Pam Padgett - teacher
After Jesus rose from the dead, He spoke with Mary Magdalene at the sepulchre ...
John 20:16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She
turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. 17
Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my
Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my
Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
Jesus' message for the brethren spoke of the Father as my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
Reading this reminded me that by His life, death and resurrection, Jesus provided the way for us to be
children of God. All of our sins are paid
for. And because of what Jesus has done, those who are called by God are born again by His Spirit living in us and leading us, enabling us to serve God rather than continuing to serve the flesh and go in the ways of this world.
Those who are led by the Holy Spirit are children of God.
Romans 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye
shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the
body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God,
they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of
bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption,
whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with
our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then
heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we
suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
... 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.