The sons of God

Ephesians 1:3–10 (ESV)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,

4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love

5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,

6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight

9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ

10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

Unite all things for what?

What is really all because of Adam’s sin, or was there more to the story?

Do you remember the story of Babel found in Genesis 11?

We learned about it in Sunday School.

What if I told you that there was more to the story?

Let’s check it out.

Open your bible’s to Deuteronomy 32.

The Deuteronomy 32 Worldview

This is known as the Deuteronomy 32 worldview.

The Unseen Realm by Hebrew scholar Dr. Michael Heiser.

Deuteronomy 32:1–8 (ESV)

1 “Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak, and let the earth hear the words of my mouth.

2 May my teaching drop as the rain, my speech distill as the dew, like gentle rain upon the tender grass, and like showers upon the herb.

3 For I will proclaim the name of the Lord; ascribe greatness to our God!

4 “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.

5 They have dealt corruptly with him; they are no longer his children because they are blemished; they are a crooked and twisted generation.

6 Do you thus repay the Lord, you foolish and senseless people? Is not he your father, who created you, who made you and established you?

7 Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you.

8 When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God.

The phrase, “according to the number of the sons of God” are certain angels or members of the divine council that are responsible for specific nations, whereas the Lord himself cares for Israel.

Let’s see how the NET translates it.

Deuteronomy 32:8 (NET) - When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when he divided up humankind, he set the boundaries of the peoples, according to the number of the heavenly assembly.

This is why I love both the ESV and NET Translations!

This phrase was found in the oldest manuscript found.

The KJV, NKJV, NASB, CSB, NIV, etc. Use the phrase sons of Israel.

This can’t be correct because the context of the passage is referring to the tower of babel.

Deuteronomy 4:20 (ESV)

20 But the Lord has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be a people of his own inheritance, as you are this day.

The Struggle

Talk about counterfeit Christians, anointings, gifting, callings and Christians.

Talk about the importance of having a divine calling.

A divine calling is something that you cannot achieve on your own.

Jacob always struggled.

Genesis 25:22-24(ESV)

22 The children struggled together within her, and she said, “If it is thus, why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the LORD.

23 And the LORD said to her,“Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger.”

24 When her days to give birth were completed, behold, there were twins in her womb.

What do we see here?

1. We see that there was a struggle.

2. The relationship between the twin boys will be largely hostile.

3. They were twins. They were twins that looked different, thought differently, and acted differently.

4. We see Conflict between brothers is a recurring motif in Genesis, beginning with Cain and Abel, leading to Isaac and Ishmael and reoccurring yet again with Jacob and Esau.

5. We See that Jacob is a “heel grabber.”

Heel Grabber (Christ and the sons of God)

Genesis 3:15 (ESV) - I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

The first born among many brethren. Romans 8:29.

Talk about the difference between the son of God and son of man.

In the beginning… John 1:1.

John 1:12 (ESV)

12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

Key Points:

Conflicting Kingdoms (Kingdom of heaven vs. demonic kingdom)

Flesh vs. Spirit

Galatians 5:16–17 (ESV)

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

Wrestled with God

Genesis 32:22-28 (ESV)

24 And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day.

Apostolic Study Bible: King James Version: Notes (Notes)

The word “wrestled” as a noun is translated dust or powder. In other words, it means to kick up a cloud of dust by vigorous activity.

Matthew 11:12 (ESV)

From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.

Most scholars would suggest that this passage probably refers to the actions of specific evil people like Herod Antipas, who had arrested John.

But I’m thinking the text is suggesting something deeper...

The kingdom doesn't belong to those that are unwilling to suffer.

We must submit our will to Christ.

It will never be obtained by an individual with strongholds of this present world.

It is only received by those who are willing to break the strongholds of this natural world.

Those that are willing to struggle with God.

25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him.

26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

27 And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.”

Tie in 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 (ESV) - to Genesis 28 (ESV)

[16] From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.

[17] Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

The Battle of Wills

Genesis 4:6-8 (ESV)

6 The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen?

7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”

8 Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.

New English Translation

But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. It desires to dominate you.

New Century Version (Chapter 4)

sin is ready to attack you. Sin wants you, but you must rule over it.”

The Internal Conflict (Struggle)

James 4:1–2 (ESV)

1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?

2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.

“The battlefield where God and the devil fight is the heart of man.” - Dostoevsky

The Temptation

James 1:13–15 ESV

13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

Luke 4:3–13 ESV

The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’ ” And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’ ” And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’ and “ ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ” And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.

Jesus never sought out to fulfill His will.

John 7:17 (ESV) - 17 If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.

Luke 22:42 (ESV)

42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

Conclusion: The Inheritance.

Ephesians 1:11 ESV

In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,

We must Do His Will!!!