God's House

In past, we saw what the scriptures tells us about God the Father and His family, that is, believers. What a wonderful privilege it is to receive new birth and immediately become a child of God. Now every believer is a legal partaker of all the promises of God and are now members of the house or household of God. The house of God is often referred to in the Old Testament as a physical Tabernacle or Temple. Many in the church today still hold on to that concept that the House of God is a material building or structure where believers gather together for church functions. However, the Bible paints an entirely different picture. The Apostle Paul tells us, "Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16) The apostle Peter tells us, "You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house..." (1 Peter 2:5) Both Peter and Paul are not talking about an edifice, but believers themselves are the temple, the spiritual house of God, His dwelling place. Paul also tell us, "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith." (Galatians 6:10)  

Here God's Family is given a very choice name, "the Household of Faith." This reveals an wonderful truth. All believers are blood-brothers (and sisters). We have partaken of the same nature, as well as being heirs and joint heirs of Jesus Christ. (Romans 8:17) We are not Methodists, Baptists, Lutherans, Episcopalians, Roman Catholics, Pentecostals, Charismatics, non-denominational or any other group. To those who have come into new birth through faith in Jesus Christ, we are God's sons and daughters, God's Family, His house on earth. As members of the Family, we are to minister to each other and watch over each other in love. Paul tells us, "Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God." (Ephesians 2:19)  All believers everywhere need to drop everything that we use that separates us from one another and realize this very important fact, God desires to live with His children. He does not want to be simply a guest in our individual lives, no, He wants to have a Father's place in our lives and hearts (John 14:23) and as children of God, we are to be one. (John 17:22)  

Think about this. Perhaps the most wonderful fact is, God did not create the whole human race at the same time, but He created one man and one woman and permitted them to be the father and mother of His house to produce for Him more children. This shows the eternal responsibility of fatherhood and  motherhood not only in the natural sense, but moreover, in the spiritual sense. The Apostle Paul says it this way, "My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you." (Galatians 4:19) But how can Christ be formed in believers, His house, the church, if we do not want Him. What do I mean by this? No matter what denomination, group of churches or whether an independent congregation, according to statistics, the average church service lasts approximately one hour.  

We may say things like, "we come together to meet with God", "we come together to worship God," but is this really true? Do we really take time to prepare ourselves to truly worship the LORD? Though we may sing songs, are our hearts turned toward Him to worship Him in Spirit and Truth? Is our entire focus to exalt and magnify the LORD? If not, this is most likely why most believers, congregations never experience a true encounter with God in their church services or church programs. 

Jesus said, "..."If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him." (John 14:23) This is not referring to the new birth experience, but the continuous presence of God in the church. In Jesus' final instructions to the disciples, He also prays for those who will believe in Him through the preaching of the gospel by the disciples. He says, "And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one." (John 17:22) He also says, "Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold (to look at; to view attentively; to see; to perceive with the eyes; to enjoy the presence of) My glory which You have given Me." (John 17:24) 

The Apostle Paul tells us, "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." (Ephesians 3:20-21) This is not about revival, per se, it is about the continuous manifestation of God in His house, the church. Honestly, where is the manifestation of the Lord in His house? Where is the manifestation of oneness in His house? Where is the manifestation of His power in His house? Where is the manifestation of His glory in His house?  Why has the majority of the church become an institution working at pleasing man rather than a living Body seeking to please God? Look at the words of the Apostles Peter and John, "But Peter and John replied to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you (man) and obey you (man) rather than God, you must judge [for yourselves]." (Acts 4:19 AMP) They said this under persecution. They wanted to please God, not man and were willing to face the consequences, be what they may. Look at the words of the Apostle Paul, "For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ." (Galatians 1:10) I guess we can say, if Paul were to please man, he would not be pleasing to Christ. 

