Mulling on the Eternal - Thoughts to Edify: Bible Study - Knowing God:He Has Made Us His Children

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Blessings!

Chris

Yes we all start off as children of God. Ultimately, our goal is to grow up into Sons. Sons have the likeness of the father in character, are molded into His image, enjoy liberties that children don’t have and take a share of the inheritance.

Sons are ones who take on responsibilities and know the father’s business.

No such thing as status quo for a Christian.

1. Once Slaves

John 8:33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. (NKJV)

The Jews thought that their heritage guaranteed them salvation, which Jesus said was not true. Unless our sins are washed away, we continue to be slaves. Slaves don’t abide in the house with the Master. Only children do.

Ephesians 4:17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. (NKJV)

Slave mentality – slaves don’t have a choice. Once we didn't have a choice. Our lives were completely guided by the futility of our minds. As it were, we made our decisions without a key sense, like blind men. Bible talks about the blindness of their heart.

Our hearts were meant to be guided by God’s Spirit in us.

We were hell bound, no choice, living a life that was meaningless and futile.

John 8:36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. (NKJV)

Thank God He set us free to be guided by Him, to live a meaningful life!

2. He Made Us His Children!

Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. (NKJV)

Because of the finished work of Jesus, because of His exchange with us, taking our place, we became sons through belief. We are no longer slaves.

John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: (NKJV)

We became children. That’s just the beginning of the journey. Children must grow up.

3. But If Kids Don’t Grow…

Some characteristics you see where Christians don't grow:

1 Corinthians 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? (NKJV)

Not able to understand the deeper things of God. Pervasive envy, strife, division in the ranks. No difference from unbelievers. Can’t tell us from those outside.

James 3:16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. (NKJV)

Key feature of such people is self-seeking. Like babies.

Untruth: The world teaches self-love, self-esteem, self-actualization. It is all self-ish! Focus should be on God.

Hebrews 5:12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. (NKJV)

Unskilled in the Word of Righteousness.

4. Healthy, Growing Christians

John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (NKJV)

1 John 4:19 We love because he first loved us. (NIV)

Grow in love, especially for the brethren.

John 17:20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. (NKJV)

Grow in unity with brethren

5. Eat Right and Grow

Grow in Love - Not your love, but His love for you

Ephesians 3:17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (NKJV)

Come to know Him, come to know what love really is. What we call love is deeply perverted with all sorts of notions, so much of self, that when we start to realize His love for us, we get blown away.

Acts 20:32 “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. (NKJV)

The Word of Grace – the word that speaks of God’s unsearchable goodness to us.

6. The Heavenly Diet

Deuteronomy 11:18 “Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 19 You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 20 And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, 21 that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers to give them, like the days of the heavens above the earth. (NKJV)

Psalm 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. (NKJV)

Psalm 119: 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. (NKJV)

Proverbs 7: 1 My son, keep my words, And treasure my commands within you. (NKJV)

John 1: 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (NKJV)

God and His Word are inseparable and are manifested in Jesus our Lord. Our reading of the Word must be from the view of a relationship with Him, His love.

Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. (NKJV)

Luke 4:4 But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’ ” (NKJV)

We should “eat” God’s Word more than we eat meals. Jesus is the bread of life, not the supplement!

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (NKJV)

7. When I Grow Up…

Philippians 3:12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. (NKJV)

This side of heaven, we never finish growing up!

Galatians 4:7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. (NKJV)

We are blessed. The blessings will manifest as we grow. Some may ask if it is material wealth and some are preaching that but those who ask such are not mature. Jesus did promise that our needs will be met, that we can be stewards of the kingdom.

We start to realize more and more who He has already made us to be in the spirit, that we are righteous, holy, one with Him, filled with His glory. When we start to behold all these in the Word, scripture says:

2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. (NKJV)

All the things that are in the spirit we start to possess, the glory of the Lord manifested in our lives. We start to enjoy an increasingly deep, rich and intimate relationship with the One who created all things, God Himself.

Jesus did not promise that we would not face trials, but that we would be overcomers in this life, that we would reign.

Like a tree, like in the sower and the soil, we start to bear fruit:

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (NKJV)

These are the greatest blessings you could live in. Start to lay hold of the blessings that are in your spirit.

John 8:31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (NKJV)

Heir/inheritance. Freedom from bondage.

8. Grow to be a Son

Slaves	Sons
No relationship with Master	Intimate with Father
Cannot be like Master	Will grow to be like Father
Under law, get what they deserve	Enjoy Father’s love, rich blessings
Live in fear, don’t know God’s love	Live by faith, know God’s love
Are bound	Are truly free
No inheritance	Great inheritance
Don’t know Master’s business	Busy with Father’s business
Meaningless, deceived/defeated lives	Purposeful, overcoming lives