"Knowing"

Scriptural Text: Romans 8:16

Message: “Knowing”

In In Search of Myself, D. R. Davies says, “I found myself in finding God. What I was searching for was my own identity, and without knowing it my search was for God.”

Introduction

Genesis 3:5 (ESV) 5For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Therefore, innately we all know right from wrong, however...

(1) Ignorant of facts; ignorant of Evil; Not knowing the future

You do not know what a day may bring forth (Prov. 27:1); you do not know whether morning or evening sowing will prosper (Eccles. 11:6); he does not know what is to be (Eccles. 8:7); you do not know about tomorrow (Jas. 4:14); I do not know the day of my death (Gen. 27:2); man does not know his time (Eccles. 9:12); man heaps up and does not know who will gather (Ps. 39:6

As a result, we humans, God’s creation, have taken many paths to find hope, prosperity, love, fulfillment, and meaning for your exist. God knows our journey!

Thus, He has given us away out, rather than being just His creation, but also become a child of God.

People become God’s children through faith and are then encouraged by Scripture to imitate their heavenly Father in their daily living.

Becoming God’s children through faith in Jesus Christ (Jn 1:12-13 Jn 12:36; Ro 9:8; Ga 3:26; 1 Jn 5:1)

Becoming God’s children by new birth

John 1:12–13 (ESV) — 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Romans 9:8 (ESV) — 8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.

Becoming God’s children by adoption (Eph 1:5, Ro 8:23, Ga 4:4–5)

Ephesians 1:5 (ESV) — 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,

Romans 8:23 (ESV) — 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

Like most people, they would prefer to live a life of fullness of liberty rather than bondage, of purpose rather than aimlessness. The same is true of spiritual life.

Living in the Spirit as we ought involves:—

Living in the Good of the Family (Romans 8:14-17)

Surrendering to the Spirit control and domination, whether in the form of negative or positive experience (Act 16:6-7).

Note: When they accepted this call as from the Spirit, everything quickly fell into place and they arrived in the place of God’s choosing to fulfill the task of reaching the people for Christ.

Point: Picture of Life in the Spirit: This interplay of the human spirit and the indwelling Spirit:

the human spirit without the penetration of the Holy Spirit is limited to an experience of partial fulfillment and unrealized potential.

This penetrating ministry called by Paul “the Spirit Himself bearing witness with our spirit,” has to do with the impregnating of the human spirit with the realization of all that is involved in being “children of God.”

The believer, the christian, the disciple is confirmed that he or she are children of God.

Media Slide: Romans 8:16-17

The privileges and blessings of being God’s children

God’s children are eternally secure (Jn 8:35, Ro 8:16; Ro 8:21; 1 Jn 5:19)

Romans 8:16 (ESV) — 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

Romans 8:21 (ESV) — 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

1 John 5:19 (ESV) — 19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

The needs of God’s children are always supplied (Mt 7:9–11, Mt 6:25–32 ; Lk 20:36; Ro 8:23)

Matthew 7:9–11 (ESV) — 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Matthew 6:25–32 (ESV) — 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on... 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.

Luke 20:36 (ESV) — 36 for they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.

Romans 8:23 (ESV) — 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

God’s children have a sure inheritance (Re 21:7, See also Je 3:19; Ro 8:17–19; Ga 4:7; 1 Jn 3:2)

Revelation 21:7 (ESV) — 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

Jeremiah 3:19 (ESV) — 19 “ ‘I said, How I would set you among my sons, and give you a pleasant land, a heritage most beautiful of all nations. And I thought you would call me, My Father, and would not turn from following me.

Romans 8:17–19 (ESV) — 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.

Galatians 4:7 (ESV) — 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

1 John 3:2 (ESV) — 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

FELLOW HEIRS BY RESPONSIBILITY (Mt. 25:23; Lu. 12:42-44, 22:28-29; Mt. 25:21,23; Lu. 19:17,19; Re. 20:4, 22:5)

Therefore, we share in the inheritance of His responsibility. We receive …

• rulership over many things (Mt. 25:23).

• the right to rule and hold authority (Lu. 12:42–44; 22:28–29).

• eternal responsibility and joy (Mt. 25:21, 23).

• rule and authority over cities (Lu. 19:17, 19).

• thrones and the privilege of reigning forever (Re. 20:4; 22:5).