Jesus finish up what we term "The Lord's Prayer" with these words, "For Yours is the Kingdom, Power and Glory forever, Amen." (Matthew 6:13) I certainly cannot speak for all who read this, but I desire the manifestation of God's Kingdom, Power and Glory wherever I am, especially in a church service, than trying to get through religious acts and programs of man that do not transform lives. A congregation that is more concerned about peoples scheduling than desiring the manifestation of God's Kingdom, Power and Glory, should never expect to experience the manifestation of such in their meetings. Jesus tells us, "Behold, I stand at the door [of the church] and continually knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him (restore him), and he with Me." (Revelation 3:20)  

I am certainly not trying to be critical toward any believer or congregation, but Jesus did say, "I will build my church." (Matthew 16:18) So, let's open the door of our heart. Let's open the door of His house and stop trying to fit God into our schedules, but let Him takes us into eternity by permitting Him full access to His house on His terms and on His schedule. Let's throw religion out of the church and let the King of Glory in. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

A Child of God - Part 5

Now that one has become born again, that is, has experienced new birth, they begin their wonderful adventure as a a child of God, having been legally adopted into the family of God through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 8:15-16). When Jesus was about to leave His disciples and return to the Father, He promised that He would send the Holy Spirit into the world to become their Teacher, Guide, Helper and Comforter. (John 14:15-18, 15:26-27, 16:12-15) The Holy Spirit was going to have charge of the ministry and the work of the Church. He was going to guide the Church as a whole, as well as, guide the many members individually. In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit came upon certain people for a period of time to accomplish the work of God, but now He is to dwell with and in the heart, the spirit, of all who are born again.  

Before we go any further, we need to understand that the Holy Spirit is not an "it" an "ism" nor is He some mystical force. The scriptures refer to Him as a person by using personal pronouns, such as, He, Him, etc. In the scriptures referenced above, Jesus gives the Holy Spirit the same place, the same personality, and the same honor that He gives to the Father and to Himself. The Apostle John reveals this fact this way, "For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one." (1 John 5:7) Notice that John clearly reveals that the Holy Spirit co-exists, is co-equal, is co-eternal, that is, one with the Father and the Word (the Son). Although the Holy Spirit is one with the Father and the Son, scripture clearly reveals that He is also distinguished from the Father and Son. The Apostle Paul shows us this very thing, "There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all." (1 Corinthians 12:4-6)  

The Holy Spirit has the guidance and the plans for the church. Paul shows us, "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills." (1 Corinthians 12:7-11) In doing these things, the Holy Spirit does not operate independently from the Father and Son. Jesus tells us, "When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you." (John 16:13-15) 

The Holy Spirit's place of activity today is on the earth. Some of the things He is doing are, convicting the world of sin, (John 16:8), holding back the powers of darkness, (1 John 4:4), recreating sinners, (2 Corinthians 5:17), indwelling the new believers body (John 14:17), empowering believers for ministry (Acts 1:8) and bringing them into the Family of God. (Romans 8:15-16). Since the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit's home is the body of those who are born again. "...do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God..." (1 Corinthians 6:19) However, He could not make His home in the human body until man had been recreated, born again. This could not take place until Christ had come and paid the penalty of sin, taken His seat as Mediator, and given eternal life to all who would confess Him as Lord and take Him as Savior.  

Not only does the Holy Spirit indwell the believer at the very moment he is born again, but He also fills the believer. First and foremost, to enter the family of God, people need regeneration, new birth, being born again, but they also can receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit which is subsequent to the regeneration experience. For the lack of space we will view a portion of scripture as evidence that shows the regeneration experience (indwelling of the Holy Spirit) and the pouring out and receiving of the Holy Spirit (infilling or being Baptized with the Holy Spirit) are two separate experiences. “Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.” (Acts 8.5-6) We read further, “But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.” (Acts 8.12)  

The Samaritans heard the gospel and believed. They had experienced regeneration, but it is apparent by the following scripture that there was more than just believing and being water baptized. “Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.  Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 8.14-17) There is no doubt that these new converts were saved and had the Holy Spirit dwelling in them. However, the Holy Spirit had not fallen upon them (filled them as on the Day of Pentecost) until Peter and John laid their hands on them. (Also see Acts 19:1-7) 

The Apostle Paul also tells us, “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:18) A literal translation of the verb would read "be being kept filled." The idea is one of keeping themselves constantly filled and being filled with the Holy Spirit, as you yield moment by moment to His leading. "Be filled" is actually in the passive voice and indicates that the action of the Holy Spirit is continuously filling the believer. It is simply another facet of being a child of God and the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Being filled with the Holy Spirit allows the believer to have daily, moment-by-moment effectiveness and fulfillment in their Christian life as a child of God. Not just in the character of Christ, but also in the realm of the supernatural. "These signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16:17-18) "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father." (John 14:12) Isn't it absolutely wonderful to be a child of God? PTL

