We Have Become Sons of God

Born of water and the Spirit

“You can pick your friends but you can’t pick your family” is an old saying that highlights family dynamics versus friendships. Family dynamics are often sticky; tinged with resentment while friendships tend to be fun and easy, with no strings attached or obligations.

Thankfully, it was God’s choice to make us His family. We are His children whom He loves unconditionally. Born of water and the Spirit, we are children of the Light. Physically born in the darkness of this world and our sinful flesh; we are miraculously made children of the Light through the Word and the Spirit.

And that Light is Jesus — the heavenly light that burst forth that first Christmas morning, lowly and in a manger, destined to redeem us and make us whole again. Jesus came to save us from our sins, the world, and eternal darkness.

Thanks be to God for this miraculous gift, taking us out of the darkness and making us children of God!

Here is the full sermon text from John 1:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. ⁴ In him was life, and the life was the light of men. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

⁶ There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷ He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. ⁸ He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

⁹ The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. ¹¹ He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 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.

¹⁴ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. ¹⁵ (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) ¹⁶ For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. ¹⁷ For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

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Announcements

Bible Study: Our midweek Bible study is on hiatus during Advent and will resume on January 4th.

Donations: Even during the pandemic and with a decline in attendance, the expenses continue. If you wish to make a donation please mail them to the St. James post office box as that is a secure location. You may also donate online.