A new identity as God's children

It is this experience of receiving the Holy Spirit that is spoken of in the New Testament as being "born again" or "born of the Spirit" (e.g. John 3:3, 5). And it is the Spirit who constitutes us now as sons and daughters of God. "God's Spirit doesn't make us slaves who are afraid of him. Instead, we become his children and call him our Father. God's Spirit makes us sure that we are his children" (Romans 8:15,16). There was a time when God had only one Son (John 1:14, 18). However, when he comes into our lives, Jesus shares with us not only the relationship that he enjoyed with his Father, but also the rights and privileges that come from having that relationship. We are now full members of the divine family. Jesus becomes our elder brother. "Jesus and the people he makes holy all belong to the same family. That is why he is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters" (Hebrews 2:11). Our identity is now found, not primarily in our earthly relationships, but first and foremost in our access to our heavenly Father, our friendship with Jesus and the constant indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, who brings it all together and makes it real. So let's explore further the implications of this new identity.