Labor Filled With Love

According to the United States Department of Labor, Labor Day, which falls on the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. From a life perspective, Labor Day for most means, summer vacation is over, students return to school, college and universities to begin a new year of learning, which labels Labor Day as the unofficial end of summer. 

In a similar way, believers are called to also celebrate Labor Day but for more than one day a year. The Apostle Paul tells us, "And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves." (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13) Who they were is not mentioned. However, it is evident that the church was not left without appointed persons to equip the saints for the work of ministry. We know that there were elders ordained over the church at Ephesus, and over the churches in Crete (Acts 20:17; Titus 1:5), and that there were bishops and deacons at Philippi (Philemon 1:1), and here, "who are over you in the Lord" would lead us to believe that similar leaders would have been appointed in every newly organized church.  

In the King James Version of the Bible the phrase "recognize those who labor among you" is "know them which labor among you." This gives the idea of not only church leaders, but also those who labor as coordinators or head over ministries, those active in ministry, as well as elders, bishops and deacons and in fact every believer, because we are all called to preach the gospel. The word “know” carries with it the idea that the believers in the local church were not to make themselves strangers toward those who labor in ministry or to be ignorant of their needs. They should also seek to be personally acquainted with them and trust them concerning their own personal life as well as spiritual matters.   

"And admonish you" means, to put in mind; and then to warn, entreat, exhort. It is a part of the duty of church leaders to put the people in whom they serve and lead in mind of the truth; to warn them of danger; to exhort them to perform their duty; to admonish them if they go astray. As those who labor perform these duties, believers are to respond by "esteeming them very highly in love." Church leaders who are faithful in their office and function, can expect high regard from the believers they lead and serve, not because they deserve it, per se, but because of their unwavering labors. The Apostle Paul tells Timothy something similar, "Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine." (1 Timothy 5:17)

Paul tells, of these laborers, "My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you." (Galatians 4:19) Here is a striking illustration of what church leaders are to do concerning the people they lead and serve. Church leaders are to labor over the people until Christ reigns wholly in their hearts. Church leaders who are truly called into the ministry will labor over the people they lead and serve not as a labor of struggle or because it is their "job," but as a labor of love. Paul tells us, "We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves." (Romans 15:1) The phrase "who are strong" means the strong “in faith” not limited to, but most likely church leaders who should not be novices, but be mature, strong in faith. They ought to bear; to lift up; to bear away; to remove; to bear with; to endure patiently, the weaknesses of the weaker believers. Church leaders should be willing to deny themselves to promote the happiness of others.  

So, this Labor Day let us all be mindful, that as Christians, especially those called into the ministry, we are not to observe a day free of labor, but we are called to labor with one another in love, until Christ is formed in you. Happy Labor Days...    

Through Faith

The Apostle Paul tells us, "For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith." (Romans 1:17) The only way to know God, His will, nature, character, purpose and plan is by faith, period! There is no other way. (Hebrews 11:6) The phrase “The just shall live by faith." is also mentioned in the book of Habakkuk, Galatians and Hebrews, meaning, the just person, or the righteous person, shall live by his confidence, total trust in God. Due to this phrase mentioned four time, it should cause church leaders to come to the place where faith is talked about, preached and taught on a regular bases. However, the topic or subject of faith is rarely taught in the majority of Christendom. Why?  

Unfortunately, there are always some people who will take a truth to an extreme so that it becomes a stronghold and then a legalistic dogma until, finally, it becomes a complete impediment to what God wants to do. Faith is one of those truths that can be misunderstood if not properly taught as revealed in the Bible. Some people think they live by faith, when, in reality they are far from doing so. In many cases, their faith has been reduced to the natural realm. However, faith is actually of the spiritual or supernatural realm. Many miss it and operate in presumption and or optimism which can sometimes resemble faith, but are not faith at all.  

The word faith in Hebrews 11:1 is translated from the Greek meaning "conviction" or "firm persuasion." The Amplified Bible records it this way, "Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses]." As you can see through this verse, faith has nothing to do with presumption or optimism. The factor that assures us that God will act is that He cannot lie or fail to keep His Word. (Number 23:19) If His Word says something, you can rest assured that it will be as He has said and it will manifest in the exact way that he said it. (Isaiah 55:11)

Faith is the divine ability of God given to man to go beyond the natural realm and into the spiritual, supernatural realm. You may have heard the expression "blind faith." However, this is far from the truth. Faith enables us to see into the spiritual realm. God created the natural realm and while He manifests Himself and His works in visible form in the natural or physical realm, He is not bound by the natural realm. He is far beyond time, space and matter. For the born again believer, God has enabled him to operate in both the natural and the spiritual or supernatural realm and although this becomes a reality to the born again believer, many reject such teaching due to a lack of true faith. Trying to believe God with human intellect or reason alone won't work and it will never increase our level of faith. The devil's tactic has not changed. He works hard to keep the church within the limits of human reason, as he did to Eve in the Garden of Eden. In a sense, each time we seek to understand God through reason or the intellect, we once again eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  

