We read in Romans 8:15, For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. (KJV)
There are two kinds of spirits that are mentioned in the verse above, one is the spirit that makes us a slave, and the other the Spirit of adoption that gives us the right to call God our ‘Abba Father’ thereby making us sons and daughters of God. In this series that we studied through the year, we have pondered on how we can be freed from every form of bondage in our lives, which we realized was God’s will for each one of us. In order to be set free from these enslavements, we need the Spirit of God, without whose help no one can be delivered.
God created man as the crown of His creation, for He made man to be the ruler over all that He created. Man was also made in the likeness and image of God. We must therefore remember that irrespective of how we appear, we are all created by God in His image and likeness.
When we read the genealogy of Jesus as recorded in Luke 3:38, Kenan was the son of Enosh. Enosh was the son of Seth. Seth was the son of Adam. Adam was the son of God. (NLT)
In the above mentioned verse we note that Adam is referred to as the son of God, because God had created Adam in His own image and likeness. However, when Adam disobeyed God, he became a slave, because he chose to obey Satan, and disobeyed the command of God. Adam decided to believe the lie of the enemy, rather than the truth that God had spoken to him.
However, God out of His bounteous love did not want to abandon man to slavery, but determined to restore this fallen man back to the status of being His son. God did this by coming down as a man, dying on the cross for all of our sins, being buried, and rising again on the third day and going up into heaven. He purchased our redemption by His death, and gave the authority for all who accepted this salvation to be called the sons of God. Not only did he adopt us as His own, He also sent the Holy Spirit to live inside of us so we can witness and proclaim this message to everyone.
God longs for us to be His children, which implies that He wishes that we live His way, and reflect Him in everything. Jesus set an example for us by living the life that was totally pleasing to God the Father, and when we follow in His footsteps we declare to the world that we are indeed the children of God.
There are those even today who find it hard to obey the truth of God’s word, but rather prefer to live by the lies that the people of the world pour out on them, and have thereby become slaves.
What differentiates a slave from a son?
The characteristics of a slave
1. A slave values possessions over relationships
Jesus told this parable in Luke 15:11-12, And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. (ESV)
Here was the younger son who valued his father’s property over his relationship with his father.
A slave is one who is so obsessed with material possession and worldly things that he treats with contempt all other relationships. God has entrusted finances and resources to all of us, but the question is are our eyes are fixed on these worldly things or are they set on God who is the giver of all these good things? While a slave is consumed with the riches of this world, a son is captivated with his love for his father. We are children of God only when our love for Him far exceeds our love for the things of this world.
Job is a fine example of a son, who loved God more than all that he possessed. Therefore when he lost all of his worldly belongings, and all of his children, he could still say with confidence in Job 1:21, The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” (ESV)
Our prayers are good indicators if we are sons or slaves. If all of our prayers are directed towards ourselves, our personal needs, and our families, we are still living like slaves. On the other hand is we are sons and daughters of God, our prayers and longing should be that we be more like our Father in heaven, with longing to fulfill His purposes for our lives.
2. A slave will rebel against authority and separate
We read in Luke 15:13, "After a few days, the younger son gathered his possessions and left for a country far away from home.... (GW)
The younger son pretended to stay on for a few more days, gathered all of his possessions and then went away to a distant country. He decided to go far away so that he is not subject to his father’s control and authority. The younger son, went far away and squandered all of the property in reckless living, and thereby lost all that was his.
A slave will always rebel against authority, and will choose to break away to live on his own. He does not like discipline, and will not be willing to take rebuke. A father is one who must love his children, but a good father will also discipline his children. Many children are not aware of the blessings that God has bestowed on them in the form of their parents, the love they receive at home, and the joy of a family, until they lose all of it. By deciding to rebel, the consequence that many face is that they forfeit the blessings that are meant to be theirs.
3. A slave is self-seeking
We read in Luke 15:13, There he wasted everything he had on a wild lifestyle. (GW)
A slave is one who like the prodigal is only concerned about himself, and lives to satisfy the carnal pleasures and desires of his life.
4. A slave will blame situations for his problems
We read in Luke 15:14, And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. (ESV)
After the prodigal son spent all that he had, there was a severe famine in the country, and he began to be in need. The famine could have been an excuse for the younger son to think that the reason for his deplorable condition was also the fact that the entire country was struck with a severe famine, which placed everyone else in a similar predicament.
Many people justify all of the problems that they are posed with, as something that is natural instead of analyzing to see what the real reasons are. The Lord has promised in Psalm 91:7, Thousands shall fall at thy side and ten thousands at thy right hand, but it shall not come near thee. (JUB) There will be a distinctive difference between those who the children of God and those who are not. So when encountered with troublesome situations, it would be wise to do a self-check instead of justifying it as an unavoidable cause.
