Sons of God
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
The Sons of God
The Sons of God
Our theme verse is Romans 8:19
19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
but lets read a little more here to understand what is meant by “the creature”. It says in Romans 8:20-23
20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
the creature was made subject vs 20
the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now” vs 22
even we ourselves groan vs 23
So we see all creation together “waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God” vs 19
Lets jump back a few verses to Romans 8:18
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
there are sufferings going on in the world, in creation.
Sufferings
Sufferings
early death through sickness and disease
murder, abortion, euthanasia
wars - civil, regional, world
famine
pestilence - regional and pandemic diseases
oppression and abuse of the poor
slavery and human trafficking
what we call natural disasters: volcanic eruption, tsunami, hurricanes, tornadoes
We can build a long list of things that are destructive.
God Does Have a Plan
God Does Have a Plan
God is the leader of holy ones, they come from him
There is a Divine Family
There is a Divine Bureaucracy
There is a Heavenly Assembly
There is a Heavenly Assembly
In this assembly, judgments are made.
We begin to get a picture of this in Job 38:4-7
4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding. 5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? Or who hath stretched the line upon it? 6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the corner stone thereof; 7 When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?
“where were you when ...” Job was not there in the beginning, before man, before the earth.
“when the morning stars sang together”
“all the sons of God shouted for joy”
There are two times in Job when “the sons of God came” before the Lord. First in Job 1:6-7
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them. 7 And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
The sons of God were not the only ones there. Satan was also there.
Then again in Job 2:1-2
1 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord. 2 And the Lord said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
In both cases, we find Satan “going to and fro in the earth”
He is “walking up and down in it” and is free to do so.
Then, we find God in the lead in Psalm 82:1
1 God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; He judgeth among the gods.
“congregation of the mighty” is translated “heaven’s court” and “divine assembly” or “divine council”
“the gods” found in the KJV is translated “the sons of God” in later translations
God serves as the main speaker. It sets the scene with God taking His place in the divine council (v. 1).
standeth Hebrew word nitsav -The imagery that extends from this verb is one of presiding, since the setting is a formal council meeting.
the divine assembly A descriptive phrase used of the heavenly host. God directing the affairs of the unseen world through an administration of divine beings.
These members of the heavenly host are often referred to as a “council” or “assembly” as in 1 Kings 22:19–23
19 And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left. 20 And the Lord said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner. 21 And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will persuade him.
Back to Psalm 82:2
2 How long will ye judge unjustly, And accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.
Again, God speaking to “the sons of God”, the council members, the heavenly host (see Psa 82:6)
The council of divine beings is also mentioned in Psalm 89:5–7, where they are depicted as being in heaven or the skies.
The affairs of the nations of the world are supposed to be judged according to divine law and justice
The spiritual authorities involved in the affairs of the nations (the sons of god) must observe divine law and justice.
However, these divine beings God addresses have perverted justice (see Deut 32:8–9; note on Ps 32:8).
show favoritism to the wicked The gods (elohim in Hebrew) have failed in their administrative duties involving humanity; they are corrupt and will be judged (compare note on v. 1). In this psalm, they are on trial before God, who is their judge—He is speaking to them.
The error of “the sons of God” is in Psalm 82:3-4
3 Defend the poor and fatherless: Do justice to the afflicted and needy. 4 Deliver the poor and needy: Rid them out of the hand of the wicked.
These were in a position to deliver Justice.
These were in a position to prevent the wicked (who could be rich or poor) from mistreating the afflicted and needy or poor.
These were not following the divine order as God instructed them.
God’s ultimatum to these corrupt gods,
God calls for the wicked to be stripped of power and for true justice to be restored.
He declares that the weak and dispossessed must be freed from the oppression of the wicked.
but these “sons of God” are unwilling in Psalm 82:5
5 They know not, neither will they understand; They walk on in darkness: All the foundations of the earth are out of course.
Only God’s intervention and judgment can remedy the situation.
So, in Psalm 82:6-7 they are sentenced
6 I have said, Ye are gods; And all of you are children of the most High. 7 But ye shall die like men, And fall like one of the princes.
