福音的重要信息：作神儿女（二）
加拉太书三章26节至四章7节
26所以，你们因信基督耶稣都是神的儿子。
27你们受洗归入基督的都是披戴基督了。
28并不分犹太人、希腊人，自主的、为奴的，或男或女，因为你们在基督耶稣里都成为一了。
29你们既属乎基督，就是亚伯拉罕的后裔，是照着应许承受产业的了。
1我说那承受产业的，虽然是全业的主人，但为孩童的时候却与奴仆毫无分别，
2乃在师傅和管家的手下，直等他父亲预定的时候来到。
3我们为孩童的时候，受管于世俗小学之下，也是如此。
4及至时候满足，神就差遣他的儿子，为女子所生，且生在律法以下，
5要把律法以下的人赎出来，叫我们得着儿子的名分。
6你们既为儿子，神就差他儿子的灵进入你们（原文作我们）的心，呼叫：阿爸！父！
7可见，从此以后，你不是奴仆，乃是儿子了；既是儿子，就靠着神为后嗣。
信息分享
保罗引用这个传统来提醒我们，当我们重生进入神的家，我们立即便拥有神为我们所预备的一切。我们或许要在基督里逐渐成长，才知道我们拥有甚么，但那一切，却在我们重生的那一刻便属于我们。
保罗还用了另一个词「收纳」，来帮助我们明白作神儿女的意思；不过，它比我们今天所理解的有更深一层的意思。
神并非依据冰冷的法律条文来收纳我们作祂的儿女；反之，祂是用一颗慈爱的心来接纳我们。祂使我们作祂的儿女，并竭尽所能地将祂的生命和性情给予我们。祂希望我们能拥有祂的样式，并希望我们能确知我们是祂的儿女。罗马书八章16至17节指出：「圣灵与我们的心同证我们是神的儿女。既是儿女，便是后嗣，就是神的后嗣，和基督同作后嗣。如果我们和祂一同受苦，也必和祂一同得荣耀。」
反思：
我们如今已是神的儿女，已拥有作神儿女的一切权利，将来还会承受更好的产业（约壹三2、3）。但问题是：我们每天的生活，是否活出神儿女的应有样式呢？或是只在星期日才表现得像神的儿女？
GREAT WORDS OF THE GOSPEL SONSHIP (2)
Galatians 3:26 to 4:7
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
1 Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all,
2 but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father.
3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world.
4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”
7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Message
We usually make very little distinction between the use of the words 'child' and 'son'. In the days of the early church there was a marked difference. 'Sons' were those who had become of age. Often a special ceremony was held, similar to a 21st birthday party today. From there on the son was entitled to all the privileges of an adult.
Paul made use of that custom to remind us that when we were born into the family of God, we immediately had access to all that God had planned for us. We may grow in our knowledge of what is ours in Christ, but it all belongs to us the moment we are born again.
Paul also used another word to help us understand what our sonship means. It is the word 'adoption' but again it has a deeper meaning than what may be given to it today.
Our adoption as 'sons of God' is not a cold legal document or decision. It is a warm-hearted acceptance of us by God Himself. He takes us as His children and does what adopting parents cannot do, He gives us His life and His nature. He wants to stamp the family likeness on us. He wants us to know in reality that we are truly His sons. Romans 8:16-17 says, 'The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.'
TODAY'S THOUGHT: We are sons now - but it will always be better ahead. (I John 3:2, 3) The question is: Do we really act like God's sons or daughters everyday? Or only on Sundays?