their sins;18 from the guilt and dominion of sin in this life, and from its punishment and existence in eternity. And of these His people, it is said, As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name; which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.19

These are the persons of whom the apostle says in the first verse of the Epistle for this day, 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.

The nature and source of the

17 John viii. 41, 44.

18 Matt. i. 21. 19 John i. 12, 13.

privilege spoken of, and its consequences with regard to this world, are topics which here present themselves to our notice.

First, The privilege spoken of is that of being called the sons of God. This is the highest privilege which can be bestowed upon the children of men. To be the son of a king, or even of a nobleman, or a rich man, is accounted a great honour in this world. How much greater an honour must it be to be called the sons of Him who is the King of kings and Lord of lords, the most High God, the Possessor of heaven and earth,20 and especially to be acknowledged as such by Him, when that acknowledgment will be of the most incalculable value. This title was given to mankind originally in consequence of their having been created in the image and likeness of God. The prophet asks, Have we not all one Father? hath not one God created us?21 And the apostle in this sense admits, We are also His offspring. But by sin mankind have forfeited their inheritance as the children of God, and instead of being so accounted, are described as being by nature the children of wrath,23 and by practice the children of the wicked one. The blessing of being accounted the children of God is restored to those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the unspeakable gift of the God of heaven to mankind, to be their

22

20 Gen. xiv. 19. 21 Mal. ii. 10. 22 Acts xvii. 18. 23 Eph. ii. 3.

Redeemer from the miserable state into which they had fallen by sin. On this subject our Saviour Himself taught that, God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.24 In reference to this invaluable gift it is, that the apostle exclaims in the text,

Secondly, In order to point out the source of it, Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God! It was love indeed to provide a Saviour for lost sinners. It was love most wonderful and extraordinary, for the offended Creator to form a plan for the restoration of His rebellious creatures to His favour. It was the love of God which was the source of the blessing spoken of, that we should be called the sons of God. It is the object of Divine revelation to make known this wonderful love of God to man. St. Paul therefore states, that when the fulness of time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.25 He gave His only begotten Son to assume human nature, to be made in the likeness of men, and to humble Himself to become obedient unto death, even the death of the cross,26 that He might bear our sins in His own body on the tree, and put away sin by the

24 John iii. 16. 25 Galatians iv. 4, 5. 26 Philippians ii. 7, 8.

sacrifice of Himself. How gracious a Father was He who manifested such love to His rebellious children, as to provide a ransom for their deliverance from the pit of destruction: who gave His own, His only begotten Son to suffer, bleed, and die, that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their life time subject to bondage." And who, because of His holy law having been magnified and made honourable, by the obedience unto death of His beloved Son, justifies, accepts, and blesses those who had broken it, and incurred the penalty due to its transgression.

To be called the sons of God is to be acknowledged as such, so as to enjoy the privileges and blessings which the Father has promised to bestow upon His children. A father is bound to provide for the wants of his infant children, and is their natural protector from every thing that would injure or distress them. Such a Father is the Lord Almighty to all His children in Christ Jesus. There is nothing which they want that He is not able and willing to give them. It is therefore said, The Lord God is a Sun and Shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly, for He is able to do exceeding abundantly

27 Hebrews ii. 14, 15.

28 Psalm lxxxiv. 11.

above all that we ask or think;29 and is as willing as He is able. The apostle therefore assures believers in Christ, My God shall supply all your need, according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.30 They who have God for their Father then, have the best of benefactors and the most powerful of beings engaged on their side, to do them good, and to preserve them from all evil. What manner of love is that which leads Him thus to notice such worthless, undeserving creatures, as the sinful children of men; and to admit them to the enjoyment of His favour, His blessing, and His protection, instead of regarding them as the objects of His righteous indignation and displeasure. Let us behold this wondrous love with gratitude and praise, and seek above all things that we may partake of it, and that the love of God may be shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost being given unto us.31

It becomes us to inquire for ourselves, Have we received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father?32 Do we look up with reverence and affection to the God of heaven as our reconciled Father in Christ Jesus? Do we seek His blessing? Do we implore His protection? If we are the sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty, we shall look to Him as our Father, for

29 Eph. iii. 20. 30 Phil. iv. 9. 31 Rom. v. 5. 32 Rom. viii. 15.