Becoming A Son

now, if the Spirit puts to death the deeds of the flesh we will live, for those led by the Spirit exist the sons of God (Romans 8:12)

Those led by the Spirit put to death the deeds of the flesh. Challenging words. Notice, the word for sons υἱός (hyios) "those led by the Spirit exists the sons of God" and the word for children τέκνον (teknon) used in the next few verses "... the Spirit himself testifies with ours that we exist children of God and if children then heirs... provided we suffer with him" (Romans 8:15-17). Do you see the maturing or perfecting process?

Children have testimony of the Spirit, that they exist a child of of God. But a son has grown into maturity, being led by the Spirit to put to death the deeds of the flesh. Paul wrote earlier in this letter, "knowing this, because our old self was crucified with him, so that the body of sin would be rendered useless..." (Romans 6:6). These are teachings of baptism that those who follow Christ should commit to (Romans 6:17). Dying to the old self and the Spirit putting to death the deeds of the flesh are equivalent and seen in the difference of maturity between a child and young person. It is also explained as transformation, the old is transformed into the new, Paul writing this our reasonable service and acceptable sacrifice to God where we present the body, the old self, a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2).

John speaks of the difference of maturity, "my children I write these things so you may not sin" and "whoever keeps his word truly in them the love of God is perfected" and "I am writing to you children because your sins are forgiven... and you know the Father" and "I am writing to you young person because you are strong... the word of God abides in you... and you have overcome the evil one" (1 John 2).

and if children (teknon) then heirs, heirs of God together with Christ, provided we suffer with him so also to be glorified with him (Romans 8:17)

God predestined us as his own, as children of God, adopting us of his Spirit (Ephesians 1:5). In which we become co-heirs with Christ, who became like his brethren in the flesh, so to give us the right to become children. As children (teknon) the Spirit testifies that we are his own (Romans 8:16) and so does the blood of the new covenant. As sons (hyios) the water testifies, seen in the teachings of baptism, that the old man has been crucified with Christ, dead to sin and made alive to God. The testimony is in the experiential knowing of the truth that sets one free.

The water is not a testimony of the washing of dirt from the body but of a good conscious toward God (1 Peter 3:21) in that we are indebted as children to grow up and bear fruit of righteousness. To live according to our new nature, and if we do not we will not have a good conscious toward God. It is a testimony of becoming a son, having died and been buried with him, conformed to his death, having fellowship in his suffering, sin rendered useless. A son comes into existence alive to God, led by the Spirit to put to death the deeds of the flesh, walking in step with the Spirit of truth, walking in newness of life. A son is strong because the word of God abides in him as the Spirit has led and guided him into this truth, to abide in him whose words exist truth, life, and the way to freedom.

that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of the children (teknon) of God... (Romans 8:21-24)

Creation itself has been groaning and suffering up until this hour and we ourselves who have the first fruits of the Spirit grown inwardly awaiting our adoption, the redemption of our body. This is the battle, victorious, but not yet. Christ has been placed over all things, but it is clear not all things have yet been placed under his feet, the final thing to be place under his feet being death (Ephesians 1:22; 1 Corinthians 15:19-29).

The gospel is one in which we are saved and being saved (1 Corinthians 15:1-2). And of one that states one day we will be saved as we await our Saviors return, we await the fullness of our salvation, a body without decay, corruption, and sin. So we fight the good fight, run the race set before us in order to receive the prize, becoming a son receiving our inheritance the crown of life, the gain of knowing Christ and his life. We do so because Christ has laid hold of us, urging us on because we are his own.

My little children (teknon) for whom I am again in the pain of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, (Galatians 4:19)

Being a new creation in Christ we await the glorious freedom as children of God. We await the fullness of our inheritance as sons of God, in which the Spirit is a guarantor of the redemption of his own (Ephesians 1:14). The Spirit interceding, groaning to deep for words inwardly in our weakness... as we are becoming sons being formed into our true identity, into the image of his Son.

The Crucible

" The LORD will go forth like a warrior, He will arouse His zeal like a man of war. He will utter a shout, yes, He will raise a war cry. He will prevail against His enemies ." 1 He will arouse His zeal like a man of war. The definition of zeal is great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective. It is this time, to arouse zeal, shout, raise a war cry! As Paul writes, " In diligence not lagging in spirit being fervent serving the Lord ." 2 Our energy comes in the bond of brotherhood, formed in the crucible of combat. A crucible is place of severe test or trial, it is derived from Latin crucibulum ("night-lamp, metallurgic melting-pot"), and is a derivative of crux ("cross"). 3 The Bible speaks of the crucible of the cross for Jesus and for those who follow Him. The purpose of a soldier is two-fold; to accomplish the mission and to care for one another, as commanded. Each soldier has a role to play on a team. Without knowin...

