III.–SONSHIP.
One of the most frequent expressions which one hears now in public, is "brother," and while it is true that God was creator of man, and consequently all men in that sense are equally His creatures, yet if such a word is used to express " the universal Fatherhood of God," Scripture very clearly shows the untruthfulness of such a theory, which at present has become quite common in "religious circles." Of course, such a thought ignores the fall of man, denies the atonement of Christ as a necessity, and does away with the need of being "born again." But "to the law and to the testimony:if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them" (Isa. 8:20).
I. Our position naturally.
"Wherein in times past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:"
"Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others" (Eph. 2:2, 3). " Because the carnal mind is enmity against God:for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be."
"So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God" (Rom. 8:7, 8). And our blessed Lord Jesus said to the Pharisees, "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do." . . .
(John 8:44), and this latter is spoken too by that blessed One who was to undertake the work which . was to free from the bondage of Satan and bring all believing on Him into the place of sonship before God. It is said of Him that " He knew what was in man," (John 2:25) and no one was more tender and compassionate than He, and none more frank in all His words and manner, and yet dealing in complete justice as to sin. See also Eph. 2:12; James 4:4, etc.
2. How Sonship is obtained.
It might be well to recall the fact that "sons" in Scripture, refers to dignity of position, while "child " or "children" refers to relationship of the believer with the Father. Jacob in his parting blessing to his sons, calls, " Reuben thou art my firstborn . . . the excellency of dignity " (Gen. 49:3).
It is also noteworthy that while "sons " are found in Paul's Epistles, believers are always called "children " in John's Epistles, which have reference to the family relationship. Faith must precede filial relationship to God:"As many as received Him, to them gave He the power (right or privilege) to become the sons (children) of God, even to them that believe on His Name:which 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).
It is to be observed all this honor is conferred by actual spiritual birth which takes place when any poor, guilty, condemned sinner, receives by faith, not by feeling, the Lord Jesus Christ as his own personal Saviour.
The expression:-
"Not of blood," means not by lineage.
"Nor of the will of the flesh," not anything flesh
can do, or any improvement in it. " Nor of the will of man," not anything man can do, no resolves, such as " I am going to be a Christian, and live a good life." "But of God" means it is a work of God in the soul, the moment a poor guilty, lost sinner, conscious of his condition, believes on the Lord Jesus Christ, as made known in the gospel (i Pet. 1:23-25; 2 Pet. 1:4; Eph. 2:10.)
3.When obtained.
"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not."
"Beloved, now are we the sons of God." . . . (i John 3:. i, 2).
Much of the truth of Scripture is missed by passing over the small words in the verses, which often give special force to the expressions; as for instance, the little word "so" in John 3:16, "as," and "so" in Heb. 9:27, 28, etc, and the word "now" in the verse quoted above. See also Phil. 2:15; Gal. 4:7; John 1:12; Eph. 2:19, 20; Rom. 8:14; 2 Cor. 6:14-18. These with many other verses, show this to be a present blessing, the portion of believers now, in this world (Gal. 3:26).
No wonder the apostle seems struck with wonder, as the Holy Ghost speaking by him, calls attention to the "manner of love" 1:e., the character of God's love. Oh wondrous blessing, marvelous grace; that God who is "of purer eyes than to behold evil" (Hab. 1:13), would and does confer this precious honor upon any and every poor sinner, who with repentant heart turns in faith to our Lord Jesus Christ.
4.Present blessing, and future glory.
"And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father."
"Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son ; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ" (Gal. 4:6, 7; Rom. 8:14, 15). Beloved Christian reader, do you really believe these things, that they are yours, aye, for the very weakest, youngest, babe in Christ, not merely to be possessed by some old saints who have endured a long life of conflict, but they are the free gift of God to the youngest in the faith? and all by sovereign grace-think of the dignity, the wealth, the cause, as the words "a son," "heir of God," "through Christ" come prominently out in the verse.
And think of the future,
"Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me, where I am, that they may behold My glory" . . . (John 17:24), "and it doth not yet appear what we shall be:but we know that when He shall appear we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is" (i John 3:2).
"For our conversation (citizenship) is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ; who shall change our vile (humiliated) body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body" etc. (Phil. 3:20, 21).
For the manifestation of this the dead in Christ wait (i Thess. 4:14-18). Creation waits with groaning (Rom. 8:19-22). Space does not admit of more extended research into these gracious blessings, which if the Lord please may come before us later, for "eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him" (i Cor. 2:9, 10). O believer, how rich and honored thou art of God thy Father. How responsible too to walk worthy of the dignities conferred. B. W. J.