However, you will die like men Although the gods (elohim in Hebrew) are not people, they will die like people do (compare note on Psa 82:1).
you will fall The word naphal is used elsewhere to describe death (e.g., 1 Sam 4:10; 18:25).
like one of the princes - these divine figures will die just as human authorities and rulers will.
These “sons of God” were given authority over nations if we look back to Deuteronomy 32:7-8
7 Remember the days of old, Consider the years of many generations: Ask thy father, and he will shew thee; Thy elders, and they will tell thee. 8 When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, When he separated the sons of Adam, He set the bounds of the people According to the number of the children of Israel.
Again, this phrase, “the children of Israel” is better translated, “the sons of God”.
God divided the nations and fixed the boundaries with authority given to “the sons of God to rule them.
But as we read in Psalm 82, these failed in their duty.
We find that the Lord called out Israel as His if we read on in Deuteronomy 32:9
9 For the Lord’s portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.
God began a covenant with Abraham to David, to Jesus Christ, and to us.
Two Laws Were Established
Two Laws Were Established
The Law of Moses was established to show the weakness of our human flesh
A second law is described in Romans 8
Under the law of Moses, there was always the need for a blood sacrifice to deal with sin
But, in Romans 8:1 there is no longer condemnation
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
There no condemnation “to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk”
but this is qualified: We cannot walk “after the flesh”
Instead, we are to walk but “after the spirit”
This shift from the “Law of Moses” to walking “after the spirit” is in Romans 8:2
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
This new law, “the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus”
has “made me free” from “the law of sin and death”
There was a problem with the “Law of Moses”, it depended on human flesh but that can’t work as it says in Romans 8:3-5
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
The law has not gone away, but, the law could not establish righteousness because the flesh is weak.
There is though, a way the righteousness of the law can be fulfilled and that is if we walk “after the Spirit”
The Law of Sin and Death
The Law of Sin and Death
What is the difference between these two laws? Romans 8:6a says
Romans 8:6a “to be carnally minded is death”
In our natural human bodies we are born with this carnal mind.
It goes on to say in Romans 8:7
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
“the carnal mind” vs 7
“the carnal mind is enmity against God” vs 7
or, in James 4:4 “whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God”
“for it (the carnal mind) is not subject to the law of God”
“neither indeed can be”
Because we are born with this “carnal mind”, it goes on to say in Romans 8:8
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
They that are in the flesh “cannot please God”
When we are born, the carnal mind is all we have.
We are not born with any knowledge of the “things of the Spirit as it says in Romans 8:9b
Romans 8:9b (KJV 1900)
9 Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
But we can be “born again” into the things of the spirit through Christ Jesus
The Things of the Spirit
The Things of the Spirit
The second law, the “things of the spirit are described in Romans 8:6b
Romans 8:6b (KJV 1900)
6 to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
“to be spiritually minded is life and peace”
There is a spiritual mind set that rules over the flesh.
We can be free from sin and death by being “in the spirit” as it says in Romans 8:9a
Romans 8:9a “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you”.
Romans 8:9a (KJV 1900)
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.
There are Two Ways We Can Live
There are Two Ways We Can Live
We can continue in our “carnal mind” and be dead to God
Or, we can be alive to God and in Christ, through the “Spirit of life” as it says in Romans 8:10-13
10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
There is a new life for us, life in the spirit as sons of God.
Sons of God
Sons of God
So, who are the “Sons of God” in Romans 8:14-17?
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
We “are the children of God”
We “are heirs of God”
His Enemies are Our Enemies
His Enemies are Our Enemies
God is still on the throne.
There is still a heavenly council and Jesus Christ is part of it in Hebrews 4:14-16
14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
We are invited to participate, to come boldly into the very throne room.
When we do, we will find grace to help.
We can expect that God will confirm His word with signs following as He did for the Apostles in Acts 14:3
3 Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
They spoke boldly
They gave testimony
Signs and wonders were done
and, the city was also divided.
Our Prayer
Our Prayer
We need revelation, wisdom, insight, to die to sin and wholly follow the Holy Spirit
What is the perfect will of God for us?
Jesus send the Holy Spirit as our helper, teacher, comforter in Romans 8:26-27
26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
We know we are saved.
Are we walking in the spirit? Then, we should agree with Romans 8:31
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Lets pray.