A Child of God - Part 4

Due to the miraculous work of redemption through Jesus Christ, man has been restored to all that he was in God before the fall.  The only way that a person can take advantage of such a wonderful gift, he must confess Jesus as Lord and receive Him as Savior. This act of faith transforms the sinner instantly by-means-of new birth and gives him the right to become a child of God. New birth is the heart of Christianity. From the fall of man to Pentecost every plan and purpose of God to redeem man had centered in this. This is the reason for the sacrifice of Jesus as man's substitute. Man's interpretation of the new birth determines his whole Christian experience. What this means is, if the new birth is not supernatural, then Christianity is nothing more than one of the other religions of the world. If the new birth is simply a conversion to new concepts or a theory, then Christianity is purely a product of human endeavor. However, the fact is, the new birth is supernatural and Christianity has become the family of God, not a mere religion, or religious experience, but a completely restored relationship of man with Father God. 

Jesus is the first one who speaks of the new birth, and in His conversation with Nicodemus He tells us what the new birth is and the need of it. (For the sake of space, please read John 3:1-8) The first thing that we see it that no one can see or understand the Kingdom of God except he is born again, that is, except the life of God come into his very being and recreate his spirit. Second, no one can enter the Kingdom of God except he is born of water and the spirit. However, Nicodemus, a teacher of Israel, cannot understand these things and asks, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Jesus responds, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, you must be born again." In this scripture, Jesus reveals the difference between the natural and the spiritual man. The importance of us grasping this is that Jesus shows us that man is spiritually dead, a child of the devil. (John 8:44) The Apostle Paul tells us, "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience." (Ephesians 2:1-2) 

However, the new birth is to be a complete change of the sinful, satanic nature of man to a new or restored relationship with Father God. The Apostle Paul continues, "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:4-6) We were not sick with sin, we were dead in sin, but God made us alive together with Christ, new birth, born again. By one accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior,  he enters into a covenant, a legal contract so-to-speak, with the Father through Jesus Christ. Some of the numerous blessings that are legally and instantly bestowed upon believers from the Father, are...

His sins are remitted, wiped out as though they had never been. (Isaiah 43:25); He is legally justified, made righteous or set right with God. (Romans 5:1-2); His name is written in the Book of Life. (Luke 10:20; Philippians 4:3); He is legally adopted into the family of God. (Romans 8:15-16); Jesus publicly confesses him before the Father and the His angels. (Revelations 3:5); He is legally reconciled to the Father. (Romans 5:9-11); He is declared and made righteous. (2 Corinthians 5:21); Satan no longer has authority over the believer, but the believer has authority over Satan. (Mark 16:17; Luke 10:19); He is blessed and given every spiritual blessing by the father in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3); He has the promise of eternal life. (1 John 2:25). 

Keep in mind that these are but a very small potion of what takes place in the new birth, but these are enough to show us the wonderful privilege of being a child of God. The fact is, new birth is an impartation of God's own nature into the believer. (2 Peter 1:4) The Apostle Paul tells us, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17) This is not a figure of speech but, literally, if any person receives Christ as his Lord and Savior, that person is a new creation. He is not renovated, patched up, fixed over, or a hybrid, nor is he one who has received eternal life without losing the old nature. No, Paul distinctly says, that he is a new creation and that the old things, that is, the old nature, has passed away. In other words, it would be like an old building completely torn down and replaced by a new one. The new creation is a work that God Himself has accomplished in the believer. It is all of God and the new believer is now a legitimately born again child of God. Not only are we legally born again by God, but we are also legally adopted into His Family which makes our relationship with the Father doubly secure in Christ.

The Apostle John tells us, "Who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:13) The Apostle James tells us, "Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures." (James 1:18) The Apostle Peter tells us, "Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever." (1 Peter 1:23) Man, once spiritually dead, hopeless, helpless and without God in the world, a child of Satan, now has the opportunity to become a part of the family of God, simply by confessing with the mouth and believing with the heart, the Lord Jesus Christ and taking Him as Savior. Think about these things and then consider, who would not want to be a true, legal, bought and paid for child of God? Really, no one. So take some time and let some people know that they can be a part of God's family and become a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ.

