“Knowing God as our Father not only wonderfully gladdens our view of Him; it also gives the deepest comfort and joy. The honor of it is stupefying. To be the child of some rich king would be nice; but to be the beloved of the emperor of the universe is beyond words.

Clearly the salvation of this God is better even than forgiveness, and certainly more secure. Other gods might offer forgiveness, but this God welcomes and embraces us as His children, never to send us away.

He does not offer some kind of ‘he loves me, he loves me not’ relationship whereby I have to try and keep myself in His favor by behaving impeccably. No, ‘to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God’ (Jn 1:12)– and so with security to enjoy His love forever.

Think of just who the Son is: He is the one eternally and utterly loved by His Father; the Father would not ever moderate or renounce His love for His Son– and the Son comes to share that, as the Father wanted. Because Jesus is not ashamed to call us brothers (Heb 2:11), His Father is not ashamed to be known as ours (Heb 11:16).

Nothing could give greater confidence and delight in approaching the heavenly throne of grace. ‘How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!’ (1 Jn 3:1).”

–Michael Reeves, Delighting in the Trinity: An Introduction to the Christian Faith (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2012), 76-77.