Sonship & Our Need for Acceptance: A biblical theology of the son(s) of God

The National Institute of Mental Health defines “Social Anxiety Disorder” as a mental health condition. It is an intense, persistent fear of being watched and judged by others. [https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/social-anxiety-disorder-more-than-just-shyness].

The Mayo Clinic says, “But in social anxiety disorder, also called social phobia, everyday interactions cause significant anxiety, self-consciousness and embarrassment because you fear being scrutinized or judged negatively by others.” [https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/social-anxiety-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20353561].

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders in the U.S., with social anxiety disorders being number one among them. [https://www.gotquestions.org/social-anxiety.html]

While anxiety can be triggered by various factors, I want to focus on how our acceptance with God, through sonship status, directly impacts how we feel and live before others.

In 2008, Alec Cort wrote a Doctorate dissertation entitled, “The Relationship of Adolescent Perceptions of Peer Acceptance and Motivation to Participate in the Local Congregation.” Among the pages of research, he notes:

Adapted: In the teens years, what you look like, your habits, your abilities/disabilities greatly affect whether your are accepted by your peers. The greatest matter that affects your peer acceptance is whether you are socially competent. [SBTS Database, published 2008]

Adapted: Social anxiety creeps in when a teens outgrows his/her satisfaction with his/her family and social peer groups begin getting more attention. [p. 42]

Adapted: The need for acceptance peaks in the teens years — including a need for romantic acceptance. …Perceptions of social exclusion from peer groups may directly contribute to feelings of anxiety. [p. 43].

Adapted: Within friend groups, social anxiety is most closely linked to how one perceives whether he is accepted or not. [p. 44]

I don’t believe there is anything that speaks to our acceptance more than the doctrine of the Son of God and our sonship.

The theology of the Son of God is more meaningful to us today than we often think. When you hear the term “son” there should be a though of relationship, endearment, belonging or acceptance.

Illustration: When a stranger interrupts your walk to ask you for money, you may take a moment before responding or you may simply ignore the request. On the other hand, when your child asks for something — even if we do not give it to them — our heart intuitively feels differently; and many times we do provide....SO IT IS WITH OUR SECURITY IN SONSHIP...

So, today I want us to see the correlation between the biblical truth of sonship and how this changes everything — both our eternity and our present living.

Big Idea:

Sonship actually meets our need for acceptance.

Am I really living like I am accepted as a son?

Now, before we go to far, it should be known that sonship is not in any way disparaging “daughter-ship”....

Sonship is a term I am using to encompass all those who need acceptance.

“We must also note that sonship is not a gender issue.” IT’S A STATUS ISSUE... - Graeme Goldsworthy [Short Studies in Biblical Theology: The Son of God and the New Creation. Crossway, 2015. p. 98]

Preview:

Three examples that show sonship & our need for acceptance.

One example that shows sonship & our hope for acceptance.

The result of the unique sonship & our acceptance

Three examples that show sonship & our need for acceptance.

Adam, the son of God. - Genesis 5:1-3.

Image-bearer of God

To use the “image” language is to speak of sonship (incl. in the lineage talk).

Dominion - Genesis 1:26-27.

Federal Head - Romans 5:12.

This is where alienation began. The common need for acceptance within all humans is evidence of a deeper need for acceptance with God that began with the first Adam.

“What else does this craving, and this helplessness, proclaim but that there was once in man a true happiness, of which all that now remains is the empty print and trace?

This he tries in vain to fill with everything around him, seeking in things that are not there the help he cannot find in those that are, though none can help, since this infinite abyss can be filled only with an infinite and immutable object; in other words by God himself”

[This is from page 75 of Blaise Pascal’s Pensees (New York; Penguin Books, 1966).]

Israel, the firstborn of God.

Firstborn of God - Exodus 4:22-23, 19:6 (priesthood) Hosea 11:1 (Hosea = post-rejection exile).

