We Are Sons of God

In this lesson we look at how we should view ourselves as sons of God.   Why we are not "sinners saved by grace".

Watch the Video

Scriptures:

• Galatians 3:6-9, 23-29
• Romans 9:25-32
• John 3:16-18
• Galatians 4:1-7
• Hebrews 1:13-14
• 1 Peter 1:3-5
• John 15:7
• 1 Corinthians 6:2-3
• Revelations 2:25-27

• Romans 8:18-25

Sons of God

We have looked at all of the “sons of God”, and the failings of the first sons of God

• Adam
• Fallen Angels
• Nation of Israel

We also looked at the creation and fall of the Tower of Babel in Babylon

• The Mystery Religion

These were the events that got the world into its current sinful state.

We studied the New Babylon that the book Revelation tells us will be in power at the end time:

• Some of its traits
• Some of the methods that will be used to establish this New World Order

These focused on the problem.

Last week we looked at God’s solution of sending His son Jesus.

The first few lessons may have concerned you.  Today's lesson is intended to empower you.

And this week, we see the second part of that solution which is Jesus’s bride...the Church.  We are the sons of God.

Review of Jesus: Son of God

• We saw that Jesus replaced Israel
• Israel was called to be “a light” unto the Gentiles
• They were supposed to lead them to God
• Jesus was called “the light” and He allowed Gentiles to have eternal life
• Israel was called “the vine” but God said they became “wild vines”
• Jesus is the “true vine” and we are His branches
• Israel spent 40 years in the wilderness because they doubted God
• Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness in preparation for His ministry
• Israel had 12 tribes; Jesus got 12 disciples
• Both Jesus and Israel were called “my son” by God when they left Egypt
• The fallen angels called “sons of God” mating with the daughters of man introduced demons into the world
• Jesus came and displayed dominion over the demons and gave the same authority to His disciples
• We saw that the Tower of Babel caused the language to be confused
• Jesus sent the Holy Spirit at Pentecost which reversed the Tower of Babel by introducing the universal tongue of the Holy Spirit which was understood by all nations

Christians are the “sons of God” that we will study today.

Who is a Son of God?

Gentiles Share in Abraham’s Blessing

Galatians 3:6-9, 23-29

6Even so Abraham BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.

• Abraham’s faith in God let him be considered righteous

7Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham.

8The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU.” 9So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.

• When God said “All the nations will be blessed in you” it foreshadowed the fact that the Gentiles would also be included in salvation
• It is our faith that brings us salvation

…

23But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed.

• We were kept in custody under the law
• Custody means that you're being held awaiting judgment
• We were waiting to be judged on Judgement Day
• We committed the sins but were not yet judged and convicted of them
• After a certain period the authorities have to either convict you of a crime or release you

24Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. 25But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

• We were justified (made right) by our faith
• Justice was served
• You have served your time
• Through faith we have served our time
• We didn't get convicted for our crimes against God
• But we get convicted by the Holy Spirit

26For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

• We are now called “sons of God”

27For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.

• Gentiles have become “sons of God”
• It’s your faith in Christ Jesus that makes you a child of God
• Whether
• Male or female
• Slave or free
• Regardless of social status
• Jew or non-Jew
• regardless of ethnicity
• We have become righteous through faith

Romans 9:25-32

25As He says also in Hosea,

           “I WILL CALL THOSE WHO WERE NOT MY PEOPLE, ‘MY PEOPLE,’

           AND HER WHO WAS NOT BELOVED, ‘BELOVED.’”

     26“AND IT SHALL BE THAT IN THE PLACE WHERE IT WAS SAID TO THEM, ‘YOU ARE NOT MY PEOPLE,’

           THERE THEY SHALL BE CALLED SONS OF THE LIVING GOD.”

     27Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, “THOUGH THE NUMBER OF THE SONS OF ISRAEL BE LIKE THE SAND OF THE SEA, IT IS THE REMNANT THAT WILL BE SAVED; 28FOR THE LORD WILL EXECUTE HIS WORD ON THE EARTH, THOROUGHLY AND QUICKLY.”

29And just as Isaiah foretold,

           “UNLESS THE LORD OF SABAOTH [host] HAD LEFT TO US A POSTERITY,

           WE WOULD HAVE BECOME LIKE SODOM, AND WOULD HAVE RESEMBLED GOMORRAH.”

     30What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith; 31but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law. 32 Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone,

• <so - eyes>
• Romans 9:25-33
• Not beloved -> beloved
• “You are not my People” -> Sons of the Living God
• The Jews pursued righteousness
• but could not achieve it
• The Gentiles did not pursue righteousness
• but achieved it
• They achieved it through faith
• Israel didn’t achieve it because they pursued it by works

Example: The test that only needed to be signed

• The bible is our instructions
• Both sets of students studied
• It’s good it be prepared
• the moral isn’t that we shouldn’t do good works
• That’s just not what you’re graded on
• You are graded on your faith
• One group trusted in their own ability
• One group trusted in the words

The Problem with Salvation Through  Works

• The second group wasn’t sure if they passed or not
• They tried to achieve through their works
• Always in a state of not knowing if you’re really saved
• You secretly hope it’s graded on a curve

Salvation by works is faith in works

• Faith in works is faith in yourself

If you don’t believe that Jesus’ death was enough to save you then what is your faith in?

• Was Jesus’ death sufficient?
• Does Jesus need to die again?
• Jesus’ death is sufficient for the sins of the: past, present and future

We don’t fully accept and understand the extent of God’s grace.

If we did we would want to be righteous because of His grace.

John 3:16-18

16“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17“For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18“He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

• He who believes in Jesus is not judged
• Whoever believes in Him will have eternal life
• There is no
• unless you
• except for
• until you

Whoever believes in Him will have eternal life with Jesus

Son vs Slave

Galatians 4:1-7

1Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, 2but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father. 3So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. 4But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.

• We were in bondage under the law until Jesus came
• We are no longer slaves
• We are no longer under bondage to the consequences of the law
• The consequences of sin is death
• That was true before there was a law
• That was true for Abraham
• But that’s different than the consequences of the law
• Jesus abolished the consequences of the law
• E.g. getting stoned to death, blood sacrifices
• The law said you'd be put to death for
• Adultery
• Homosexuality
• Seeing a psychic
• Sleeping with a woman and her mother
• Worshipping other gods
• That doesn't mean that we aren't expected to follow the law
• Adopted into grace from the law
• We were adopted into God's family
• We are heirs to the kingdom
• We are no longer slaves

Son vs Slave

• Both slaves and children do work/chores
• A slave will lose his status if he doesn’t work
• Slaves work because they are afraid of the consequences
• Some were slaves because they owed a debt
• Disobedient children work because of they don’t want negative consequence
• Responsible children work because they understand their role as part of the family
• We shouldn’t do the work because we fear the punishment
• “I do good works  because I am a Christian”
• That’s what Christians do
• I am righteous because this is who I am

We were bought with a cost

• Jesus’ blood
• We weren’t bought into slavery; He bought our freedom

What makes you someone’s son or daughter?

• You are a son because your relationship to your Father

• Not because you do your chores

Reaching Maturity

You can be a mature son or an immature son

Brushing Your Teeth

• As a child you brushed your teeth because you were told to.
• Why do you brush your teeth now?
• You brush your teeth because you are a sanitary person.
• You are not filthy or dirty.
• You have good hygene
• That's what grown folks do

When you are a child in the faith you follow the law because you were told to.

• When you're mature we follow it because of who we are

Story: You are a Loritz man

This is the difference between a mature son and an immature son

• How do you view yourself?

Coming of Age

A child is under restriction under he reaches maturity

• We need to come of age to be mature sons of God

Hebrews 1:13-14

13To which of the angels did God ever say,

“Sit at my right hand

until I make your enemies

a footstool for your feet”g ?

14Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

• Angel's are supposed to minister to and serve us
• The angels are the servants of the house/kingdom

When the son is a child the servants are given the duty to protect you.

• To guide you

What is the relation between the child and the servant once the child comes mature?

• The servant becomes subject to the mature son.

Our Inheritance

1 Peter 1:3-5

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

• You have an inheritance waiting in Heaven
• Children get an inheritance
• It’s not a reward
• It’s not something you earn
• You will be rewarded for your good works
• But there is also an inheritance just for being a son!!
• And the inheritance is what Paul was looking forward to

3 Levels of Living

1. You live with the curse.
1. You work for something and you don't get it
2. Sowing and reaping.
1. You get what was planted.
3. Blessing or inheritance
1. You get what someone else work for.
2. Favor
3. This is the level of the mature son of God

In the Garden of Eden, Adam didn’t have to plant or till the land

God cursed the ground as punishment for Adam’s sin

Jesus removed the curse of Adam

• Jesus put us back to the level of blessing

When you become a mature son you move from sowing and reaping into blessings

John 15:7

"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

Justice is getting what you deserve

• Mercy is not getting what you deserve

Ruling With Christ

1 Corinthians 6:2-3

2Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? 3Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life?

• Who are the saints?
• We are saints
• We will judge or govern angels

Revelations 2:25-27

25‘Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come. 26‘He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS; 27AND HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON, AS THE VESSELS OF THE POTTER ARE BROKEN TO PIECES, as I also have received authority from My Father;

• Jesus inherits the earth
• We share in His inheritance
• Jesus is King of Kings

• He is the King over some kings
• Who are the kings over which he is king?
• Us
• We will rule under the authority of Jesus

Who Will We Rule Over?

