A Child in God's Family.
The Biblical Portrait of a Christian. • Sermon • Submitted
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intro
intro
The Biblical Portrait of a Christian.
A Child in God’s Family
God created an original family in the garden of Eden.
But sin ruined that family even sin ruins all families.
So after our first parents fell, God in his grace started a new family!
It is possible for you and me—Adam’s sinful descendants—to be born again and start a brand new life!
The first Adam brought sin and condemnation into the human race, but the Last Adam, Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:45) brought righteousness and salvation.
The good news of the gospel is that sinners may be forgiven and experience the miracle of being born again into the family of God through personal faith in Jesus Christ.
Let’s examine three aspects of this miracle of the new birth and discover what it means to be a child in God’s family.
1. Entering the Family.
1. Entering the Family.
The only way to get into the human family is by birth, and the only way to get into God’s family is by birth.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
The term that theologians use for this experience is regeneration, which simply means “born again.”
Two spiritual parents.
Two spiritual parents.
Children must have parents; that is the only way to be born in this world.
God’s children have two spiritual:
The Spirit of God.
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
and the Word of God.
23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
The miracle of the new birth takes place when the Spirit of God applies the Word of God to the mind and heart of the sinner, and this Word generates faith.
The sinner believes on Jesus Christ, receives new life, and is born again into the family of God
You cannot be born again through your family connections (“blood”), or by means of the religious acts that you do (“the will of the flesh”), or the good works that others may do to you or for you (“the will of man”).
This marvelous spiritual birth can come only from God.
Spiritual travail.
Spiritual travail.
Human birth involves travail.
We thank God for all the modern scientific equipment in the obstetrics ward of the hospital, but the mother must still travail if the child is to be born.
One doctor said to me, “Never forget that mothers go down into the valley so that their children can come into the world.”
A sobering thought!
Our Lord Jesus Christ had to travail in death on the cross so that we might experience new birth
11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
The new birth is all of grace.
It is free, but it is not cheap. It is the most costly gift you could ever receive.
The “birthmarks” of God’s children.
The “birthmarks” of God’s children.
Can a person really know that he or she is a child in God’s family?
Of course!
The First Epistle of John was written to assure believers that they are the children of God.
Seven times in this letter, the Apostle John uses the phrase “born of God.”
If you put these statements together, you discover four “birthmarks” of the true believer:
• practicing righteousness and not sin (2:29; 3:9)
• loving God and other believers (4:7; 5:1)
• overcoming the world (5:4)
• overcoming the devil (5:18)
2. Enjoying the Family
2. Enjoying the Family
Our heavenly Father gives to us “richly all things to enjoy” (1 Tim. 6:17).
To look at some Christians, you would never suspect that the word enjoy is even in the Bible!
Well, it is; and those of God’s children who really understand all that he has given them will radiate his joy through their lives.
What blessings does the Father want his children to enjoy?
The family freedom
The family freedom
36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
We have the freedom to draw upon all his resources and grow into mature sons and daughters.
We are free to walk with him and talk with him, free to hear his Word and follow his Spirit.
Even though we constantly need to grow, we do so in a family atmosphere of freedom and grace, not bondage and law.
The family food.
The family food.
If children are to grow, they must have food; and God has provided his Word as our spiritual nourishment.
Jer. 15:16
16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.
God’s Word is bread, milk, meat, and honey.
As we meditate on God’s Word, the truth is “digested” inwardly and we receive strength.
The family fortune.
The family fortune.
When we were born the first time (“born of the flesh”), we were born poor slaves; but when we were born the second time (“born of the Spirit”), we were born rich sons.
What kind of wealth does the Father share with us?
Let us start with “the riches of his grace”
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
God i called “the God of all grace” (1 Pet. 5:10),
our Bible is “the word of his grace” (Acts 20:32),
and the Holy Spirit is “the Spirit of grace” (Heb. 10:29).
God’s throne used to be a throne of judgment to us, but now it is a “throne of grace” where we can “find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16).
“From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another” John 1:16, niv).
That is why it is important that God’s children study God’s Word and get to know all the grace that is available to them through Jesus Christ.
Not only do we share the riches of his grace, but we also have the “riches of his mercy”.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
There is a difference between grace and mercy.
God in his mercy does not give us what we do deserve,
and God in his grace gives us what we don’t deserve.
Spiritual commodities like “grace” and “mercy” may seem rather nebulous to us, especially when it comes to paying our bills and keeping life going.
God knows our daily needs and has provided for us “the riches of his glory.”
The promise to claim is Philippians 4:19,
19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
God does not satisfy our “greeds,” but he does supply our needs.
“The riches of his wisdom” are available when God’s children must make decisions
33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
It is important to have knowledge, especially knowledge of the Word of God; but we also need wisdom in order to use that knowledge correctly.
Finally, God’s children draw upon “the riches of his goodness”
4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
God is the source of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17), and we can trust him to give what is right, in the right way, and at the right time.
No matter how you look at it, God’s children are rich indeed!
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
