Some thoughts concerning the essence of true freedom

Romans 8:1-2 "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death."

Introduction: Comparing National Freedom and Spiritual Freedom

When we talk about freedom, what comes to mind? Undoubtedly the 4th of July celebrates the freedom we have as Americans. American freedom is marked by "independence". The opening paragraph of the Declaration of Independence, states: "When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation."

The July 4, 1776 Declaration of Independence represents the quintessential statement of freedom that birthed forth our nation. Inasmuch as "independence" often marks freedom in respect to men, the opposite is the case in matters relating to the Christian life. 

Sin at its very core attempts to envision life independent from God. Whenever a Christian tries to live apart from submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, the Christian life becomes locked down. Today's post is about explaining Romans 8:1-11 in what we could call: "the declaration of dependence". We will propose that true spiritual freedom is dependence by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

The natural human realm generally shows that life independent from God leads to tyranny

The founding fathers of this nation understood as a general principle that living apart from God and His word will only lead to further human tyranny. Unless many of them had either been Christians or at least had been exposed to the Gospel, such an insight might not have been gained. Tyranny is the inevitable outcome whenever a nation or a people attempt to cut its moorings from God. 

Charles Carroll, one of the signers of the "Declaration of Independence", notes: "Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who are decrying the Christian religion, whose morality is so sublime and pure...are undermining the solid foundation of morals, the best security for the duration of free governments." Carroll's statement shows that with respect to God in general, what marks true freedom (even more so than national freedom) is not independence, but dependence. The specific revelation of this point in scripture itself reinforces the argument in texts such as Proverbs 14:34 and Jeremiah 18:7-10. 

Spiritual freedom is dependence upon God

Only when one has become born-again by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, the greatest and most purest freedom is experienced. Spiritual freedom is dependence upon the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself states in John 8:34-36 "Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. 36 So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed." 

Spiritual freedom's core trait of dependence upon the Lord Jesus Christ is total opposite to how we may typically think of freedom in the natural realm. Galatians 5:1 states - "It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery." The yoke of slavery made us dead in sins and trespasses and separated from God, without hope in this world. (Ephesians 2:12) Jesus Himself states in Matthew 11:28  “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." True freedom is experienced as a result of submission under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. (Luke 9:23-24) Freedom is dependence on God in Jesus Christ.

For people who find themselves enslaved to their past, the chief mark of life is (perceived) independence from God. Paul reminds the Thessalonians of the change that took place in them in 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 - "For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, 10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come." 

What about present circumstances? Reliance upon God entails exercising forgiveness towards those who have wronged us. Whenever we forgive, we are laying aside our so-called "rights" of gaining vengeance and instead depending upon what Jesus did on the cross as our paradigm for spiritual freedom (Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13). There is never any greater freedom found than when we forgive. In Jesus Christ, our past and our present find freedom. 

Unlike our civil freedom in which we broke ties with a human Sovereign, the Gospel declares that true freedom is only found when we are reconciled to the Divine Sovereign. Spiritual freedom is dependence upon God.

Getting real specific about spiritual freedom in the Gospel - The believer's declaration of dependence - Romans 8:1-11

In general the scriptures assert this underlying premise that true spiritual freedom results from dependence, rather than independence from God. In Romans 8:1-11 Paul spells out what is entailed in the wonder of spiritual freedom that the Christian enjoys as a result of the Gospel. Spiritual freedom in Christ means we have been freed "from" things and are free "to" things. 

1. Freedom from condemnation. 8:1-2

2. Freedom to desire God.   8:5-8

3. Freedom to live for God.   8:3-4,9-11

When we are set free by Jesus Christ in saving faith, we find that we are free to do what we ought to do. You and I cannot get "out" of condemnation unless we are "in" Christ. Romans 8:2 describes how this occurs: namely by the Spirit of Life and His guiding influence or what Paul terms "law". 

On February 20, 1962, decorated WWII and Korean War veteran John Glenn circumnavigated our globe three times in a span of just under 5 hours. Reaching speeds of over 17,000 m.p.h, Glenn achieved a feat that no one had ever accomplished. How did he do it? He did this otherwise impossible feat by climbing into the Mercury program space capsule known as "Friendship 7". Moreover, the laws of lift and science of rocketry were necessary to overcome the other leading influence - gravity. Glenn's inaugural journey was one of the quintessential moments that launched the modern space race. You and I dear friend need to be "in Christ" if we are to declare dependence on God and be set free from condemnation.

