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 Tripartite Nature of Humanity: Spirit, Soul, and Body

The Tripartite Nature of Humanity: Spirit, Soul, and Body in Biblical Understanding The human being, as depicted in the Bible, is a multifaceted creation, often understood through the distinct yet interconnected components of spirit, soul, and body. While some theological perspectives lean towards a bipartite view (soul and body), which we do see in the Old Testament, a careful examination of the New Testament scripture reveals a compelling case for a tripartite understanding, where each is divided into or composed of three parts. Let’s explore the biblical distinction between spirit, soul, and body. The Body: Our Earthly Vessel The body is the physical form that interacts with the material world. From the very beginning, Genesis 2:7 states, " Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being ." This verse clearly establishes the body's origin from the earth, emphasizing its connec...

True Widows: A Biblical Perspective

True Widows: A Biblical Perspective Throughout Scripture, God's compassion for widows is evident. He is portrayed as their defender, provider, and source of justice. The Bible repeatedly calls believers to care for widows, reflecting God's own heart for the vulnerable. However, in his letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul provides a specific definition of a "true" widow, emphasizing the church's responsibility in supporting those who are genuinely in need. God's Compassion for Widows The Old Testament is rich with passages that reveal God's concern for widows. In Exodus 22:22, God commands, "You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child." This verse underscores His protective nature, ensuring that widows are not mistreated or neglected. Similarly, Deuteronomy 10:18 declares, "He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing." Here, God is depicted as a just and loving prov...

The Persuasion of Faith: Theological Foundations of Trust, Persuasion, and Transformation

The Persuasion of Faith: Theological Foundations of Trust, Persuasion, and Transformation Introduction The interconnectedness of faith and trust lies at the very heart of Christian theology, yet these terms are frequently conflated or oversimplified in both personal devotion and academic discourse. The Greek root of "faith," πείθω ( peithō ), meaning "to be persuaded," provides critical insight into biblical faith, suggesting that faith involves a process where conviction is formed through persuasion—one that originates from the trustworthy character and actions of God. Contrary to interpretations that require blind obedience or uncritical acceptance, the Christian Scriptures depict trust not as a demand, but as a relational response to God’s persuasive self-revelation. This dynamic is embodied in the ministry of Jesus, who consistently subverts authority structures by exalting humility, service, and self-giving love as prerequisites for true greatness—a recurr...

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...

My Rightousness

" Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb...

Divine Persuasion

" I say to you there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner repenting. " 2 This word for repent is metanoéō (from metá, "changed after being with" and noiéō, "think.") Oh many have misused this word. We are changed after being with Jesus. The woman at the well was changed after being with Jesus. The Bible says repentance is of the will of God, without regret. This word for " without regret " means not to be repented of, about which no change of mind can take place. Repentance like faith, a Divine Persuasion. Repentance is a change of mind that we do not change our minds about, or repent of. We know that the mind regulates the heart and the word of God discerns the thoughts and intentions of the heart thus it is through the mind the power of God is manifested in our hearts. Through the mind we are divinely persuaded or convinced of God. " Indeed, according to God the heart-sorrow repentance without regret produces salvation,...

I Will Awake Like Him and Be Satisfied

I Will Awake Like Him and Be Satisfied Psalm 17:15 frames the believer’s hope as both present communion and future consummation: “ As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness .” This essay develops Charles Spurgeon’s reflection by adding the biblical emphases that we are being conformed to Christ now, that the Spirit gives life to our mortal bodies, and that our final awakening will reveal the full redemption of those bodies in Christ’s likeness. Present beholding and present transformation We already “behold the face of the Lord in righteousness” because Christ’s righteousness has reconciled us and opened intimate access to God. That beholding is not passive sight but an active, formative encounter: “We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18). Faith fixes our gaze ...

Stay In The Fold

I have other sheep which are not of this fold. These too I must bring in. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock, with one shepherd (John 10:16) Two becoming one speaks that there is only one fold in the new covenant, and being part of this fold is not based upon the fleshly birth but of the Spirit, so both Jews and Gentiles who believe in Jesus will enter the fold where Jesus is the Good Shepherd. A sheepfold is a robust fenced enclosure to protect the sheep gathered within it. Figuratively Jesus uses the idea that we are sheep in his fold. When comparing God's children to a flock or sheep in his fold we see he calls them by their name, and they follow him because they know his voice (John 10:3). When he brings the sheep out [of the fold] he goes before them and they follow him because they know his voice (John 10:4). They will not follow a stranger's voice because they do not trust his voice, but they know the good shepherd will protect them and care for an...

Law of the Heart

" The one who has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. And the one who loves me will be loved by my Father. I also will love him and will reveal myself to him " (John 14:21). Most people think this means obeying the ten commandments or Mosaic law. While obeying the law is important there is a greater meaning. The commands are the ones God said he would write on our hearts. “ I will put my law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people " (Jeremiah 31:31-34). This is the new covenant, in which we are the heirs through Jesus Christ who is the first (Romans 8:23; Colossians 1:13-18). The heirs of Abraham are made righteous through faith, for if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is void and the promise nullified (Romans 4:13-14). The righteousness of God has been manifested, through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe (Romans 3:21-22). What the law could not do, in bringing right...

The Children of the Promise

not all the children of Abraham are descendants, rather "in Isaac that your descendants are called." This means it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God but the children of the promise are counted as descendants (Romans 9:7-8) The concept of "The Children of the Promise" is deeply rooted in Scripture, offering a profound understanding of God's covenant with humanity. Romans 9:8 declares, "That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring." This verse serves as a cornerstone in grasping the distinction between mere physical descent and the spiritual lineage established through faith in God's promises fulfilled in Christ. Abraham, often called the father of faith, exemplifies this spiritual inheritance. Genesis 15:6 affirms, "And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness." Abraham's faith in God's promises, ra...

Love Fulfilled Ministry

Search This Blog