PREVAILING PROOFS OF A REAL FAITH
God continually reminds of who we are in Christ: no longer in Adam. Behavior depends on seeing and recognizing who you are and the basic facts of your idenity. Backwards today: act first and then believe. Paul has been leading us step by step to understand more fully our new identity in Jesus Christ.
Sons of God – not everyone is a son. Happens by faith in Jesus. We are all creatures of God by natural birth(Paul in Acts 17 ‘offspring of God’) very different word used in Romans ‘the family of God’ REMINDS US OF WHOSE FAMILY WE ARE!
1. AN UPWARD PATH (14) For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
a. Am I being led by the Spirit of God? Is there a progress with purpose in my life. Not am I getting grayer, making more money, kids getting older but am I getting farther along in God’s plan in my life.
1) ‘brought along, caught along’ obviously following. Under control of a being other than yourself. Circumstances, experiences, reactions
2) Since conversion am I consciously aware of God’s leadership? Building principles, developing character, establishing purpose, integrity, devotion to God, discipline in godly areas?
MOUNTAIN CLIMBER’S CHARTED PATH: detours, sideways & downward slips but an overall view of progress. 1 Tim 4:15 ‘Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your PROGRESS will be evident to all’ THESE THINGS? 4:12-13 ‘speech, conduct, love, faith, purity, attention to Scripture, spiritual gift.
2 COR 5:17 ‘If any man is in Christ he is a new creature, the old things have past away, behold new things have come’.
b. I’m sure I will go to heaven: ‘I never really pray(emergencys), never really spend time reading my Bible, witness? Scares me to death!, haven’t really served in the church, don’t actually give, certainly don’t tithe, been to church but can’t say I have every really done what some people call worshiping God(WARNING SIGNS
c. Spirit-Led lives go deeping into God’s Word, have increasingly more intimate fellowship, advance in prayer, have purposeful service, are obedient in stewardship issues.
Q-When I read the Scriptures am I taught by the Spirit: opens our minds(Lk 24 He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures) SO excited couldn’t sit still/not remember any sermons before 1979, age 20 ½/
Q-Has the Bible every actually lept out at you? God spoke out of His word for me to 1) go to seminary(Jer 29:11-13), Salvation(Isa 64:6), Pastor specific church(Col 1:25), Sin issues in my life(1 Sam 12:20-22), My ministry assurance(Ps 63:2)
Q-Do you have an awakened love for other believers? A special bond?
PRISON DOCUMENTARY: Race riots, hate groups, know us by our love not a big church but a small city, community, lives interacting for purposes of God.
Sons – ‘show maturity by acting like sons’ not a child
*God doesn’t drive His sheep ‘My sheep hear My voice and they follow Me’
2. AN OUTWARD PROFESSION(15) For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!’
a. A NEW SPIRIT: of boldness: not of slavery leading to fear spirit of bondage, never sure about salvation. Fear of death(SF Bible Study)
Slavery – prevented from freely possessing and enjoying life
Fear – running away, fleeing
2 Tim 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Spirit of adoption: comfort of knowing I was chosen. Not a cowering slave but a loved Son. Amazement of a Jew who refused to even write name of God or speak it. ‘Daddy’ Aramaic word for father. Baby’s word!
1) Born again vrs Adoption? Highlight two very different aspects of our
Situation.
a) Adopted:
(1) Two Reminders:
(a) chosen,
(b) not naturally a part of God’s family, by old nature we are not and left ourselves we would have never been
(2) legally made sons of God with all it’s benefits
ADOPTION: being placed as adult son In Roman culture adopted person lost all rights in his old family and gained all in new. Same as legitimate child. All previous debts and other obligations are eradicated as if they never existed. A ROMAN FATHER, if he had male children never referred to them as his sons until they were of age(14). When they became of age he took them down to the public forum and there they were publically adopted and thereafter considered his heirs. From then on they participated in the Father’s business and shared in his inheritance.
Neighbor kids: not saving for their college: watch out for, friendship with, help with but own kids hurt for them, protect them, plan f or them, Special Relationship
b) Born Again: Actually partake of His divine nature
b. A NEW MESSAGE: Cry out…shout it from the housetops With how many people have you gone on record for your faith(not bumper sticker, T-shirt, cross around neck, but verbally on record?) MT 10:32-33 If you confess Me before men I will also confess you before My Father Who is in heaven. Ready to make a defense of the hope that lies within you…feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace……do the work of an evangelist…..I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes….how shall they believe if they haven’t heard and how shall they hear without _________
3. AN INWARD PEACE(16) The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, (17) 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.
MOM and daughter ritual….guests….stiff as board…mommy lie down on the inside. Some people have an outward suggestion of relationship but lack inward rest)
a. IN OUR RELATIONSHIP: Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.
1) Strip away: church membership, experience(religious), good life, desire to be saved(Rich young ruler), Other’s testimony(mother), works(mormons, JW) Holy Spirit right now assuring inwardly with supernatural peace?
b. IN OUR RESOURSES: And if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ,
1) Heirs: heirs get bits and pieces but fellow-heirs own it all together.
2) This inheritance we can use right now: Leave instructions? Sends the Holy Spirit to directs us in using the resourse He gives.
c. IN OUR RESURRECTION: if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
1) glorified with Him speaks of our resurrection. We all look forward to a that day but today we carry out the gospel to a hostile generation. We are in a spiritual battle and our enemies are many and powerful. No soldier ever fought without hardship somehow our theology has allowed us to believe we should be pampered by the world instead of empowered by the gospel.
PHIL 1:29 – for it has been granted to us not only to believe on Him but also to suffer for His sake…….the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance…..I have fought the good fight, kept the faith, finished the course.
a) History has demonstrated that hatred for Jesus has often resulted in terrible persecutions of his co-heirs. We too often want to share His glory but not his pain.
HEBREWS11: who through faith obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle,…others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, THAT THEY MAY OBTAIN A BETTE RESURRECTION.
NORTH KOREAN SOLDIER: traveled on sea to S. Korea, imprisoned, pastor of largest S. Baptist(2,000 seat, 3 service), went to visit, glad to see, STORY OF FAMILY buried in order, what did they have? Compare that to I may go to church today or…., I may give or not, Witness? People might disagree with me, I HAVE A LIFE TOO GOD!