5. A slave will not repent but will cover his faults
We read in Luke 15:15, “So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.” (ESV)
Though the son was now faced with an arduous situation, he still did not see the need to change his ways, but tried to find a job, so that somehow he could tide over his troubles. He even forgot who he was, and had come to the position of being willing to feed pigs.
A slave is one who will not accept their fault, justifies their wrong doing, and has no mind to change, and therefore experiences no transformation in his or her life.
Let us compare this with Adam, to see how similar he was to the prodigal son.
1. Adam too did not really value or comprehend the great relationship he had with God. He was the son of God made in His image and likeness, but forfeited it so carelessly.
2. He could not obey the simple command that God gave him, to not eat of the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
3. He believed the lies of the Serpent, and thought he could attain a far greater position than the one he already had.
4. When God confronted him, instead of accepting his fault, he blamed his wife Eve for his disobedience.
5. He finally took fig leaves to cover up his sin and shame, trying to hide himself from the very presence of God.
Adam too, like the prodigal son, lost his prominence as a son, and became a slave and the consequence was that all of mankind also became a slave to sin.
Many people get addicted to so many habits, only because they too believe Satan’s lie, who craftily portrays evil as good. For Adam there was no choice to regain his position, but because Jesus came into this world to redeem us, we are now given the option to change our position from being a slave to Satan, to becoming the sons and daughters of God.
The characteristics of a Son
1. A son is one who builds his family name
The Hebrew word for son is ‘Ben’. It refers to one whose goal is to build up his family name. A good son will never do anything that will bring disrepute or dishonor to his family.
That is why Jesus taught in Matthew 6:9 This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven: May your holy name be honored; (GNB) Jesus came down to the earth and lived a life of complete obedience to His Father in heaven, and honored Him by leading a sinless life.
Jesus set us an example, to encourage us that we too can live exactly the way He did. That should be our longing and desire to be more like Jesus that as children of God the holy name of our Father in heaven should be glorified through our lives.
2. A son respects the authority of the Father
We read in John 12:50, And I know that his command brings eternal life. What I say, then, is what the Father has told me to say." (GNB)
Jesus lived in total surrender and submission to the authority of His Father in heaven. Though He was with God from the beginning, and was one with the Father, yet He submitted to the authority of the Father, and only spoke those things that the Father commanded Him to speak.
As children in the home you are called to respect, and be in submission to the authority of your parents, and if one fails to do so, you are no longer a son or a daughter, but a slave. We must ask the Lord to check out all those areas where we are not in submission to those in authority, and be willing and humble to submit ourselves to every authority God has placed over us.
3. A son is a co-worker with the Father
We read in John 5:17 Jesus replied to them, "My Father is working right now, and so am I." (GW)
Jesus was a co-worker with His Father, and He worked alongside of Him here on earth. A slave will work for a wage, but a son will work willingly for His Father. A true son or daughter will have the sense of ownership, and do things heartily and willingly.
4. A son understands the will of his Father
Jesus said in John 6:38, “For I am come down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” (ASV)
Jesus was explicit that the purpose He had come down from heaven was not to do His own will, but the will of the Father who sent Him.
A true son will understand the will of God, and seeks to fulfill it in his life, just like Jesus did. So also a good earthly son, is one who will be obedient to do what his parents desire for him to do.
5. A son is led by the Spirit
In Matthew 4:1 we read, “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.” (ASV)
Even when He was faced with temptations, Jesus was led by the Spirit of God. He overcame the evil one because He was led by the Spirit and not by the flesh.
A son is one who is led by the Holy Spirit of God, and not one who is misguided by his flesh.
It’s really simple that if we have the characteristics of a son, then we are the children of God. If on the contrary we have the characteristics of a slave, we are still in bondage. The good news however is that if one is a slave, they need not be there in the same position for Jesus came to end the slavery, and transform us to be His sons and daughters.
That is why we read in John 1:12, But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, (ESV)
Jesus came for that very purpose that those who receive Him and believe in His name, He gives the authority or right to become sons and daughters of God.
In conclusion we read Galatians 4:7, So then, you are no longer a slave but a child. And since you are his child, God will give you all that he has for his children. (GNB)
As children of God, we will honor the Lord, will have no need for fear or worry because our Father is with us. Let us be freed from every form of enslavement, live as children of God, and not as slaves. We have the blessed assurance that when we live as God’s children, He will give to us all that He has in store for those who are called to be His sons and daughters.
Rev. F. Andrew Dixon
www.goodnewsfriends.net
Transcribed by: Sis. Esther Collins
