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Lesson 4 of Complementary Course Go here to read the instructions
A. DISTINCTION BETWEEN REBIRTH, JUSTIFICATION AND BEING A SON As we taught before, rebirth is the implantation of a total new nature,
a new life in somebody, through God; while justification means that
now God considers a person as having done nothing wrong. Rebirth determines our life totally Justification determines our (juridical) position before God. The adoption as children determines our relationship with the Lord, because now we became members of His family, with all the privileges of a child. (Galatians 4:6,7). B. THE MEANING OF BEING A SON Now see this: you do not make yourself a Child of God! Romans 8:15 - For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father!" Romans 8:16 - The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Romans 8:17 - Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. It means: now we belong to the family of God.
Real Christianity is giving your life to Jesus, and being a part of
the family of God. When you really comprehend this truth and it gets to you, then it will be easy for you to receive the blessings God has destined for you. II. WHEN DOES IT COME IN POWER? A. THE VERY MOMENT WE RECEIVE JESUS John 1:12,13 - Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. Many people think, but incorrect, that everybody is a child of God,
but we are not all children of God at all. Somebody is only a real child of a couple if he or she is born from that couple; no matter how many children resemble, if they are not born from the couple, they are no own children. We are all created by God indeed, as He created the whole world. Friends, when someone gives his life to Jesus, a number of things happen and one is that he becomes a new creation, not outward, but inward. And another thing that happens is that are made a child of God. B. WHEN JESUS COMES BACK IT WILL BE COMPLETE I John 3:1-3 - How great is the love the Father has lavished
on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we
are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. When somebody receives Jesus as his Saviour and Lord, he is adopted by God as his own child, but the rest of the world will only recognize him as such on the day that Jesus comes back. Only then we will be placed visibly in the position as a Son. III. THE CONSEQUENCES OF BEING A SON BLESSING BECAUSE OF THE POSITION AS A SON One day a lady came to me who told me she had a great number of diseases and illnesses, she suffered all kind of trouble. When I told her that Jesus wanted to heal her of everything she answered
me: With such strong doubts it does not make too much sense to ask for
prayer, for this way it has no power. When you gave your life to Jesus, you are a child of the Most High, the big Boss of Heaven and Earth. If you understand this from the bottom of your heart, you will stop thinking small, you stop listening about poverty, or that you should be poor, or ill, or whatsoever problem. My Father is God! Your father is God: He that created this visible world! (Except all
that He created without us seeing it). Our Father is God. Think about it! Romans 8:17 - Now if we are children, then we are heirs -- heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. 2. We are already blessed with all blessing Ephesians 1:3 - Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. And do you know what the mayor problem is that the Lord has with us? When you bought a puppet for instance, to surprise a child, and you
give it, this child will not start saying: "Oh I wished somebody
gave me a puppet, it does not matter which one, and I adore puppets!" And when your children grow, they dress your clothes without asking. You must learn to think that way. While all the time He has all the blessing in store for you: the only thing you need to do is receiving. "Oh, but I do not deserve to receive anything, I am not worth
it." It does not make sense to say you're not worthy, for nobody is. Our Father gives us, just because He loves us.
Again I mention the fact that God has a problem with many of His children,
for He wants to bless them, but they don't receive. I know, but praise the Lord it is true! Others told me: "This is far too simple; of course it is not that easy!" The Gospel is simple. We're His family. Note this:
A. SPIRITUAL GROWTH When somebody gives his life to Jesus he is like a spiritual baby. 1. Baby stage. If somebody received Jesus for short time, he still acts like a spiritual
baby. The baby Christian also cries for everything and the Lord directly
helps. A baby uses diapers, and when they are dirty, the mother cleans the baby and changes diapers, but does not throw away the whole baby. Some believers though, when they see a young believer with a 'dirty dipper', they immediately wonder if the person is saved or not! All that is needed is clean diapers and some talcum powder. 2. Childhood Galatians 4:1-2 - What I am saying is that as long as the heir
is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole
estate. If you raised a child of 7,8,9 years, what did you do with it? Spiritually it is the same, because the believers go to Church, which is like a school - the school of God - and where one is taught the things of the Lord, through the Bible. And you know, heaven and earth pass by, but the Word of God will never change! It means we will live forever with the rules of God. The works Jesus did. The Lord wants the believers to grow spiritually to a level in which they are able to do the same works as Jesus did. That is the plan of God. This is why He gave Prophets, Pastors, Teachers and Evangelists, to train the believers to grow so they will be finally like Jesus. How is Jesus? Ephesians 4:11-15 - It was he who gave some to be apostles,
some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors
and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that
the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith
and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining
to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. The Lord desires that we all grow until we reach the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. This actually really means that He wants that one day you do the same works as Jesus did on this earth. John 14:12 - I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. Jesus literally said that if we grow in Him, we will do the same works
as He did. 3. Adult stage It is the will of God that we grow up as His children until the measure of Jesus when He was on this earth, to do the same as He did. John 20:21 - Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." It is clear that nobody grows at once, so nobody will be able to do the same as Jesus from one day to another; this happens progressively when he studies and practices the Word of God. If you do not clearly understand the voice of God, or you are not very well able to distinguish what He says, or you still doubt very much if it is Him, do not loose courage. Just go on whit the right thing: study the Word, meditate on it, have a good fellowship with the Lord, pray in tongues and in your own language, praise and worship the Lord. Then you will see day by day that you comprehend the walk with God
more and more, distinguishing and understanding His voice and you will
surely know what He says to you … We are children of God! If there are problems, just go to Him. God is our Father - we are His children. In John 20:21 we see that Jesus spoke to His disciples - His followers. In fact Jesus was teaching something very exceptional here: like the Father had sent Him to testify of salvation, divine healing, deliverance of bad spirits, to bring joy, peace and prosperity, the same way He sends you. This is the plan for all of His children. And the Lord wants you to come to His House - the school of God - the Church, to learn about His Word, to learn to reign in this world and in the coming world; to learn what He has for your life.
Romans 8:4 - in order that the righteous requirements of the law might
be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but
according to the Spirit. C. HAVE LOFE FOR OTHERS This characteristic of children of God is to be trained the most of all, though sometimes there seems to be tendencies to forget it. The Christian who is continuously guided by the Holy Spirit, and who submits his desires to the will of God, has a great confidence and faith in God. A man of faith is a man of prayer, and often comes before God in prayer. 1 John 2:9-11 - Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates
his brother is still in the darkness. 1 John 5:2-3 - This is how we know that we love the children
of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. |
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