Three Right Relationships with God
Text: Romans 1:16–20
Hallelujah! May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the peace of God our Father be with you all abundantly.
Our God has made His power and divine nature clearly visible to humanity through the created world. No complex object can come into being by mere chance. For example, would you believe that a smartphone could be made by accident? Of course not. It is the result of human intention, creativity, and a detailed design.
Likewise, the astonishing order and intricacy of the universe are not random but serve as undeniable evidence of the Creator’s existence. The world God made is not governed by chaos, but by truth. Because of the universe’s consistent laws and order, scientific inquiry is possible, and we can trust and utilize these laws reliably.
This universe is beautifully and delicately designed. Whether we examine the smallest cell or the vast movements of the solar system, the same truth remains. How is it that the Earth orbits the sun once a year and rotates once a day to create day and night? Beneath the Earth’s surface is fiery magma, yet the thin crust has been perfectly suited for life to flourish.
God also causes only the surface of lakes to freeze in winter, allowing aquatic life to survive. Every feature of Earth has been crafted with care so that life can be sustained. Who designed it this way? A Creator with supreme intelligence and power—God Himself.
Among all ancient texts and religious scriptures, only the Bible clearly states that the Creator of the heavens and the earth is God. The Bible is not the product of human wisdom or philosophy but is the revealed Word of God, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
Furthermore, the Bible not only declares that every person must die, but it uniquely proclaims the resurrection from the dead. This message gives us a living hope, and that is the gospel. The gospel reveals the righteousness of God—the way by which we are restored to a right relationship with Him.
Through the gospel, our relationship with God is restored. The Bible teaches us that through Jesus Christ, we are brought into three right relationships with God.
First, God is our Master, and we are His servants. Jesus Himself called us to follow Him as our Lord, and we are to live in obedience and faithfulness.
Second, God is our Father, and we are His children. Through faith, we have been adopted as His sons and daughters, and we can call Him “Abba, Father.” This is a relationship of love, protection, and nurturing.
Third, God is the Bridegroom, and we, the Church, are His Bride. Scripture teaches that we are united with Christ as one body, and He is our Head. It is a relationship of covenant love and spiritual union.
These three relationships with God are established by faith and sustained by His grace.
I pray that all who hear this message today may enter into these three right relationships with God through Jesus Christ and experience true faith and a transformed life.
1. The First Relationship with God: Master and Servant
The Bible clearly declares, “None is righteous, no, not one.” (Romans 3:10)
Yet it also says, “The righteous shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:17)
Who then is “the righteous”? It is not someone who is morally perfect, but rather someone who has been declared righteous by God. So, how can we be declared righteous in the sight of God?
The answer is in the gospel. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Because all have sinned, we each deserve to die. But Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose again on the third day, taking the penalty of sin on our behalf. Everyone who comes to Him by faith is redeemed by His blood and receives the atonement He provided. Christ purchased us with His blood, made atonement for our sins, and presented us to God the Father.
You and I are those who have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus, who paid the price for our sins and brought us to the Father. Therefore, our rightful Master is God.
From the moment we receive this gift of atonement, our relationship with God becomes one of Master and servant.
Before receiving the grace of Christ’s redemption, we were slaves to sin.
Sin was our master, and we had no choice but to obey its desires.
But once we are redeemed by the blood of Jesus, we become servants of God.
However, there remains one crucial element: our free will.
Even after salvation, our free will persists. We can still choose to obey sin or righteousness.
Before we knew God, we only obeyed sin.
At that time, submitting to sin even felt pleasurable because our selfish desires aligned with sin’s demands.
But to obey righteousness, our will must perceive a higher and reasonable value in obedience.
Jesus once said, “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:36)
Through experience, we learn this:
When others are made happy through us, we too become truly happy.
Obedience to righteousness means not living for ourselves, but doing good to others.
And when those we help rejoice, their joy becomes our lasting joy. It is not momentary.
Each time we see them again, we are reminded of that joy.