Even though human intellect and reason are the enemy of faith, they do have their place. Intellect and reason are God given and when properly understood and used, give us the ability to operate in the natural realm. However, if we try applying them to understanding the spiritual realm, or to bring spiritual realities into the natural realm, it will not work because the invisible spiritual realm is superior to, and has dominion over, the visible natural realm. The Apostle Paul tells us, "But the natural [unbelieving] man does not accept the things [the teachings and revelations] of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness [absurd and illogical] to him; and he is incapable of understanding them, because they are spiritually discerned and appreciated, [and he is unqualified to judge spiritual matters]." (1 Corinthians 2:14 AMP) In other words, to spiritually discern the things of God, is to act in faith. 

According to the writer of Hebrews, "By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible." (Hebrews 11:3) Notice, that faith in God and His Word comes before understanding. It is faith that gives us the understanding of how our universe ultimately came to be not the opposite, nor, just because the Bible reveals this and if we confess that we are a Christian, we must acknowledge this fact whether or not we truly believe. The Apostle Paul gives us some great insight concerning how to operate in our Christianity, "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love." (Galatians 5:6) This is the heart of Christianity. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all... 

The Father's Love

Did you ever have someone come and say to you, "God loves you", but you were not really sure that He did (does)?  There are many in the church today that have experienced new birth but are not absolutely sure, deep within their heart, that God loves them. Jesus tells us, "For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God." (John 16:27)  In this sentence, Jesus has given us a picture of God the Father's Heart. It is a Father who loves His children; a Father whose heart is reaching out tenderly toward His own family. So, take a moment and meditate on the above verse. What comfort there is in this precious thought, that the God of creation, Almighty God, the Father Himself loves us without condition. This means that even with all the burdens, cares and even our failures that we may carry or experience in this life, the Father Himself loves us. No matter whatever the heartache, whatever the struggle, whatever the secret grief, the heart of God the Father yearns over us. 

When believers come to accept the surrounding abounding love of the Father, what peace floods the soul; what courage to fight the battle when every reason for living has gone and death would be a relief. We can take the battle up again and carry it on to victory, because we know that He loves us. As long as we are loved, and as long as we can love, there is a reason for being in the world, but when we cease to love and cease to be the object of 1ove, then the reason for being ends. Look at the Words of Jesus, "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 such a wonderful promise. The Creator of everything seen and unseen, He who has charge of every form of life, every star in the universe, every blade of grass, every flower and tree, He whose ear is open to the heart of every human, will come in and make His home with us. 

The heart can hardly take it in. The mind can barely comprehend the fact that the Father and Son will come and dwell with (in) us. Honestly, it does not seem credible that He will live in us but He has promised to do it. (John 14:16) What a blessing, what a wonder, that the Omnipotent God will come into us and make His home. He does this because of His great love. He comes and gives us wisdom to deal with all areas of this life, (Colossians 3:16); to help us in those dark hours when we do not know what to do, (Psalm 18); to strengthen us in our times of weakness, (2 Corinthians 12:9); to give us the ability to know His will, (Colossians 1:9) and much, much more. How the Father's heart yearns for us, craves for us. What a blessing He has bestow upon us, what riches are ours to inherit, what fellowship we can have, all due to the Father's limitless love for us. 

Look at just how great the Father's love is for you, "And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them." (John 17:26) The Father loves you even as He loved Jesus. You may not be able to understand it. It may not sound reasonable, but it is true and utterly beautiful to not only think about, but moreover receive it in your heart. Not only is God love (1 John 4:16), but He gives His love nature to us. (1 John 4:7-11) Think about it, if we walk in love, we will never sin. Isn't that wonderful? God's love solves the problem of the human condition. To live in love's realm; to learn love's language; love's methods and love's way, will set us completely free (1 John 4:17-19) and we will speak aloud, "God is love; this God of love is my Father; I am His child and He truly loves me. (1 John 3:1)

So, how can I come to know the love of the Father? Learn to think in terms of love. The Apostle Paul tells us, "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things." (Philippians 4:8) Learn to give in to love so that your action are a reflection of Jesus, who is love. Let the Jesus kind of love reign in your hearts until every thought and all of your words will be covered in love. So, today let us declare that we are going to let the love of God rule us in every way, in all that we think, do and say. "Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Romans 5:5) Open your heart and receive God's love for you today, knowing that "nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ." (Romans 8:39)

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