The Two Phases of Sonship

This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased – Matthew 3:17 (NKJV)

In Matthew 3:17, we witness a powerful moment when God declares His approval over His Son, Jesus, before He even begins His ministry. John the Baptist hears these words: This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. As I meditated on these words, the Lord revealed to me that this statement reflects His pattern, plan, and requirement for every believer.

As Christians, our goal should be to become sons and daughters who bring pleasure to the Father. But how do we achieve this? The sentence, ‘This is My beloved Son and ‘in whom I am well pleased’ holds the key to understanding the two phases of a believer’s spiritual journey.

Phase 1: Establishing a Relationship with the Father
The first part of the statement, This is My beloved Son, speaks to our relationship with the Father. It’s about becoming His child-having a genuine, personal relationship with God. This phase starts with salvation, where we acknowledge Jesus as our Savior and enter into the family of God. Without this relationship, there is no sonship. You cannot please the Father if you are not His child.

Phase 2: Pleasing the Father
The second part, in whom I am well pleased, focuses on living in a way that brings honour to God. It speaks to our walk with Him, our obedience, and our pursuit of His will in all aspects of our lives. Pleasing the Father comes as a result of maturing in our relationship with Him and living out our identity as His children.

This scripture divides humanity into two categories:
Class 1: The Sons of God: Those who have accepted Jesus and have a relationship with the Father.
Class 2: Strangers to the Family of God: Those who have not yet encountered the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

It is crucial to note that being in church does not automatically make someone a son or daughter of God. Without the encounter of salvation, a person remains spiritually disconnected from God and is, in fact, a child of the enemy. Ephesians 2:1-3 makes it clear that apart from Christ, all are spiritually dead in sin.

Action Point:
If you are unsure about your salvation or want to know more about becoming a son or daughter of God, please send us a message at hello@mustardseed.com.ng, and we will lead you to Christ.

Prayer:
Father, I thank you for the gift of sonship. Help me to grow in my relationship with you and to live in a way that pleases you. I desire to be a son who brings you joy and reflects your love to the world. If there are areas of my life that need to be aligned with your will, I ask for your guidance and strength. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.