Closing thoughts & applications

By being set free from condemnation and set free to desire God, the sinner is transformed into a saint who now can live for God. True freedom depends on God through faith in Jesus Christ, both in the beginning and ongoing realities of Christian salvation. This is what makes Romans 8:1-11 so wonderful, in that it is the believer's “declaration of dependence”. The irony of the Gospel is that one is never more free than when their bound to Jesus Christ. True freedom as spelled out in Romans 8:1-11 means:

1). Freed from condemnation as a result of depending on His righteousness (Romans 8:1-2).

2). Free to desire God as a result of dying to my own selfish desires (Romans 8:5-8).

3). Free to live for God as a result of dying to self (Romans 8:3-4, 9-11) Jesus taught that such freedom is at the heart of what it means to be a follower of Him (Luke 9:23-24; 14:26-33; Romans 6:19-20).

Life-practical applications of the Gospel's core truth: Justification by Faith Alone

Romans 1:17 "For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.”

Introduction
Today's post aims to discuss, illustrate and demonstrate the life-practical applications of the Gospel's central doctrine of justification by faith alone.

Illustrating Justification by Faith - The Calvary Express Card
I can recall one-time being behind a person at a checkout line who was purchasing a large number of items. When the clerk brought up their total, the person began thumbing through their cards. They put part of the purchase on one card and then put the remainder of the purchase on another. The total amount was placed on the credit cards and thus, the register showed nothing was owed. Perhaps you have witnesses that too, or, perhaps you and I have been in that predicament. We all know that at the end of the month, we will get a bill listing our charges. Credit indicates that another party is paying what I owe, with the idea that I am the one being credited with the purchase, even though everyone knows that it is not "me" but ultimately someone else's money. There will be interest charges to pay on such funds - and thus that is how it works in the realm of human credit.

When it comes to Divine credit, we come to God with our sins, our life and our moral debts. All of our attempts to pay the bill are futile. We are maxed out. However, God alerts us to a line of credit paid in full by Jesus Christ and presents to us what we could call "The Calvary Express Card". If we will but surrender ourselves in trust to Him, God will credit our account and wipe the debt clean. He will "impute" or "credit" Jesus' perfect life of obedience and perfect death for the penalty of our sins to our account. Why? Because on the cross, our sinful disobedient lives and rightful deserving of judgment was credited to Jesus (see Romans 3:21-25; 2 Corinthians 5:21). This act of God at saving faith is what the Bible calls "justification by faith", and represents the core of the Gospel.  

How the Old Testament teaches Justification by Faith
Romans 4:3 gives us a profound statement on how one man, Abraham, was deemed acceptable, pure and innocent in the sight of God: “For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” The Apostle Paul of course is getting into the heart of the Gospel by unfolding to us the doctrine of justification by faith. Contrary to what some may teach, the Old Testament does not teach one way of salvation and the New Testament another. 

Paul’s whole point in explaining how the righteousness of God is brought down to the sinner at saving faith is to show how such truth was communicated in the Old Testament, beginning with the Book of Genesis. In Genesis 15:6, we read the same identical words: “Then he believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.” Whenever we survey the Old and New Testaments, we find this central theme of the Gospel of “credited righteousness” or what is also called “Justification by faith”. (Psalm 32:1-2; Habakkuk 2:4)

Defining righteousness and its relationship to Jesus Christ and justification
What is righteousness? we can define it as: “a life and conduct that is perfectly pleasing before God.” Jesus is the only One who has fulfilled such a standard. As God - He is the basis of righteousness. As man, He fulfilled all that was required by God with respect to a human being having the capability of having a relationship with Him. 

So then, how does Christ's righteousness become my own? For we know from scripture that self-righteousness or any attempt to gain salvation by our own efforts falls far short of the purity, innocence and perfection that God and Christ have. Romans 3:20 states – “because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.” Galatians 3:11 echoes similarly – “Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “The righteous man shall live by faith.”

Notice how often we see the terms “justified” or “credited” or “reckoned”. These terms explain how the righteousness achieved by Jesus Christ in both His life, death and resurrection are transferred to the sinner’s account. 

