How great is the love the Father has lavished
on us, that we should be called children of God!
—1 John 3:1
In the ancient world an adopted child had all the rights of a birth child. Natural-born and adopted children were equal heirs.
Even adults were sometimes adopted. When that occurred their previous life was completely wiped out. Debts were cancelled as if they had never existed. They had a totally new identity as a member of the family.
By deliberate adoption God took you into his family (Eph. 1:5).
Your past was cancelled; all debts wiped out.
You had a brand new name.
You are not just called a child of God, you are a child of God (1 Jn. 3:1-2), with the full rights belonging to his children (Gal. 4:5).
How great the love God has lavished on you!
Obey God, not to be loved,
but because you are loved.