What is a Supernatural Life?  Sonship

Sonship

Adapted by Gantv.com, from The100foldjourney with Doug Corbett.  Watch:  HERE

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” — Galatians 5:1

Welcome back to our series on freedom from religious bondage, where we’re exploring the barriers that hold us back from living out our true identity. Today we are going to talk about a topic often misunderstood and burdened by religious baggage: repentance and our sonship.

In this series, we are aiming to strip away the religious layers that have concealed our identity. Galatians 5:1 is our anchor verse, reminding us that Christ has set us free to live in freedom — and that we must stand firm against the yoke of slavery that religion often tries to put on us. And part of that yoke is not just the law itself but the way we think about ourselves. We want to live from our true identity — one that aligns with God’s vision of who we are and that is Sons and Daughters.

A Quick Reminder of Who We Are

As we’ve talked about before, we are in perfect union with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. You are not striving to be part of this unity; you are already included. 1 Peter says you have been given all things for life and godliness — you are a partaker of the divine nature. This is very different from the perspective religion tends to present. Religion often tells you to strive for approval or to earn God’s favor. But in truth, you’re already part of the dance of the Trinity. You don’t need to be invited; you’re already here.

And another way to see this is to understand that we are the bride of Christ — fully loved, fully adorned, and fully provided for. When you know that you are a queen, married to the King of kings, it changes how you think, act and feel and how you see yourself. And when you understand your true identity, you begin to embody that person you were created to be.

This is your true identity: As He is, so are you in this world (1 John 4:17). However, many barriers prevent us from fully accepting this identity, and one of those is our misunderstanding of repentance.

 

The Roadblocks Religion Creates

In our last session, we tackled the barrier of Sin Identity — understanding that sin (distorted identity) does not define you. Today, we’re going to break down the barrier of Repentance and explore what it truly means in light of God’s grace.  Once we truly understand this, then we can accept that we are a son or daughter in Christ.

For many of us, when we think of repentance, we think of crying out to God, confessing our sins, feeling guilt and shame, and trying to do better. Some of us may have grown up with the phrase “Repent or Perish” ringing in our ears — the idea that if we don’t confess every wrongdoing, we face eternal separation from God. Or perhaps we imagine confession in a booth, telling a priest all our sins, hoping for absolution. And there’s even a tradition of self-punishment, where people “beat themselves up” emotionally to prove to God how sorry they are.

This is the way religion has taught many of us to understand repentance. But is that really what it means?

The True Meaning of Repentance

If we look at the original languages of the Bible, the Greek word for repentance is metanoia, which means “to change one’s mind, purpose, and perspective.” It’s about a transformation in the way you see yourself, God, and the world. And the Hebrew word shub means “to turn back” or “to return.” Neither of these definitions says anything about confessing sins, feeling guilt, or trying to earn forgiveness. It’s about a change of heart and mind.

Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” True repentance is about changing how you view yourself and how you think God views you. It’s about understanding your identity as one with Christ, fully loved and fully accepted, Sonship.

So what does repentance look like in practice? Let’s explore three of Jesus’ parables found in Luke 15, which give us insight into true repentance.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15:1-7)

Jesus begins with this story:

“What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”

In this story, the sheep has wandered off. The shepherd searches for it, and when he finds it, he carries it back home on his shoulders. There is no mention of the sheep feeling guilty, confessing, or making any promises to do better. The sheep simply stops running and allows itself to be found and carried back.

So how did the sheep repent? The sheep didn’t “do” anything but allow itself to be carried by the shepherd. And that’s the heart of true repentance — simply yielding to the love of God.

Sonship

The Parable of the Lost Coin (Luke 15:8-10)

Jesus continues with another parable:

“Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost!’ In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

The coin is lost, but notice the woman’s response. She searches everywhere, lighting a lamp and sweeping the house until she finds it. The coin didn’t “do” anything. It simply allowed itself to be found and picked up.

How did the coin repent? It didn’t. It simply rested in the love and care of the one who was searching for it and saw it’s value.

What is Sonship

The Parable of the Lost Son (Luke 15:11-24)

Then we hear perhaps the most well-known story:

“A man had two sons. The younger son asked for his share of the inheritance, left home, and squandered everything on reckless living. When a famine hit, the son found himself feeding pigs, longing to eat the pods they were eating. But he came to his senses and said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! I will go to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”’”

The son returns to his father, rehearsing his confession. But before he even reaches home, his father sees him from a distance and runs to embrace him. He kisses him, puts a robe on him, places a ring on his finger, and prepares a feast. There’s no punishment, no shame, only celebration.

How did the son repent? He came to his senses. He realized that living as a servant in his father’s house would be better than staying in his current situation. And he turned back. But notice this: the father didn’t even let him finish his confession. He didn’t demand an explanation. He simply embraced him, because he was already his son, that part was never lost.

The Older Son: A Cautionary Tale (Luke 15:25-32)

Finally, the story turns to the older brother, who becomes angry when he hears about the celebration. “Look,” he says to his father, “I’ve served you for years and obeyed all your commands, but you never threw a party for me. But when this son of yours comes home, after wasting all your money, you throw him a feast!”

The father’s response? “Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate because your brother was lost and is now found.”

The older brother did not repent. He stayed outside, refusing to join the celebration. Though he was always with the father, he did not understand his true identity. He saw himself as a servant who had to work to earn the father’s love, instead of a beloved son who already had everything.

Sonship

Which Character Do You Identify With?

Are you like the religious leaders in the story, thinking you have no need of repentance? Are you like the sheep or the coin, who simply let themselves be found? Are you like the younger son, who comes to his senses and returns to the love of the Father? Or are you like the older brother, stuck outside, believing you need to earn what is already yours?

Regardless of who you identify with, the message is clear: you are loved, you are valuable, you never lost your sonship.

God’s Unchanging Love for You

Repentance is not about beating yourself up, feeling guilty, or trying to earn God’s forgiveness. It’s about coming to your senses and realizing who you truly are. God has never left you. You’ve never lost your value. You are always welcome to return, not as a servant but as a beloved child.

Repent – Metanoia – Change your mind. To learn more from Doug about true repentance, watch his Gan TV, Freedom From Religious Bondage – True Repentance – EP04

See yourself as God sees you. Don’t listen to the voice of religion that tells you to work for your identity. Be the sheep who lets himself be carried, the coin that is found, the son who comes home to a loving embrace.

This is repentance: letting go of the false identity religion has given you and resting in the truth that you are one with Christ, fully loved, and already at home with your Father.

Amen.

Supernatural Life

 

 

 

 

Newsletter

Related stories

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments