Rom 8-Abba Father-4-privileges-2

| Abba Father – Part 4Some More Privileges of Sonship! Romans 8:14-17

February 4, 2007  (New Century Version) 14The true children of God are those who let God’s Spirit lead them. 15The Spirit we received does not make us slaves again to fear; it makes us children of God. With that Spirit we cry out, “Father.” 16And the Spirit himself joins with our spirits to say we are God’s children. 17If we are God’s children, we will receive blessings from God together with Christ. (English Standard Version) 14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry,  “Abba! Father!” 16The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ.  PRAY Scripture Memory:You did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15 (NIV) Clarification:☞ Adoption implies Sonship. Sonship is used generically.Intro: We are Sons and Daughters of GOD! (v. 16)God cherishes us as a father and a mother does their child. God, who is love, sets His infinite love in motion to cherish with love such persons who in themselves are hateful, despicable, and condemnable. This love is not generated by the desirability of the object, but it originates within Himself, being desirous to love and to love specific individuals.  (Wilhelmus à Brakel)3The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. (Jer. 31:3 – NIV)3Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ  (Eph. 2:3-4 – NIV) Last Week:1. How God is like our human fathers2. How the Holy Spirit impacts God’s children This Week and next:The difference it makes to be a child of God☞ Six truths regarding the covenant of grace, to which we are heirs: Next Week:☞ Four truths for those who know God as Abba, Father:☞ Four differences it should make that we are heirs of all things:Last week we looked at this from the perspective of how God the Father and God the Holy Spirit treat us as dearly loved children.This week we want to look at who WE are in light of being heirs of the Covenant of Grace, and how it should impact us.Next week we will look at who we are, in light of all that we have been learning about adoption. The Covenant of Works – Obey God perfectly and live. Disobey Him and die.The Covenant of Grace – Between God the Father and God the Son – Obey God perfectly and then pay the penalty we earned. Six truths regarding the covenant of grace, to which we are heirs:As heirs, God’s children are also heirs of all the benefits of the covenant of grace.1.       This inheritance can never perish, spoil or fade. (1 Peter 1:4 (NIV) – It is an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.)☞  It can never perish – It is eternalHebrews 9:15 (NIV) – Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance.(NCV) Those who are called by God can now receive the blessings he has promised, blessings that will last forever. Warranties / Guarantees…There is no end to this inheritance.☞  It can never spoilSome people like to refrain from using new things so that they will remain new…It will never “go bad”☞  It can never fadeIt will not be boring.Like a work of art that just keeps on getting better…  2.    This inheritance is God Himself Lamentations 3:24 (NLT) – I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” ☞  We each have within us a “God shaped vacuum.”☞  Our desire to be reunited with loved ones… 3.     This inheritance is incomprehensible and inexpressible. (Kid’s outline: impossible to really understand)2 Corinthians 12:4 – Paul heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell. (NIV) (NLT) things so astounding that they cannot be told1 Corinthians 2:9 (NLT) – That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”  |   | ☞    No one can comprehend this unless he has enjoyed, at least in some measure, what it will be when the soul, with full satisfaction, will enjoy God in an immediate sense. (à Brakel) ☞    Like describing color to a person who was born completely blind or music to one who… 4.    Because of the Covenant of Grace we are given His name; ☞  Christian ☞  Doors open when people know our folks…John 16:23 – In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.  5.    Because of the Covenant of Grace we receive the spirit of adoption (v. 15) (ESV) You have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry,  “Abba! Father!”☞  No longer are we orphans. No longer do we need to PROVE that we deserve to be in God’s family… 6.    Because of the Covenant of Grace we have access to the throne of grace with boldnessHebrews 4:16 – (NLT) So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it. ☞  It is a great privilegeWhat a privilege it would be to have access to the President of the United States.What a privilege it would be to have access even to some minor gov’t officials…This is SO MUCH MORE amazing than we tend to think…☞  God is pleased when we call upon Him in our weakness and struggle. – It is throne of GRACEHe is pleased with their childlike complaints and their taking refuge to Him.Matthew 18:3 – Unless you turn from your sins and become as little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.☞  We are enabled to cry, “Abba, Father.”Ø  We now have the ability to cry “Abba, Father.”Before, when we were dead in [our] transgressions and sins (Romans 2:1)... Before we had hearts of stone. Now we have hearts of flesh. (Ezekiel 11:19)Ø  We now have the confidence to cry “Abba, Father.”Before, to enter into the presence of God would be to be ruined (Isaiah 6:5). To enter into His Presence is to have your deepest, darkest secrets revealed.Ø  We now have the right (privilege) to cry “Abba, Father.”Before to see God was to die…Exodus 33:20 – God said to Moses: “no one may see me and live.” Summary / Review:As heirs of God, God’s children are also heirs of all the benefits of the covenant of grace. This is an inheritance that just keeps getting better and better. It NEVER goes backwards. It is bound up in God, Himself and is therefore beyond our wildest imagination.We now bear his Name and have “the spirit of adoption, by which we can come to Him boldly, confidently, knowing that He delights to have us come to Him as any father delights to have his children come to him. A Truth to Remember: If we have embraced Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, then, by the Covenant of Grace, we are now legally and irrevocably adopted as children of God and co-heirs with Christ. A Challenge to Consider: Do you delight to come into God’s Presence as He delights to have you come, or do you tend to take that awesome privilege for granted? |