THE BELOVED OF THE BELOVED

THE BELOVED OF THE BELOVED

I love how the Father has instituted a COVENANT OF SONSHIP with fallen man.  It’s all grace – it’s all unmerited – it’s all completely undeserved.  This covenant is fully manifested at the baptism of Jesus Christ, when the Holy Spirit descends in the bodily shape of a dove and the Father speaks from Heaven, identifying the Son as the Messiah and Savior of mankind.  “And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, this is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17) It is the booming voice of the Father, publicly proclaiming that Jesus Christ is His “BELOVED SON.” 

Jesus’ heavenly connection as the “beloved Son” was of such vital importance that He spoke of it frequently. In John 3:35, Jesus declares “The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand.”  In John 5:20, Jesus affirms that “the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things.”  And in John 17:23 (in His High Priestly Prayer), Jesus testifies “You [The Father] have sent Me and [You] have loved them [believers] as You have loved me.”  Clearly, Jesus Christ, the Son, is the “only begotten” and “beloved Son” of the Father.

However, for every believer, this relational testimony of Jesus Christ becomes a profoundly personal and awesome benefit.  As the “beloved Son” of the Father, Jesus Christ was empowered to die vicariously for our sins, allowing us to be liberated from satanic bondage and to be born again.  Although we were conceived “in sin” and shaped “in iniquity,” the moment we are “born again” and saved “by grace through faith,” we are made alive “in Christ” and we receive the miraculous benefit of DIVINE ACCEPTANCE. (Psalm 51:5 – John 3:7 – Ephesians 2:8 – II Corinthians 5:17) Because of Christ, and through Christ, we may now boldly approach the throne of grace.  Because of Christ, we are fully pardoned and completely “ACCEPTED…IN…THE BELOVED.” (Hebrews 4:16 – Ephesians 1:6) Indeed, because of our relational connections with the Son, our Father “has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places…IN CHRIST JESUS.” (Ephesians 2:6)

It is absolutely astounding that the Son loves us in the same magnificent manner that the Father loves the Son.  It bears repetition.  Our Elder Brother, Jesus Christ, loves every one of his spiritual siblings in the same (exact) way that the Father loves the Son.  In other words, every born-again believer has become THE BELOVED…OF THE “BELOVED SON!”  If that doesn’t make you stand up straight with renewed faith and awareness of how supremely special you are, then perhaps nothing will.  Question: Do we truly know WHO we are and WHOSE we are?  Unquestionably, we are “heirs of God…and joint-heirs with Christ.” (Romans 8:17) To wit, we are THE BELOVED…OF “THE BELOVED!”  Sisters and brothers, rise up and walk in your ‘son-ship’ – which is never a gender specific phrase, but a covenant reality.  Claim the heritage of spiritual authority that endows you with sufficient faith and power to win lost souls for His Kingdom.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!