Let’s consider these three characteristics one at a time.

*John 1:12, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become THE SONS OF GOD, even to them that believe on his name.”

*Galatians 3:26, “For ye are all THE CHILDREN OF GOD by faith in Christ Jesus.”

It is obvious from these two verses that the children, or sons, of God are those who have put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. When we do that, God becomes our Father and we become His children. We also see that not everyone is a child of God. It is only those who believe on Him that are able to enjoy that special relationship with the Lord. 1 John 3:2 says, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” What a glorious day that will be when the children of God shall see their Lord and savior. When that happens, our corruptible bodies and made in corruptible and our mortal bodies are made immortal. (Read 1 Corinthians 15:51-57)

*Luke 1:74, “That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might SERVE HIM without fear.”

*Romans 6:20-22, “For when ye were the SERVANTS OF SIN, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become SERVANTS TO GOD, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.”

*Colossians 3:24, “Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for YE SERVE THE LORD CHRIST.”

Once we have accepted Christ as our savior and have become the children of God, we are then privileged to be able to be the servants of God. Before salvation, we were the servants of sin. But now, having been freed from the power of the harsh taskmaster ‘sin’, we are free to become the servants of God. What an honor! Listen to the prophetic words concerning the Lord Jesus in Psalms 40:8, “I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.” Not only did the Lord Jesus obey the Father, He delighted in doing God’s will. We are instructed in Psalms 100:2 to, “Serve the LORD with gladness.” It is only when we truly delight to do God’s will that we will serve Him with a glad heart.

*James 2:23, “And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called THE FRIEND OF GOD.”

*John 15:15, “Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I HAVE CALLED YOU FRIENDS; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.”

There is something even more intimate that being a servant of God. We also become the friends of God. The Lord told His disciples in John 15:14-15, “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” The Lord points out to His disciples that He considers them to be His friends. A servant doesn’t need a lot of understanding or information to do his master’s will. He is told what to do and he does it. However a friend is taken into the confidence of his friend and that relationship becomes even more precious. The Lord said of Lazarus in John 11:11, “These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.” Lazarus was not just a friend of the disciples, he was a friend of the Lord Jesus. The child of God, the servant of God, and the friend of God are closely related, but we can see there are differences, and our relationship with the Lord grows more intimate as we realize our privilege in each one of these characteristics of a believer. (270.10)