A Child of God - Part 3

We have talked about the catastrophic nature of the fall of man. How man is hopeless, godless and in a world controlled by the father of sin, Satan. The only way that man could be restored to the relationship he had with God before the fall, could only be accomplished through a mediator. Someone who has a legal standing with God and at the same time can sympathize, understand and represent man before God. The all-knowing, all-wise God, knew before creation what Adam would do and also had the plan to completely restore man to the same relationship that he had before Adam disobeyed his Father and Maker. (Ephesians 1:3-6) How would God do this? He would have to take the liability of man's treason upon Himself. The Apostle John tells us that God the Word became flesh. (John 1:1, 14) Deity put on humanity (flesh). 

The question of the humanity and deity of Jesus has been the battle ground of controversy from the time of the early church, has been mostly among philosophers, and theologians. Why? Because, Jesus is a puzzle to them. To the natural mind He is a mystery. (1 Corinthians 2:14) In the history of man, no man has ever had such a remarkable impact as He. He changed liars to truth-tellers, lazy men to workers, thieves to honest men, and so much more. Basically, He changes one's nature the moment they take Him as his Savior and crowns Him Lord.  So, to understand the deity and humanity of Jesus, to comprehend the incarnation we must ask ourselves, "Could the Son of God have been incarnate if His body had been conceived by natural means, (the union of a man and a woman)? Would it have been possible for God to have come into a child born of natural means and dwell in the child and be incarnate?" 

The latter part of this question could not be because scripture reveals to us through the Apostle Paul, "for al1 have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23) and "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned." (Romans 5:12) If Jesus had been born through the natural means of man and God had come into Him, He would have been nothing more than a sinful man with God dwelling in Him. He would not have qualified as the sinless Son of God. The only way that man could be redeemed would have to be by the incarnation. It would have to be one who would not be subject to death, nor subject to Satan. The fact is, during Jesus' earthly walk, He was not a subject of death, neither was He a subject of Satan. Death had no dominion over Him until the sins of the world had been laid upon Him on the Cross. (1 Peter 2:24) 

Jesus was not mortal nor immortal, but was a perfect human as Adam was before the Fall. If God could have changed the nature of a child after birth so that He could be incarnate in the child, He could as well have changed the nature of the whole human race in the same way. Although man would have benefited greatly by this, to do this would have been an injustice to God Himself and to Satan. The reason behind this is, the sin problem would not have been legally settled and the penalty of man's transgression would not have been legally paid. This would have opened the door for Satan to cry foul. Although Satan himself is corrupt, it would have given him the right to accuse God of bending justice in favor of man. So, man's redemption would need to be accomplished on complete legal grounds. The Redeemer would have to be a man. He must be one over whom Satan had no legal claims, no authority over and be sinless as Adam had and was before the fall. The only way that this could come about was in the way the angel Gabriel revealed it to the virgin Mary, "And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God." (Luke 1:35) The incarnation was the only solution to the human problem.

The incarnation is the basic miracle of Christianity. It proves the preexistence of Christ and is the foundation and reason for all subsequent miraculous manifestations of divine power. The incarnation of deity with humanity would provide the very thing that man was in dire need of, the perfect Mediator. Although Jesus' time on earth served many purposes and fulfilled all the law and all that the prophets foretold of Him, it all culminated with His main mission, to die as a substitute for the sin of all humanity. His death was to pay the price for all the evil and wickedness of man. The just for the unjust. The righteous for the unrighteous. This was all Gods doing. (Isaiah 53) The sinless Son of God would freely lay His life down (John 10:17-18) to satisfy justice and pay in full the sin debt that no person on earth could ever pay. Jesus said, "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10) 

Although it was man who betrayed God, the Father's desire to have a family of son's and daughter's was so great, that His love moved Him to to make things right between Himself and man through the death of His only begotten Son. (John 3:16) To think of such love staggers the imagination. The Apostle John tells us, "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God." (1 John 3:1) Take a moment and meditate on such an wonderful truth. The brilliant Creator of everything seen and unseen; the most holy, righteous, perfect, Almighty God took it upon Himself to restore mankind to His intended, legal and rightful position as His children. All one has to do is to confess Jesus as Lord with their mouth, believe in their heart and receive Him as Savior. This act of faith transforms the sinner instantly by-means-of new birth an gives them the right to become a child of God. (John 1:12) PTL 

