God Does Have Grandchildren
- Livinginbetweenall-Terry
- Aug 1
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 4
Sub-Title: Incarnational Agnus Dei Image Bearers
Associated Teaching Lesson #8 "We are All Grandchildren, Before we are Children
Reflections from Devotional Studies in I & II Peter
08/01/2025
“And the God of all grace,
who called you to his eternal glory in Christ,
after you have suffered a little while,
will himself restore you and make you strong,
firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.”
1 Peter 5:10-11 NIV
“Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ
have received a faith as precious as ours:”
2 Peter 1:1 NIV
“Though you have not seen him, you love him;
and even though you do not see him now,
you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
for you are receiving the end result of your faith,
the salvation of your souls.”
1 Peter 1:8-9 NIV
Avoiding a Still-Birth
We've heard it said "God does not have grandchildren." While in total agreement with the underlying need for salvation to reach completion as personally known, the phrase would have seemed scandalous and properly so by 1st century believers.
These three verses (above) are the books of Peter in cliff notes. The mystery of salvation is passed from generation to generation, from those who've seen to those who've seen through their elders eyes.
Let it be forever known: God does have grandchildren, in fact counts on it—though clearly the child yet to be born must receive the gift in its fullness as one born from above and personally known; as "those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours" (II Peter 1:1b).
Cross Generational Birthing
The import of this truth is right in front of us who live in the United States or Europe. Never has there been a time when there are so many agnostics or atheists among our young people. Those who are intuitively disposed to 'ultimate reality' are not looking to the faith of the fathers, but to every empty wind by comparison.
We who are elders in time have an incredible privilege among our very young and our young adults. We need to seek moments of shared experience.
It will require of us new skills, primarily listening; for this generation learns by doubts expressed, fears confessed, questions acknowledged—not answered. They do not need our tired and hurried answers but our hearts listening to theirs. When it is time natural dialogue will come. This generation—who know a great deal more about everything than we could dream of because of access through technology—is or will become aware in time, that their knowledge is also shallow because of limited experience and thin learning by nature of the mediums used.
If we wait and listen in true love and respect, we will discover from these who are younger the joy of humility in 'admitting what we don't know' and wish to explore in dialogue. Dialogue is the gift through which re-discovery of Jesus is possible. Please remember, even then it will come through doubts expressed, fears confessed, questions acknowledged—not answered.
Blessings! Terry
A Visual: See a Short Story Visual I Created for my Grandson, on the occasion of his Baptism in Christ; intended to explain its meaning when he was old enough to ask.
A Visual: A Devotional Series I did two years ago on Jesus as seen in the Old & New Testaments. The themes in this blog echo the themes of this devotional
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