The example of Israel shows us a people, who though they had been sonship status, they continually turn to other gods for acceptance. Even when they wanted a king, it was because they wanted to be like the other nations. They rejected the acceptance that they had with God in order to pursue a likeness to other nations.

Solomon, the kingly son of God.

Son of David. Davidic Covenant - II Samuel 7:12-14. I Kings 11:1-2.

Summary: Each of these examples work on a kind of cycle: (1) Sonship (2) Disobedience/Rejection of the Father (3) Alienation (4) Redemption/Resurrection. There is this kind of progression.

Illustration: the story of the Prodigal Son over and over again. Remember the father, “…this my son was dead and is alive again...” - Luke 15:24.

Application: this kind of cycle should tell us something about God — namely He is merciful and patient to continue to work for the life of His people. He cares that we belong and become accepted with Him.

Transition: Now, the Old Testament ends with alienation, rejection, death. There is no supreme king seated on the throne in Jerusalem, and this brings us to the opening of the New Testament. All of these “sons” were incomplete and had failed.

One example that shows sonship & our hope for acceptance.

Jesus, the Son of God fulfilling Adam’s failed sonship - Luke 3:22, 38; I Corinthians 15:22.

Jesus is the better Adam as the express IMAGE of the invisible God.

Jesus, the Son of God fulfilling Israel’s failed sonship - Hosea 11:1, Matthew 2:15.

Jesus is the true Israel as the High Priest.

Jesus, the Son of God fulfilling the kingly failed sonship - Matthew 1:1, Matthew 4:6; Mark 12:35-37.

Jesus is the better son of David as King.

Illustration: Drawing with three being fulfilled in Christ.

Irony: though Jesus fulfilled the law and lived in perfect faithfulness and acceptance with the Father, he was actually estranged from the Father. (forsaken).

The cycle with Jesus looks a little different and sounds a little off. The Old Testament Cycle was: (1) Sonship (2) Disobedience/Rejection of the Father (3) Alienation (4) Redemption/Resurrection. There is this kind of progression.

This New Testament Cycle with Jesus was: (1) Sonship (2) Perfect Obedience (3) Alienation (4) Resurrection. The primary differences are:

His Sonship had no beginning.

His obedience was complete.

His alienation was not deserved.

His resurrection was to an everlasting kingdom.

He breaks the cycle completely, and is completely, eternally accepted at the right hand of God. Acts 2:32.

Application: This kind of work gives hope of acceptance. Someone did it. An alienated person found belonging.

Transition: What then is the result of this unique sonship?

The result of the unique sonship & our sonship acceptance.

The Son’s sonship was for the multiplication of many sons - John 1:12-13.

The Son’s sonship was for our adoption (maintaining unique nature distinction) - Ephesians 1:5.

The Son’s sonship is by way of a new resurrection - Ephesians 2:1, 5-6.

The Son’s sonship results in our full acceptance - Ephesians 2:12-13. (v. 15 - “new man” = “new creation”).

Transition: Our need to belong or to be accepted by others is actually a symptom of our deeper need to be wanted, to belong, to be accepted. This deeper, most important need is only met in the Son Jesus Christ.

The applications:

A life of knowledge does not equal a life of faith. Hebrews 4:2; Galatians 2:20.

Are you actually believing, relying, trusting in Jesus.

Adam: Full acceptance with God makes imaging Christ my greatest possibility and priority. Romans 8:29.

Israel: Full acceptance with God makes me an actual priest before God/men. I Peter 2:9-10.

Son of David: Full acceptance with God clarifies both my kingdom and mission. Colossians 1:13, 3:1-2; I Corinthians 6:9-11.

“Your body is a part of your mission in God’s world.” - Trip Lee [CrossCon, 2021]

[Me] “Christ’s body is God’s kingdom mission in God’s world.” - Matthew 16:17-19.

Illustration: Drawing rest of page showing the reversal of the first sons who failed.

Closing thoughts connecting social anxiety and acceptance. Rest in the acceptance that ultimately matters.