“While he {Peter who had been speaking to Jesus} was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and Behold, a Voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with Whom I Am well pleased; listen to Him.“  – Matthew 17:5

 
The story is told of three Australian soldiers stationed in London, England during World War 2. They went for a walk one evening and a dense fog descended. Unsure of where they were they decided to stand beside a lit lamp post and wait till the fog lifted as they were unfamiliar with the area and where they were and how to get back to barracks. As they stood there chatting a British officer walked by them, and much to his disdain they failed to acknowledge him and salute him. He passed back and forth by them on several occasions, again they failed to salute him. He was irate by their lack of respect and said to them, “Don’t you Know who I am?” One of the Australian soldiers looked at him and then looked to his mates and said, “We don’t know where we are, and he doesn’t know who he is!” How funny, yet how tragic for some dear people who have turned to God and placed their confidence in the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ to save them from the penalty and power of sin and to forgive them and submit to Him as their Lord to rule over them and Savior to save them-They don’t Know Who they are or where they are – spiritually! They don’t Know WHAT GO THINKS OF THEM – or at times WE FORGET Where we are and What we Are in God’s sight because of the Lord Jesus.

Consider:  JESUS IS THE BELOVED OF THE FATHER

1.   At His BAPTISM

Matt 3:16-17 we read:
“After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold THE HEAVENS WERE OPENED, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove lighting on Him, and Behold, A Voice OUT OF THE HEAVENS said, THIS IS MY BELOVED SON, IN WHOM I, AM PLEASED…” “MY BELOVED SON = THE SON OF MY LOVE”

2.  At His TRANSFIGURATION
In Matt 17:5 – we read, “While he {Peter who had been speaking to Jesus} was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and Behold, a Voice out of the cloud said, “THIS IS MY BELOVED SON, WITH WHOM I AM PLEASED; LISTEN TO HIM.”

Jesus forbid them to tell anyone at that time….but there was a time when Peter … later testified to the BELOVED OF THE FATHER – in 2 Peter 1:16-17- “…but we were eyewitnesses of His Majesty. For when He received honor and Glory from God the FATHER, SUCH AN UTTERANCE as this was made by the Majestic GLORY- ‘This is My BELOVED SON In WHOM I, AM, PLEASED. And we ourselves heard this utterance made from Heaven when we were with Him in the holy mountain.”

AND WHY IS HE THE BELOVED OF – THE FATHER? Consider…
3.  John 10:17 – “For this reason the Father LOVES ME, because I lay down my life SO THAT I may take it up again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down and I have authority to take it up again. THIS COMMANDMENT I RECEIVED FROM MY FATHER.”

Consider:  JESUS IS THE BELOVED OF – HEAVEN…
Rev 7: 9 – “AFTER THESE THINGS I LOOKED, AND BEHOLD, A GREAT MULTITUDE WHICH NO ONE COULD COUNT, FROM EVERY NATION ALL TRIBES AND PEOPLES AND TONGUES, STANDING BEFORE THE THRONE AND BEFORE THE LAMB, CLOTHED IN WHITE ROBES, AND PALM BRANCHES IN THEIR HANDS; AND THEY CRY OUT WITH A LOUD VOICE, SAYING, SALVATION TO OUR GOD WHO SITS ON THE THRONE, AND TO THE LAMB, AND ALL THE ANGELS WERE STANDING AROUND THE THRONE AND AROUND THE ELDERS AND THE FOUR LIVING CREATURES; AND THEY FELL ON THEIR FACES BEFORE THE THRONE AND WORSHIPED GOD SAYING,” AMEN, BLESSING AND GLORY AND WISDOM AND THANKSGIVING AND HONOR AND POWER AND MIGHT TO OUR GOD FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN.”

Consider; JESUS IS THE BELOVED OF – THE BELIEVER
1 PETER 2:7 “UNTO US WHO BELIEVE HE IS PRECIOUS”

  • The Lord Jesus is the BELOVED of Heaven
  • The Lord Jesus is the BELOVED of the Father
  • The Lord Jesus is the BELOVED of the Believer

AND WE … Because of the Love of His Father…HIS CHURCH- HIS PEOPLE…are the “….BELOVED OF GOD…”
Rom 1:7 , Paul writes this to the people of God, “…BELOVED OF GOD in Rome…”
In  1Thess 1:4 – he writes to the church- God’s People –  “Knowing brethren BELOVED OF GOD”
Eph 5:2 – “Therefore  be imitators of God, as BELOVED CHILDREN“.
                                 

ON ACCOUNT OF THE BELOVED – JESUS CHRIST
WE ARE “ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED…” Ephesians 1:6… God accepts those who come to Him and trust Him alone for forgiveness and salvation. If you have submitted your self and your sin to Him…you are ACCEPTED ON ACCOUNT OF ANOTHER – BECAUSE OF THE FATHER’S DOING – Eph 1:6

So, WHO are you?...you dear brother or sister in Christ are “the BELOVED of God.” You dear friend are “In Christ”- in union with Him and accepted by God because of His sacrifice on your behalf. You are a “new creation…”- 2 Corinthians 5:17 says. You are “THE BELOVED OF GOD.”

No matter how you feel, no matter where you are, no matter … everywhere you go, we can say there goes, “…the BELOVED of God.”

“BELOVED “…It is a Term of Endearment, affection of Love…AND the Father considers you His “Beloved,” because of His Son. Who are you?… You can confidently say by the authority of Gods Word, “I am the Beloved of God,” not because of your promises, pleas or performance but because of Gods Beloved Son-you are accepted-and only because of Him-you are “THE BELOVED OF GOD.”

And because of Gods doing you are now a New citizen – in Gods Kingdom, Part of Gods Family and a New Temple- Ephesians 2:19-22…which is all a part of being “the Beloved of God.”

 

APPLICATION

1.  TAKE GOD at His Word – “You are what He says You are”
2.  THINK often on this Truth – THINK on the Cost TO make this a reality to you-the Blood of Christ.
3.  THANK God for this Truth
4.  TELL others of the God who says His people are,“…The BELOVED.”

 

ENJOY HIM TODAY,
EXALT HIM TODAY,
EDIFY OTHER BELIEVERS TODAY BY REMINDING THEM WHO THEY ARE,”…THE BELOVED OF GOD.”

And that as 1 Peter 2:5 says you are – “ACCEPTABLE TO GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST”- and are… GODS BELOVED