Intro:
John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
John 1:13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (NKJV)
December 13th – Receive – (Cleansing & Saving)
December 20th – Become – (Transforming & Renewing)
December 20th – Become
Note: Today’s message is based on the assumption that Jesus was the only one raised from the dead. It makes Him special, unique, and the only one who defeated death and the grave.
The Different Origins of “Born”
John 1:13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (NKJV)
- Of blood – Will of flesh – Will of man – Of God
Jesus wasn’t born of human blood; He was born of God:
Things born of human blood, human flesh, or human will are not infused with divine life.
ILLUSTRATION: A Knights Tale – “change your stars”
There is only one birth source that infuses or imparts us with divine life.
When we humble ourselves and receive Him, we are forgiven, cleansed, and made alive and new:
- When we are born of God, we “become” children (sons/daughters) of God.
John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
What was preventing mankind from being sons of God prior to Jesus?
- It’s common for the world to use the following kind of terminology
We can’t go on pretending day by day
That someone somewhere will soon make a change
We’re all a part of God’s great big family
And the truth, you know
Love is all we need
- That was a verse to “We are the World”
- Is the world part of God’s great big family?
- The following verse answers this question
Col. 2:13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,
Col. 2:14 by cancelling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. (ESV)
- The great big family – God did create the world and ALL in it – including mankind
- But He gives us SPECIFIC requirements to be His children
Three things are mentioned as preventing us from being sons:
- Spiritual death – He made us alive
- Being dead in our sins – He forgave us
- The record of debt – he cancelled it
It’s not often that a creditor / lender cancels someone’s debt:
- God planned to cancel our debt – before the foundation of the world
- Sons/Daughters of God are no longer in debt
In the event that anyone would think only the Jews had a record of debt against them:
Rom. 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (ESV)
Rom. 5:12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned (ESV)
All of mankind has a record of debt – the way to get it paid off is to receive what Jesus has already accomplished:
Q: What is the record of debt?
A: The penalty of sin
What We “Become”
Alive
Eph. 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
Eph. 2:5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), (NKJV)
Equipped – Loaded – Deposited Into
Heb. 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (ESV)
- O.T. – tablets of stone
Family – (In relationship with)
John 14:23 Jesus answered him, “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. (ESV)
- Jesus talking to Jews who had a different set of commands
- He said if you keep my Word – The Father and I will move in
- All of us who received Him – By the Holy Spirit we have the Father and Son IN US
Saints
1 Cor. 1:2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: (ESV)
Destined
John 5:24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. (NKJV)
Luke 18:30 who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life. (NKJV)
Children (Sons/Daughters)
John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
Q: If we are children, are we no longer servants?
We can be servants of God without being children of God.
- It’s called religion – no relationship/birth – but sincere
- Some are sincerely radical and kill in the name of God
- God is love – we fight not in the flesh realm
However, once we’re children we desire to serve God.
Jesus is the Son of God and he has been that for eternity.
He both served/serves the Father with total commitment:
- He served not to win a place in the heart of His Father, since he already had that place.
Jesus served as an outflow of his Sonship.
What is the difference between those who are merely servants of God and those who are children?
- Children serve God because they love him and are loved by him. Those who are only servants do so because they must.
John 8:35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. (ESV)
We can devote our whole life trying to please God from the position of a servant and never receive the inheritance that He desires to give us.
That position is the one from which some try to please God by their works. This is impossible.
On the other hand…We can come to God through Jesus Christ, receive his grace and become children of God.
We then can devote the rest of our lives serving God in total obedience out of gratefulness for his immense grace.
It’s an honour to be called God’s servants when we first become children of God.
Unto US a Child was born so WE could be born and BECOME children!