A Child of God - Part 2

In part one we see that the children of creation betrayed their Father, the living God. In doing so they lost the legal right to approach God and are described by the Apostle Paul as "...without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world." (Ephesians 2:12) Notice first, "without Christ." Although Christ had not come to redeem man for several thousand years after the fall, the fact is, there is no life, no ability or right to approach God without Him. Although Paul is addressing Gentiles here, he goes on to address Jews also. Though Jews had God's law, His oracles, yet, without Christ, they were no different than Gentile unbelievers in their approach toward God with the exception of the High Priest once a year under the law of Moses. So this applies to all people everywhere. We see this clearly as the Apostle Paul tells us, "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus." (1 Timothy 2:5) and the Apostle Peter reveals, "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

Next, we see that man is a stranger from the covenants of the promise. In other words, man has no claims on God apart from His "Covenants" especially His "New Covenant" established through Jesus Christ. The writer of Hebrews tells us, "But now He (Christ) has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises." (Hebrews 8:6)  Man had forfeited every right which God has conferred upon him at the fall. Before the fall, God had given man the lega1 right to approach Him and a stand before Him. We see this in the Garden. (Genesis 3:8) Although this was after the fall, it paints the picture of man's relationship with God the Father and His children. But now, do to man's betrayal, his treason, he forfeited his position and is described as "having no hope and without God in the world."  

Hopeless and Godless, and in the world where Satan has completely corrupted everything through sin, who also has the power of death (Hebrews 2:14), shows us that man's position apart from Christ, is certainly desperate. But more than this, as we saw in part one, man had become a partaker of satanic nature. Satan was now his father. (John 8:44) He is not only a subject of Satan, but is also become spiritua1ly dead. Adam was no longer able to stand in God's presence after he sinned. Furthermore, he was driven from the Garden of Eden God, and then God placed a cherubim wielding a flaming sword to block the way to the tree of life. (Genesis 3:22-24) God would not permit man to eat of the tree of life until the sin problem had been settled. Think how awful it would have been if man had eaten of tree of life while under the sway of sin. Man would live forever and yet the destructive nature of sin would still have been unleashed upon the earth. In other words, all of mankind would follow in their father's footsteps, the devil, that is, "steel, kill and destroy" but never physically die.  It staggers the imagination to even try to think of something so horrific.

The Book of Job is seen as the oldest book of the Bible. Job recognized man's awful dilemma and need for a mediator, “For God is not a man, as I am, that I may answer Him, and that we should go to court together. Nor is there any mediator between us, Who may lay his hand on us both." (Job 9:32-33)  In other words, there is no mediator between man and God who has a legal standing with God and at the same time can sympathize, understand and represent man before God. This is Job's cry for a mediator, but it is not the cry of Job alone. This is actually the cry of man throughout the ages. All through the ages man has created religions and every way possible to appease himself and hopefully be accepted by God. Yet the Bible tells us, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) This means exactly what it says, "for ALL have sinned!"  

Today, man can no more approach God without a mediator than he could in the days of Job or Israel. The deceptions of Satan have brought most of mankind to believe if they live a good moral life, that this is al1 God requires of them. By living a "good" life, and if there is a Heaven they have as much right to it as those who have confessed Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. However, neither this kind of thinking, nor any amount of the finest education, nor the best of man's good works (feed the hungry, clothe the poor, etc.) will ever give him right standing with God. Proverbs tells us, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." (Proverbs 14:12) In all of mans efforts and so called good deeds, man needs a mediator. 

Although these truths may not be encouraging, the reality of such thing should bring every believer to grips with just how privileged each one of us are, to be a child of God. To have a Father whose only desire is to give His best to all humanity, especially to believers, His family. This should cause us to be just as caring and loving to others as our Father is to us. Jesus tells us, "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!" (Matthew 7:11) The Apostle Paul tells us, "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32) These are but a few promises that we have in Christ. As we look ahead to what it means to be a child of God, I pray that we will never forget who and what we were, according to Ephesians 2:12, before the Father drew us to Jesus, the "Mediator between God and men."