One Grace

" moreover, One, to each of us has been given Grace, according to the measure of the gift of Christ ." 1 Grace is a founding principle of Christianity. It is by Grace we grow into the fullness of Christ through faith; " to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. " 2 Without Grace we will never reach this fullness. The weakness in the Law was it attempted to do it in the flesh, and people failed over and over, so God in His infinite wisdom, unveiled this mystery, through faith in Christ we have grace to boldly approach His throne of Grace, to receive grace and mercy as needed! This gift of Grace is properly understood by examining this verse in three parts; moreover, One Grace, to each of us has been given, according to the measure of the gift of Christ . First, we understand, One grace, it is easy to miss the One, and this verse is translated in different ways, I believe it says One Grace and i...

Word Of Life

"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life. " 1 Jesus is the Word, He was in the beginning with God. 2 All things were made through Him. He is the Word and Light of men, the way, the path, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." 4 Thus we can say as the Psalmist, Jesus, the Word, is a Lamp unto my feet, and a Light unto my path. 5 "In him was life, and the life was the light of men." 6 Concerning the Word of Life, " the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life ," Proclaimed, that our joy may be complete, a glory like that in the beginning, fellowship with the Father, with one another, and with his Son Jesus Christ, the Word of Life. "You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot...

Those He Calls He Equips

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen . Hebrews 13:20-21 When God calls us he equips us, the God of Peace, the one who brought us from the dead by the blood of the Eternal Covenant, will equip you so to do his will. So in this concept of being equipped, we see the calling being irrevocable. "For it is God who works in you to Will and to act on behalf of his good pleasure." Philippians 2:13 God called you, he's working in you equipping you to work on behalf of his good pleasure. "So that the man of God may be complete fully equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:17 . In Hebrews 12 we read God disciplines those he loves, so that we share in his holy character, as the scriptures...

Truth All Around You

Stand then girding your loins in truth and putting on the breastplate of righteousness. * How can a soldier stand in battle if he has not been prepared, trained? How can a house stand if it has been built on sand? How can we stand against spiritual forces if we have not been prepared? Our battle is not against flesh and blood so in regards to such, what good is armor to a child or how can one stained with dirty clothes stand with a defiled conscious? To stand one must be prepared, be his workmanship, someone prepared beforehand to do battle. For this purpose you begin girding your loins in truth, putting on truth, wrapping truth all around you. ... girding your loins in truth... * The word girding is perizōnnymi (from peri "about, around" and zōnnymi "put on") meaning around about put on. Often gird your loins with truth is translated as putting on a belt. Surely we can say truth holds on the garments and confidence in truth is important in standing. I like th...

Hypocrisy and Self-righteousness

“ Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you ” Matthew 7:1–2 In Mathew 7 Jesus is speaking out against hypocrisy, he coins the term, it is exposed as a very serious sin. Because of their hypocrisy these religious leaders were leading his people astray. Today it is the same, it is a top reason why people do not attend a church. Of course we blame the sinner and hear cute little sayings like, come join us you will fit right in... which makes light of the situation. On a more serious note, Jesus gives seven woes to the Pharisees, he even warns them of hell fire and damnation, for their hypocrisy and self-righteousness. Hypocrisy is basically pretending to be something you are not, it is not to be confused with our imperfection. Our righteousness is found in Christ alone, not in self. Hypocrisy and self righteousness is usually seen by others when we in our own righteousn...

Formed Into The Same Image

because those he foreknew also he predestined, to form to the image of His Son, to the extent He exists the firstborn of many brethren . * The word for form in this verse is σύμμορφος ( symmorphos ) from sym "same, with, or together" and morphos "form or shape." We are being formed, shaped into the same image as Christ. This word has the same root word morphos as in transformed, μεταμορφόω ( metamorphos ) from meta "among, with, after" and morphos "form or shape." Into the same form as Christ we are predestined. Adam was a living soul, but Christ was a life giving Spirit. Adam was formed in the image of God but that image was corrupted. In Christ we are formed a new, so that image is being restored. To be a Christian is more than just doing good works, more than just going to heaven, we are called to be formed into an image after Christ, Christ like. who will transfigure our lowly bodies into the same form as his glorious body, according t...

Feed On Me

"Just as the living Father sent Me and I live because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on Me will live because of Me." 1 This "living" Jesus speaks of is eternal or everlasting Life but what does this mean? Is this life an after life in heaven as traditionally taught or something we begin to experience here on earth? We read that Life is in knowing, a personal experience, " this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent ." 2 We receive the Spirit of life when we first believed, but the true disciple of Christ is known by abiding, these have learned that Life is in eating the bread of Life and drinking living water. Life is in Christ, all else has become as rubbish but to know Christ, and the Life he gives, "so also the one who feeds on Me will live." "So He said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples. and you will know the truth, ...

Kiss the Son

Why do the nations rage and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel, together against Yahweh and against his anointed. Break apart their bands and cast away their cords. He who sits in the heavens laughs, Yahweh scoffs. Then shall he speak unto them with anger, fury, and dismay. I established my King upon Zion, My Holy Hill. I will declare the decree of Yahweh who said, you are my son, you I have this day begotten. Ask concerning, I will establish nations your inheritance Your possession the uttermost parts of the earth. You shall afflict them with a staff of iron on a potter's vessel dashed to pieces. Now, O, kings be wise, be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with reverence and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son lest he be angry, and you perish from the way, because brutish is his wrath. Blessed are all who put their trust in Him. 1

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