“Kingdom Kids”
Part 1
Introduction
Since Father’s Day is coming up in four weeks I thought we would take a short break from 1 John to further explore the wonder of God as our father. Fathers play a vital role in any society.
Since we explored the passage in 1 John about being children of God and having God as our father, I have given some thought to the perfect father which, by the way, NONE of us had.
• He is a rich source of genetic heritage as well as a positive model for life on this earth.
• He demonstrates unconditional love and acceptance and personal interest in me.
• His protection provides a deep sense of security.
• His presence inspires confidence and deepens relationship.
• He is a reliable source of wisdom, council and direction.
• He provides discipline and training toward growth and development.
• He continually encourages and affirms me as son or daughter.
• He offers resources and empowers to achieve goals and face obstacles.
• He secures an inheritance for the future.
• He can be counted on; dependable; faithful.
None of us had a dad that possessed all of these attributes. Some had dads who possessed some.
Others had dads who demonstrated none and actually were responsible for deep scars and difficulties carried to this very day. We do have such a Father in God. The Old Testament hinted at the concept of God as our father but Jesus most clearly presented God not only as His loving father, but ours as well. Even the prayer He taught the disciples to pray addressed God as “Our Father in heaven.” This would have been a radical departure from the accepted practice.
John clearly intended us to think about our intimate relationship with God as a Father and child. The image runs all through his gospel and especially his letter. We will explore these ten factors over the next several weeks.
1. Likeness factor
2. Unconditional love and acceptance factor
3. Protection and security factor
4. Wisdom / Council/ Direction factor
5. Encouragement / Affirmation factor
6. Discipline and training factor
7. Presence / Fellowship / Relationship factor
8. Resource / Empowering / Provision factor
9. Inheritance factor
10. Faithfulness factor
I. The Likeness Factor
A. The fact of likeness
Adam and Eve were created in God’s image.
Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." Genesis 1:26
And He answered and said, "Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE, Matthew 19:4
Adam and Eve bore certain factors of likeness with the Trinity. Scripture does not attribute such fundamental likeness to anything else in God’s creation. Every human still bear a certain likeness of God. All humans are image bearers. Sin however resulted in a mutation of God’s image; a marring; a perpetual birth defect; defective genes; polluted DNA coding passed down to all born from Adam.
Jesus entered history through supernatural birth to a virgin conceived by the Holy Spirit. Jesus posses unpolluted divine DNA. He was the model image bearer; the only begotten son!
He so reflected God’s DNA that He adamantly declared:
Jesus said* to him, "Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ’Show us the Father’? John 14:9
He is called the first among many brethren to perfectly bear the image of God.
For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; Romans 8:29
God set His heart on creating a community of like-minded, like-hearted beings to live eternally in perfect harmony and fellowship. Jesus is called the second Adam; the beginning of a new community. It would take every bit as much supernatural power to restore the image as to create it in the first place. The same word used for the original creation is used to describe the “new” creation. Paul described the sequence in Romans 8:28-30.
John 3:1-2 spoke of being called children of God.
See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God 3:1-2
Becoming a Kingdom Kid is an event, a process and a destiny.
1. EVENT
Scripture uses familiar images to try to explain what God does to make us His children.
The image of creation, new birth, and adoption communicate the wonder of the event.
a) CREATION IMAGE
The word for creation has to do with the production of something.
We take pleasure in creating something that is a reflection of ourselves.
We enjoy making something that demonstrates our creativity, talent, ingenuity, and passion.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works…Ephesians 2:8-10
Beyond the original magnificence of the original human being, God fashioned an equally magnificent masterpiece on a spiritual plane. God brought about a new creation at a point in time. At this level he is not creating but CREATED! We were created in Christ for a life of glorious reflection of the true image of God. Paul told the Corinthians the same thing.
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away (point in time); behold, he has become new (perfect). 2 Corinthians 5:17
and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created (point in time) in righteousness and holiness of the truth. Ephesians 4:24
and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— Colossians 3:10
We are God’s special children by supernatural creation. It transcends ceremony. It transcends creed. It transcends religious affiliation or nationality or race. It is a supernatural work of God.
For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. Galatians 6:15
b) BIRH IMAGE
We are also God’s special children by “birth”. I will always remember the awe of watching our children be born. Here is a life come into this world that carries my DNA. I have a similar wonder when I hold my grandchildren. I love babies but these babies have genetic connection to the rest of our family. We are a family connected by a most amazing connection. I am a blessed, proud father and grandfather.
Scripture indicates that God is equally involved in not only our creation but our new birth.
This is a connection that goes beyond delight in something you make or do or create. There is a genetic connection. He shared His divine DNA! It is that DNA that makes us his children.
Not just holding so a creed or belief. Not conforming to some moral code. It is His life infused in a previously marred image.
John 3:5-7; 1 Peter 1:3 James 1:18 1 Peter 1:23
No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 1 John 3:9
Every true child of God is the result of God’s DNA. The Greek word for “seed” here is “sperma”.
“Partaker of the divine nature” 2 Peter 1:4
What is our part in this process?
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God… John 1:11-13
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God…1 John 5:1
Only those infused with God’s DNA are called His children. He told the Pharisees that they were of their father the devil.
“futile way of life inherited from your forefather” 1 Peter 1:18-19
We were born children of Adam and children of the devil. Only God’s supernatural touch can do what is necessary to be His children.
This is a settled event also called regeneration.
washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit Titus 3:3-7
At the core of God’s kids are longings to really know and pursue deeper relationship with God.
At the core of every child of God are longings to be righteous and live righteously. Our true identity often escapes even us. We get sidetracked. We forget who we really are. We will talk later about why we struggle.
c) ADOPTION IMAGE
We are also God’s special chosen children by adoption. Creation points to the supernatural aspects. Birth speaks of the likeness connection; shared DNA. Adoption speaks of the legal aspect.
you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" Romans 8:15
that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" Galatians 4:3-7
In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, Ephesians 1:4-6
2. PROCESS
John acknowledged that even though we have been made God’s kids, we don’t always act like God’s kids and we do not perfectly reflect our true nature. For now, we only get a glimpse of what we shall be. Yet God continues to shape us. Jesus continues to cleanse us and prepare us as His bride (another endearing image).
and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— Colossians 3:10
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind Romans 12:2
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 from the Lord, the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18
God promises to finish what He started.
3. DESTINY
When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Col3:3-4
we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. 1 John 3:2
we will be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye 1 Corinthians 15:50-58
We are God’s kids. Kids bear the likeness of their Father. God implanted his glorious attributes in us. We are like Him, we are becoming like Him and we will be like Him. There is a glorious delight when you see the best of your attributes show up in your kids. Reflecting our heavenly Father’s nature brings Him glory and pleasure.
B. The struggle with Likeness
Why don’t we feel like God’s kids?
Why don’t we live like God’s kids?
John made an understatement when he said “it does not yet appear what we shall be.”
No lie!
I want to touch on six factors that contribute to this struggle.
1. Not truly converted
2. Ignorant
3. Dulled by sin
4. Forgetful
5. Neglectful
6. Disconnected