A Child of God - 1

Many times in the New Testament we see that when one truly accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, they become a child of God, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:12-13) But what does it mean to be a child of God, a son or a daughter? Let us begin by looking at creation. Notice, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters." (Genesis 1:1-3)  

The first thing that God started with, was the earth. From day one, through day six, God created everything that pertained to the natural or physical realm. Without much thought it is obvious to see, although most likely refuted among scientists, the earth is the center of creation, the center of the universe. If astronomers could find a way to measure the distance from earth to the end of the universe, and continue to take measurement at one degree increments for three hundred and sixty degrees, they would find this to be true.

Going back to creation and looking at the sixth day, it is recorded, "Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:26-28) The Psalmist David reveals, "When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet." (Psalm 8:3-6)

Now we can see the purpose of creation. It was and is all for man's benefit. Everything was prepared by God for His masterpiece of creation, man. Well, if the reason behind creation, especially the earth was for man, then what was the reason for man? Seeing that God created man in His own image and likeness, there is only one answer. God wanted a family. He wanted sons and daughters. The Apostles Paul reveals, "For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named." (Ephesians 3:14-15) Its clear that God's desire was to have children, sons and daughters. In heaven He had angels to minister to Him. However, other than angels being spirit beings, man is the only thing in all creation that is a direct reflection of the image and likeness of God. There is not one thing like man in all creation.

In the account of creation shown in Genesis, we see that all creation took place in six days. We really have no account of what the length of a day represents in the realm of creation. The closes account that we may draw some understanding from was spoken by Moses, "For a thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday when it is past, and like a watch in the night." (Psalm 90:4) and the Apostle Peter, "But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." (2 Peter 3:8) These passages represent the fact that God is not bound by time and space, and as was stated, we have no idea of the time of creation except that we have a 24 hour day and have 7 days representing one week. During the end of day six, God made man. Now, think how wonderful man is in the eyes of God. Only a loving Father would devote so much time in creating everything for his children and also give them the authority over it all.

Another thought to consider, instead of creating the entire human race, God gave man the ability to reproduce himself, which can be said, man was to produce more children for God. We do not know the length of time from the creation of man and his time spent in the Garden of Eden, but we do know that before man produced other children, the most destructive event in the history of God's children took place. We call it the fall of man, but it is more reflective of treason. Man not only rebelled against his creator, but in fact, Father God's children betrayed Him. (Genesis 3:1-6) God had conferred upon man the legal authority to rule creation, but man had forfeited his authority over into the hands of God's enemy, Satan. This brought man into a new, and unfortunate relationship. Instead of the image and likeness of Father God, he now took on the image and likeness of his new father, Satan. (John 8:44)

Although mans treason thwarted God's plan, let us not forget that God is not bound by time and space which places Him in the realm of knowing the beginning and the end at the same time. (Revelation 1:8) Although man's treason separated him from God and he became mortal, subject to death,  (Genesis 2:15-17); gave Satan dominion over creation; (Luke 4:6), brought a blighting curse upon the earth, vegetation and animals (Genesis 3:14, 17); brought all mankind into bondage of Satan (1 John 5:19); and death (Romans 5:12); it did not take the all-knowing Father by surprise or catch Him off guard. No, He already had the plan of restoring His family, man, back to Himself before creation began. (Ephesians 1:4-6) We will look at this wonderful plan of our loving heavenly Father unfold as we look deeper into what it means to be a child of God...

Freedom For All

One of the highlights of summer in the USA is the celebration of Independence Day. From 1776 until the present day, Independence Day has been celebrated as the birth of American independence, with typical festivities ranging from fireworks, parades and concerts to more casual family gatherings and barbecues. Although the United States celebrates Independence Day as a day of freedom from Great Britain's governmental, tyrannical oppression, there is a freedom that is far superior, far greater than any freedom that man can provide. In his first recorded preaching of the gospel, the Apostle Peter said, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38) This is how one is born again. This is where and how true freedom comes.