To use another illustration, think of what occurs when we write a check. Whenever a person writes a check and gives it to another as a gift, what happens is that the monetary amount written on that check is coming out of someone’s account. It was earned by labor or some other way. Whenever they give that check as a gift, the recipient must receive it in order to place it in their account. Once the person brings the check to the bank, the bank teller looks at the check and looks at the person who signed the check on the back and applies it to the recipient’s account. What has happened? the bank has regarded that money as the recipient’s own, even though the check clearly came from another person from the outside.  This illustration serves to aid in understanding how the righteousness of God and Christ is applied to sinner’s life at salvation. 

Why faith alone is necessary and sufficient to receive justification from God
Faith alone is both necessary and sufficient. Faith is the means by which the righteous merit of Christ’s life, death and resurrection is applied and received. The cross of Christ is the grounds and the choice and calling of God to that sinner is the beginning point of such salvation. The righteousness demanded by the law and yet unattainable is the same righteousness promised by the Gospel that is received by faith and credited to the sinner. 

Such “credited” righteousness is sometimes described by term “imputed righteousness”, meaning that the work of another outside of myself is credited to me as if I had accomplished it. David in the Old Testament states in Psalm 32:1-2 “How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered!2 How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit!” Though Christ had not yet come into the world, nonetheless what He would achieve was of such great value that it not only reaches forward into time today but was also the same righteousness credited to Old Testament believers who looked to the promises of God by faith. 2 Corinthians 5:21 summarizes this “credited righteousness” or “imputed righteousness” (both meaning the same thing) – “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Practical ramifications of justification by faith
The whole point of today's post was to talk about the importance of justification by faith alone. Such a doctrinal truth has real-world implications:

1. My sense of confidence is grounded in justification by faith.

For starters, to realize that the grounds for pleasing God is founded in Jesus Christ and not myself enables me to lean on Jesus Christ. I look to Him as my righteousness (1 Cor 1:30)

2. All preaching and teaching of God's Word must find its anchoring point in justification.

The anchoring point for preaching and teaching in the church ought to be this doctrine of justification by faith alone. Two ditches tend to occur in the preaching and teaching of God's word: legalism and license. As a preacher, I can be tempted to either proclaim moralism or "try harder, do better theology". That first ditch is the "legalism" ditch. The second ditch can be "don't worry about getting bogged down in what you do, since God has already forgiven you", or license. Justification by faith alone avoids these two ditches by having us lean on Christ while being compelled to want to live for Him. Our practical righteousness or "sanctification" flows from justification, or "credited righteousness".

3. Assurance of salvation is found in justification.

The great Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon writes concerning our assurance of salvation relative to justification by faith in Jesus Christ: "Remember, therefore, it is not thy hold of Christ that saves thee - it is Christ; it is not thy joy in Christ that saves thee - it is Christ; it is not even faith in Christ, though that be the instrument - it is Christ's blood and merits; therefore, look not so much to thy hand with which thou art grasping Christ, as to Christ; look not to thy hope, but to Jesus, the source of thy hope; look not to thy faith, but to Jesus, the author and finisher of thy faith."

Amazing Testimonies about the titles of Jesus - The Son of God: John 1:19-51

John 1:19 "This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”

John 1:32-34 "John testified saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. 33 I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.”

John 1:49-50 "Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.” 50 Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.”

Introduction:

John 1:19-51 represents the beginnings of a series of testimonies concerning Jesus Christ as "The Son of God". In John's prologue of John 1:1-18 and in his key verse of John 20:31, we find that this title: "Son of God" refers to the way in which Jesus is the revelation of God the Son in human flesh. To say He is the "Son of God" is theological short-hand for "The Son as-He-is-in-His-sharing-of-the-Divine-essence-with-the-Father-Who is-God. In other words, the title: "Son of God" speaks of the Deity of Jesus Christ. In John's prologue, we find the Son of God to be God in eternity (John 1:1-3), appearing throughout history, particularly in the Old Testament (John 1:4-9) and finally in the true humanity as Jesus of Nazareth (John 1:10-18). 

What the Apostle John aims to do is to unfold the identity of the Son of God through the testimonies of key individuals. Four titles for Jesus Christ are found in John 1:19-51 that serve to tell us something about Jesus Christ as the "Son of God". Peoplle such as John the Baptist, the disciples and Jesus Himself all testify about what is exactly meant and implied about this title: "Son of God". Simply reflecting on the titles that are expounded below serves as anchor points in one's own personal pilgrimage in knowing Jesus better. I will list each title, give a brief purpose for it and follow up with the appropriate scripture references. 

