From Paupers To Princes

From Paupers to Princes

March 18, 2018 Morning Service

Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK

Rick Boyne

Message Point: We are adopted sons and daughters of the Most High King; let’s act like it.

Focus Passage: 1 John 3:1-10

Supplemental Passage: because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY." (1 Peter 1:16 NASB)

Introduction: Imagine that the King of a Country made a decree that in his land there was a blanket pardon extended to all prostitutes. Would that be good news to you if you were a prostitute? Of course it would!

No longer would you have to live fearing the law. No longer would you have a criminal record; all past offenses are wiped off the books. So the pardon would definitely be good news.

But would it be any motivation at all for you to change your life style? No, not a bit. But let’s go a little further with that illustration. Let’s say that not only is a blanket pardon extended all who have practiced prostitution, but the king has asked you, in particular, to become his bride.

What happens when a prostitute marries a king? She becomes a queen. Now would you have a reason for a change of lifestyle? Absolutely! It doesn’t take a genius to realize that the lifestyle of the queen is several levels superior to that of a prostitute. No woman in her right mind would go back to the previous life.

As long as only half of the gospel continues to be taught, we’re going to continue producing Christians who are very thankful that they will not be judged for their sins, but who have no significant self-motivation to change their behavior. That’s why so many leaders have to use the hammer of the law and suffocating peer pressure to keep people in line.

But what is the Church called in the New Testament? The Bride of Christ! The gospel message is in effect a marriage proposal. [Bob George, Classic Christianity, Harvest House, 1989, Pages 72-3.]

I. Children of the Most High God

a. Adopted

i. He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, (Ephesians 1:5 NASB)

ii. The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. (Romans 8:16-17 NASB)

b. Born-again

i. Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3 NASB)

ii. Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. "Do not be amazed that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' (John 3:5-7)

c. Redeemed

i. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise. (Galatians 3:29 NASB)

ii. Because Christ offered himself to God, he is able to bring a new promise from God. Through his death he paid the price to set people free from the sins they committed under the first promise. He did this so that those who are called can be guaranteed an inheritance that will last forever. (Hebrews 9:15 GW)

II. True Children Practice Righteousness

a. In Him there is no sin (vs 5)

b. because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY." (1 Peter 1:16 NASB)

i. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23 NASB)

c. Evidence of being a child of God: (vs 10)

i. practice righteousness

ii. love your brother

III. Untrue Children Practice Unrighteousness

a. The one who practices sin is of the devil (vs 8)

i. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21)

b. Evidence of being a child of the devil: (vs 10)

i. practice sin

ii. does not love your brother

Application/Invitation: “If you can live in sin and the Holy Spirit is not troubling you, I don’t care how many times you have been baptized or how many churches you’ve joined, you are not saved.”—Charles Stanley

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37-39 NASB)