Romans8:18-21

18For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. 20For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

• All creation waits for us to come into maturity
• Angels, animals, aliens
• Those in the millennium

Conclusion

Sinner Saved By Grace

• Sinner saved by grace
• You produce what you are

Tom Brady example

• Just because you will lose in the future you are not a loser
• You lose sometimes; You’re not a loser
• You’re a winner who sometimes loses
• Losers accept loss as normal
• A winner is expected to win
• Even though you will sin, you’re not a sinner
• You’re a Saint who sometimes falls

You become what you imagine yourself to be

What you become is influenced by what you believe the most important person in your life thinks you are

• Parents
• Spouse
• God
• God sees things in you that you don’t see in yourself
• God doesn't see you as a sinner
• What you think

You are a Saint that sometimes falls

You get saved believing in Jesus. You get changed believing that Jesus believes in you.

Presenter: Michael Leadon

Summary

• We saw that Abraham’s faith was counted as righteousness
• We, the Gentiles, share in Abraham’s blessing even though the Gentiles weren’t pursuing righteousness
• We too were made righteous through our faith
• We too are counted as Sons of God
• We looked at the problems introduced when you believe salvation comes through work
• You are never really sure if you have done enough work
• You focus on the fact that you’ve done more or better work than some others
• It leads to judgement
• Salvation by works is faith in works which is faith in yourself
• Jesus’ death was sufficient for the sins of the past, present, and the future
• He doesn't need your help to save you
• We saw that John 3:18 states that whoever believes in Jesus will not be judged
• We looked at the difference between a slave and a son
• A slave must work to keep his status in the household
• Sons do work, but their status is based solely on their relationship with the Father
• A mature son does the work because he understands his responsibility in the household
• Not because of fear of punishment
• We saw that our inheritance is not something we earn
• It is given to us because we have been adopted into God’s family
• Although we don’t deserve it
• We examined that our view of how God sees us can impact how we see ourselves
• God sees us as who created us to be and not who we are currently
• God sees us in a better light than we see ourselves
• He sees us as sons deservant of His abundant blessings

References

Manifesting the Sons of God - Bill Winston

https://youtu.be/rr24AleI7iQ

Extra Verses

1 John 1:8-10
8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.

• If we see our sins as sins

Romans 8:12-18

12So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— 13for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15For 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!” 16The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and 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.

• Indwelled by the Holy Spirit
• Born again
• Pray to become sensitive to the Holy Spirit
• Lord and Savior
• At least be trying not to sin
• You may fall for a season

Carnal man lives by the senses

Hebrews 2:5-13

 5For He did not subject to angels the world to come, concerning which we are speaking.

6But one has testified somewhere, saying,

           “WHAT IS MAN, THAT YOU REMEMBER HIM?

           OR THE SON OF MAN, THAT YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HIM?

     7“YOU HAVE MADE HIM FOR A LITTLE WHILE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS;

           YOU HAVE CROWNED HIM WITH GLORY AND HONOR,

           AND HAVE APPOINTED HIM OVER THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS;

     8YOU HAVE PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET.”

           For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him.

 9But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.

     10For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings. 11For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,

12saying,

           “I WILL PROCLAIM YOUR NAME TO MY BRETHREN,

           IN THE MIDST OF THE CONGREGATION I WILL SING YOUR PRAISE.”

13And again,

           “I WILL PUT MY TRUST IN HIM.”

           And again,

           “BEHOLD, I AND THE CHILDREN WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN ME.”

Philippians 2:14-16

Do all things without murmurings and disputings:   That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;   Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

• Israel was supposed to be the light
• Jesus was the light
• We’re supposed to be a light

Matthew 5:9

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Luke 20:34-37

And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:   But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:   Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:42-49

42So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; 43it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45So also it is written, “The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. 47The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. 48As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. 49Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly.

1 John 3:1-3

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.   Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.   And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

• We will be in spirit when Jesus comes
• It hasn't been revealed what we shall be

Ephesians 1:3-6

3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

??

Acts 17:26-31

26From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 27God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 28‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’b As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’c

29“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. 30In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”

Salvation of the Gentiles

Ephesians 3:1-10

 1For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— 2if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you; 3that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. 4By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; 6to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, 7of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power. 8To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, 9and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; 10so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.

Above Angels

• But our newly created spirit is above the angels
• Our position in the spiritual hierarchy is above the angels
• We are below the angels while we are in our flesh bodies

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

• We are the first creatures to live in Heaven and earth at the same time
• God is able to live within us
• No other being in existence can claim this
• Not Abraham, not Joseph, not Israel,   not David