When we truly believe that our relationship with God is one of Master and servant,
we begin to confess, “I no longer belong to myself. I am God’s possession.”
This leads us to a life of submission—not to our own will, but to God’s will.
And when God hears this confession, He acts as our faithful Master,
guaranteeing and taking responsibility for our lives.
Because our desires now align with His will, obedience to His Word brings us true joy.
Even more astonishing is this:
Though Jesus is our Master, He no longer calls us servants but friends.
Jesus said in John 15:14–15,
“You are my friends if you do what I command you… I no longer call you servants… but I have called you friends.”
Between friends, nothing is hidden.
Friends share their hearts freely. There is peace and comfort.
Only then do we come to truly know one another.
In this way, Jesus treats us not only as servants but as friends.
It means the relationship that began in service has matured into one of love, trust, and intimacy.
2. The Second Relationship with God: Father and Child
Dear brothers and sisters, the second way we relate to God is as Father and children.
The grace of atonement is the blessing by which God cleanses our hearts.
When someone who has received this grace sincerely prays for the Holy Spirit to dwell in their heart, God pours out His Spirit upon them.
However, for those who have not received the grace of atonement, their hearts remain impure in God’s eyes.
Because the Holy Spirit is holy, He cannot dwell in a heart that has not been cleansed by the blood of Christ.
Moreover, the Holy Spirit is referred to in Scripture as the Spirit of sonship.
When the Holy Spirit dwells within us, we are able to genuinely cry out, “Abba, Father!”
As it is written in Romans 8:15 “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’”
Calling God “Father” is evidence that we have been born again by the Holy Spirit.
In John 20:21, Jesus, the Son of God, said to His disciples:
“As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”
And in John 3:34, it says: “For He whom God has sent utters the words of God,
for He gives the Spirit without measure.”
That means: Whoever is sent by God speaks the words of God.
Jesus, who was sent by the Father, also said in John 6:38 “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of Him who sent me.”
In the same way, we must be able to say:
“I have not come to do my own will, but to do the will of Him who sent me.”
This is evidence that the Holy Spirit dwells in us,
and that our relationship with God is truly that of a Father and His child.
The reason the Father sent His only begotten Son into the world was
to save people from sin and death.
Likewise, what is the purpose for which Jesus now sends us into the world?
To bring people to salvation.
When we lead others to salvation, it is proof that we are obeying the will of our Father.
It is also evidence that our relationship with God is indeed that of a Father and His child.
Beloved saints,
If we truly call God “Father” from the heart,
then we must also joyfully do what pleases the Father.
And what pleases the Father?
Saving many souls.
Evangelism and discipleship.
That’s why Jesus said to Peter:
“Feed my lambs. Tend my sheep.” (John 21:15–17)
At that moment, our relationship with Jesus is also like that of a Good Shepherd and His sheep.
But more deeply still, our relationship with God as Father and child is shown
when we are led by the Spirit and live according to the will of our Father.
3. The Third Relationship with God: Bridegroom and Bride — Head and Body
Dear brothers and sisters, the third relationship we have with God is that of a bridegroom and bride, which also means head and body.
To establish this relationship, the Lord established the Church.
As written in Ephesians 5:31–32:
“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.
This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.”
This shows that the relationship between Christ and the Church is like that of a husband and wife.
Thus, the Lord is the head, and we—the Church—are His body.
God established both the family and the Church as bodies through which His will would be carried out.
Through the Church, God richly supplies every spiritual blessing to this world.
1) The Church Must Gather Faithfully
The Church must gather regularly to fulfill its calling.
Hebrews 10:25 urges us, “not neglecting to meet together… but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
To “build the Church” means to be devoted to assembling together.
If we neglect gathering:
The Church weakens,
Discipleship disappears,
And faith stops growing.
Then, even believers become vulnerable to the deceptions of Satan.
Worshiping together as a church is God’s will.
It is the channel of grace through which we edify one another and glorify God.
When the Church gathers, God’s glory is revealed.
Therefore, faithful gathering is a way to bring glory to God and carry out His will.