1. The title "Lamb of God" speaks of the mission of the Son of God. John 1:19-36

After John the Baptist asserts Jesus Christ as the "Son of God", he then declares Him to be "the Lamb of God" in John 1:34-35. This title hearkens back to the Old Testament pictures of the Passover Lamb of Exodus 12 and the prophetic Lamb of Isaiah 53. Jesus Christ fulfilled those types and shadows as the final lamb of God who would willing lay down His life for the sheep.  

2. The title "Christ" speaks of the ministry of the Son of God. John 1:37-42

Jesus came not only to die on the cross and raise from the dead, but to also minister life and light to those who were in spiritual and physical bondages. Passages such as Luke 4:18 and Isaiah 61:1-2 expound upon the earthly ministry of Jesus. Jesus Himself took these passages about the Messiah to be with reference to Himself. As "Christ" or "Messiah", Jesus was the Divine agent of God and, as it would turn out, was no less than God Himself in human flesh. In as much as Jesus paid for the righteousness of salvation by His substitutionary death, it is in His active obedience and all He achieved in His life, teachings and miracles that Jesus acted out the perfect righteousness required by the law of God. 

3. The title "King of Israel" speaks of the majesty of the Son of God John 1:43-49

As Nathaneal confesses Jesus to be the Son of God, he then asserts an additional title, namely "The King of Israel". It is striking that such a majestic title would be used of the Son of God to describe His Heavenly origin and His cross. Above his head, on the cross, would read the superscription: "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews" (Matthew 27:37). Following His resurrection from the dead, Jesus made approximately ten post-mortem appearances. In His final instructions to His disciples in Matthew 28:18, Jesus indicates that "all power had been given to Him in heaven and on earth". Undoubtedly, Nathaneal's confession of Jesus Christ as "The King of Israel" bespeaks of His majesty. 

4. The title "Son of Man" points to Him as Mediator. 1:50-51

We've seen the following thus far:

a. "Lamb of God" indicates the mission of the Son of God

b. "Christ" indicates the ministry of the Son of God

c. "King of Israel" indicates the majesty of the Son of God

With this final title revealed in John 1:19-51, we find Jesus Himself testifying of His Divine identity as the God-man. This title "Son of Man" is used more by Jesus than any other. The beauty of this title is that it can be equally used to refer to Him as perfect man as well as truly God. Daniel 7 uses this title with respect to a mysterious Divine Personage who active with the "Ancient of Days" in the dispensing of Divine rulership. By asserting himself to be the "Son of Man" and the revelation of God seen by Jacob in Genesis 28, Jesus is reminding Nathaneal that He is the Mediator between The Father and believers (see also John 14:6; 1 Timothy 2:5; 1 John 2:1-2). 

P3 - How Every Christian is Retaught the Revelation of the Father

Ephesians 1:1-2 "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."

Introduction:

Over the past two days we have been considering how God progressively re-wires the Christian's understanding of "father". We've noted that Satan has conspired to distort and destroy this concept among the human race. All of us have or had experienced fathers: whether good ones, bad ones, absentee ones or fathers who have passed away. Fathers function as an illustration and image of God to their children (see Luke 11:13). This function of being a "God-image" of sorts was unfortunately marred by the fall of man into sin. Many relational, social and psychological dysfunctions stem somehow from a mis-represented concept of "fatherhood".

In salvation, God's goal is to transform Christians not only in their spirit and heart, but also in their minds and understanding (Romans 12:1-2). The Divine design of Christian discipleship entails bringing to the Christian this revelation of God the Father from the scriptures. The Person of the Son, Jesus Christ, brings to us the presence of the Father (see John 14:8-10; Hebrews 1:1-2). The Person of the Holy Spirit brings to the Christian the Person of the Father by way of His progressive sanctification of the Christian (see John 16:8-12; Ephesians 1:17-20). Today we want to consider how the Scriptures bring to the Christian the paternal power of the Father. 

The Bible brings to us the Paternal power of the Father

When we think about how God, in the Person of the Son and in the Person of the Holy Spirit brings to us the Person and Presence of the Heavenly Father, we discover that this truth is done so in connection with the scriptures. We find the full-orbed revelation of God in the Person of the Father unfolded in nearly 10 places in The Old Testament and over 140 places in the New Testament. To know the Father's Person and Presence entails experiencing His Paternal power through the scriptures. 