It has been said, "To be born free is a privilege; to die free is an awesome responsibility," yet freedom is never free, is it? It always and only comes at great price. The greatest price ever paid for freedom, was paid at Calvary nearly two thousand years ago by the LORD Jesus Christ, the Son of God. So, let's take a moment and look at some of the events that took place to purchase mans true freedom. We begin in the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus is arrested and taken to the hall of Caiaphas the High Priest. He is then blindfolded and spit upon, His beard pulled out, insulted and struck in the presence of the very High Priest of God. Then we witness the long, cold, weary hours until He is taken before Pilate and then eventually to Herod to be mocked and jeered again. We then witness Him clothed with a mock garment of kingly authority, a mock crown of thorns pressed into His skull, a mock badge of kingly authority placed within His hand, and then the long weary march back to Pilate, where He faces the trial proceedings with bitterness and jealousy aimed at Him. 

We then find Jesus standing calm and quiet with no part in this unnatural scene, except that of the innocent victim of jealousy and hatred. We see Him scourged, His back laid open by the awful Roman lictor. Blood flows, and flesh is torn as the cruel blows fall mercilessly upon His bare back from His neck to His heals. Then His clothes are thrown roughly about Him, and He is started out for Golgotha, staggering beneath the patibulum that He was forced to carry. We see Him fall under its weight, and Simon of Cyrene is compelled to bear it. Then we see Him staggering up the mountain side, surrounded by soldiers. He is stripped naked, laid roughly down upon the stipes where the Roman soldiers with cruel hatred drive the spikes into His hands and feet. With the patibulum and stipes forming a cross, He is then lifted and the cross is dropped into the socket in the rock. Jesus of Nazareth is crucified!

We watch the mob as it surges backward and forward about the cross. We hear the High Priest hurling his bitter taunts at Jesus, as He suffers unmercifully nailed to the cross suspended between heaven and earth. We hear the mob in their bitter denunciation, led on by their religious leaders, the very priesthood that was looking for their Messiah. It was a hideous and horrific thing that was taking place. The Son of God hanging on the cross was not a sight for angels, nor for men, but for demons only.

However, the vision I want you to have is not of the physical suffering of Jesus, not what man has done, as that is only a means to an end, but come behind the scenes and see the agony of the Son of God, and see Him smitten by God, His Father. The Apostle Peter tells us on the day of Pentecost that He was delivered up by the determinate counsel and the foreknowledge of God. (Acts 2:23) It is here that we see Father God taking our sin nature, sickness, disease, the curse of the law and spiritual death, and placing it all upon Jesus. (2 Corinthians 5:21, Isaiah 53:4-6, 10; Galatians 3:13; Colossians 1:18) Jesus has taken man's place, and the whole human race is now represented in Him, as He hangs there under judgment on the accursed tree. God takes your sin and mine, yes, the sin of the whole world, as well as sickness, disease, the curse of the law and spiritual death, and lets it fall upon His Son and as God turns His back to Him, He cries out, "My God, Mu God why have you forsaken Me." (Matthew 27:46) Not only did Jesus go to the cross to acquire mans freedom, but also descend into hell itself to pay the penalty of Man's high treason. (Psalm 16:10; Psalm 88; Acts 2:27) He took upon Himself the awful guilt to pay man's penalty, because God could not, nor would not pardon man until an adequate sacrifice had been made. (Romans 3:21-26)

He died as Jesus our Substitute, the Lamb of God who bore the sin of the world. But Peter tells us, (quoting David, Psalm 16:10) "For You will not leave my soul in Hades, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption." (Acts 2:27) After three days and nights in hell, Jesus arose as Lord, as Master of death, of hell and of the grave. He speaks to the Apostle John, "I was dead and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Hades and of Death." (Revelation 1:18) The matchless, mighty Christ had gone into the strong mans house and plundered his house and his goods. (Matthew 12:29; Luke 11:21-22) He had conquered Satan completely in honorable combat. He had taken from him his authority, his dominion; He brings it back and offers it to fallen man through His matchless name and grace.

What does this mean to us? It means that every person who repents, confesses with the mouth and believes in the heart, Jesus Christ as Lord and takes Him as his Savior, stands legally acquitted in the presence of God. It means Satan is defeated, and man can be free. This is independence, this is freedom and there is no other freedom from the foundations of the world that has or will ever surpass the freedom that our Heavenly Father has provided for all mankind through the LORD Jesus Christ. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:16-17) PTL. This is true Freedom for all!