It is our honour and privilege to be called the children of God. From our experience, we know what it is like to be children. Generally, as children, we are protected by our earthly parents. They take care of us, clothe us, feed us, watch over us and ensure that no harm or danger will come upon us. What more to be called God's children! But how can a man receive this wonderful privilege of being a child of God? Apostle Paul gave us the answer from God’s Word in Galatians 3:26-27, "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ."

By the grace and mercy of God, we have come to realize how sinful we are and that we have been the children of the devil since we were born. Because of our sins, we are heading towards hell and we will surely perish if nothing is done to turn us around. In fact, we are as good as drowned spiritually. We have sunk to the bottom of the ocean bed. Because we are dead in sin, there is no way we can save ourselves. We need to be saved. We need someone to dive into the ocean deep to bring us back to shore and to life again. As we look back to the day of our conversion when we are saved for heaven, is it not Christ who died on the cross in order that He might be our Lord and Saviour? And because of what He has done, we become the children of God by faith.

It is faith in Christ that gives us salvation. And all that a sinner has to do to be saved is to have faith in Jesus Christ. And this faith will automatically enable him to be adopted into God's family. No Christ, no salvation. Know Christ, know salvation.

The baptism mentioned in Galatians 3:27 does not refer to water baptism. It refers to Christ baptising us with the Holy Spirit. This occurs once only, at the beginning of every true believer's life. And when this happens, we are saved, and we are forever saved. We belong to God forever. No one can snatch us away from the hand of God. And so for those whom Christ has baptised with the Holy Spirit, what has also happened to them? Apostle Paul says, they have put on Christ. What a vivid picture that we can easily visualise in our mind. It is like putting on a white garment that is pure and clean. And it is this putting on of Christ that enables us to stand before God without being consumed by His fire of wrath.

Not only has faith lead us to be saved, it has also clothed us with Christ. The phrase “putting on” is a picture of putting on clothes or covering oneself. Christ covers us with His righteousness and perfection. What a beautiful picture of the bride, with Christ the Bridegroom standing before God and all His creation! Are you saved? If you are, you are now wearing the beautiful wedding gown that has been bought by the precious blood of Christ. Can others see you with the wedding gown of Christ? If you as God’s child, have been living for Christ, obeying Him and serving Him faithfully, there is no way others cannot see Christ in you. This is what God wants us to be as His children. He wants us to point others to Christ. Will you? May God help us. Amen.