2) Why Do We Gather on the Lord’s Day?
Ideally, the Church would gather daily.
But even if that’s not possible, we must at least gather on Sunday, the Lord’s Day.
Why?
Because Psalm 118:22–24 says:
“The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
This refers to Christ’s death and resurrection.
The “day the Lord has made” is the day of resurrection—Sunday.
Thus, Sunday is the day ordained by the Lord for rejoicing and worship.
Psalm 118:25 continues:
“Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord, we pray, give us success!”
On this day, as we worship in spirit and truth,
God pours out His grace and leads us in prosperity.
So during worship, we must:
Avoid distractions from our phones (unless using a Bible app),
Refrain from chatting,
Focus our minds and hearts solely on the Lord.
Only then can we offer worship that is acceptable and pleasing to God.
3) Sunday Worship Is a Confession of Faith and Love
Sunday is the dividing line between believers and unbelievers.
Those who understand why Christ established the Church will prioritize Sunday worship.
Those who do not understand or accept Christ’s vision for the Church will often put other matters before worship.
But we must remember:
The Church is the body of Christ, and Sunday worship is our confession that we belong to His body.
This confession is not a burden or obligation, but a joyful act of love and a precious privilege given by God.
4) We Are Members of One Body
As the Church is Christ’s body, we are members of one another.
In a body, there is love—not judgment.
From God’s perspective, each member is given to support and bless others.
My husband, My wife, My children, My parents, My fellow believers—
All are gifts from God who exist for my good.
Their very presence is a reason to give thanks.
To speak gratitude to others is to offer thanks to God.
But the spirit of the world leads us to judge others by the law,
causing hurt and division.
By contrast, the Holy Spirit forms a relationship of grace,
covering over faults and leading us to speak words of thanksgiving.
Conclusion: Live Out These Three Relationships
In summary, our relationship with God consists of:
Master and servant – a friendship marked by loyalty
Father and child – a relationship of trust and obedience
Bridegroom and bride – a union of head and body in love
These relationships are formed through faith,
and we are those who live by such faith.
Confessing and living out these relationships daily glorifies God and fulfills His will.
When we embrace a biblical understanding of the Church—
as taught by Christ Himself—
these relationships become visible testimonies in our lives.
May our church become a place where:
We faithfully gather,
We honor the Lord’s Day,
And each of you becomes a channel of blessing to this generation.
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
If today’s message touched your heart, that is a sign that the Holy Spirit is working in you.
The Bible says, “With the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses unto salvation.”
So now, let us all pray together and confess with our mouths what we believe in our hearts.
Let us offer this prayer of commitment together.
Loving and gracious Heavenly Father,
Thank You for today’s message that reminded me of the purpose for which You created me,
and the three relationships You desire to have with me.
Lord,
Until now, I lived as if I were the master of my own life.
But now I understand—
I was a slave to sin, and only through the blood of Jesus could I be redeemed
and become a servant of God.
Today, Lord,
I receive You as the only Lord and Master of my life.
I surrender my time, thoughts, possessions, and plans to Your will.
Let me live as Your servant, in full obedience to Your purpose.
Father God,
Thank You for making me Your child.
You have cleansed my sin-stained heart with the blood of Jesus
and poured Your Holy Spirit into me.
Now I call You, “Abba, Father,” from the depth of my heart.
Help me to live as Your child, walking in obedience to Your Word,
and proclaiming the gospel that brings life to others.
Lord Jesus,
You are the Bridegroom who shed Your blood for me and rose again.
Now I desire to live as Your bride,
as a member of Your body, the Church.
Help me to remain united with You, my Head.
May I love the Church,
devote myself to gathering with believers,
long for worship,
and honor the Lord’s Day.
Lord,
From this moment forward,
I choose to renew my relationship with You—
as Your servant, Your child, and Your bride.
Accept this confession of mine with joy,
and by the power of the Holy Spirit,
help me to walk faithfully with You to the end.
I pray all this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.