Prior to salvation, man knows about God - but does not know Him. At salvation, God makes Himself known to the sinner by means of the scripture through the agency of the Holy Spirit. The "Himself" is with reference to "The Father". James tells us that the Father begets sinners in the new birth through the scriptures (James 1:17-18). The Apostle Peter likewise indicates that the Person of the Father uses scripture as a means of bringing about the New birth to sinners who, in turn, respond freely in saving faith (1 Peter 1:3-5, 23). The Baptist Faith & Message 2000 summarizes this point in its article on "The Father": "God as Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the flow of the stream of human history according to the purposes of His grace. He is all powerful, all knowing, all loving, and all wise. God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. He is fatherly in His attitude toward all men."

Bringing together the importance of God the Father to the Christian life

Knowing the Person of the Father by the Spirit's working, the presence of the Father by the Son's revelation and the Paternal power of the Father through the scriptures, we find an accurate picture of the Father. Outside the work of the Spirit, the revelation of the Son and the words of scripture, the face of the Father is hidden. As we close out this study, let me offer three applications for Christian living that correspond to the three points brought out in the last few days:

1. Having the presence of the Father ensures that I never am alone, orphaned or without assurance. Only the Lord Jesus Christ, in His finished work at Calvary and His continuing mediation for the Christian in heaven can minister this profound reality.

2. Having the Person of the Father available to me as a Christian means I can enjoy all the benefits of adoption in sonship. The Holy Spirit ever reminds the Christian that they are a child of God through adoption (see Romans 8:14-16). My own sense of identity in a world where my earthly father no longer resides is securely anchored in the Person of God the Father by the Person and work of the Holy Spirit.

3. Having the Paternal power of the Father through the Bible gives me strength for daily living. The desire to pray and talk to my heavenly Father is fed by the scriptures. When I find myself under His Fatherly discipline, I'm reminded of His unfailing love (see Hebrews 12:4-5). 

P2 - How Every Christian is Retaught the Revelation of Father

Luke 11:1 "It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.” 2 And He said to them, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come.
3 ‘Give us each day our daily bread. 4 ‘And forgive us our sins, For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.’”

Introduction and review: The Son brings to us the presence of the Father

In yesterday's post we began considering how God must reteach every Christian the concept of "father". All of us have or have had a father. Some were good. Some were not so good. Some were never in our lives. Some are no-longer here. Whatever the case may be, when salvation occurs, the revelation of God in the Person of the Father begins to be taught to Christians by the Person of the Son in how He brings the presence of the Father to us. We understand from other scriptures (2 Corinthians 5:15-20) that the project of redemption is to reconcile sinners to the Father. For the unbeliever, God as Father is estranged from them. Christians are remade into God's image in Jesus Christ so as to bear forth a representation of who He is. Satan is out to destroy all people due to the fact that unbelievers in their fallen condition still bear the image of God (see Genesis 9:6). 

More specifically, within all families, the father functions as an illustration of the Heavenly Father (see Luke 11:13). When people are brought to a saving knowledge of God through Jesus Christ, the presence of the Father is brought home to them by the Person of the Son. From thereon the revelation of God in the Person of the Father is being pressed forth in how the Son makes Him known to the Christian. In short, the Son brings to the Christian the presence of the Father. Today we want to consider a second way in which every Christian is retaught the revelation of the Father - namely, how the Person of the Holy Spirit brings to us the Person of the Father.

The Holy Spirit brings to us the Person of the Father

Christian theologian and apologist James R. White writes in his book: "The Forgotten Trinity, page 15: "To know Christ truly is to know the Trinity, for God has not revealed himself in such a way as to allow us to have true and balanced knowledge of the Father outside of such knowledge of the Son, all of which comes to us through the Spirit." 

As Jesus was teaching His disciples in Luke 11, he made known to them two vital teachings: prayer and the Person and work of the Holy Spirit. As we consider Jesus' teachings on these two truths, we find the Person of the Father connected to both. The famous "Lord's prayer" in Luke 11 begins with these words: "Our Father, who is in heaven". All prayer, whether we realize it or not, is directed at the Father. Is it no wonder that the enemy of our souls aims to destroy our prayer-lives - because he hates the Father. We then find the second teaching on the Holy Spirit as being connected with the Father in Luke 11:13, which reads - "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” 

The Person of the Holy Spirit's task within the Trinity is to manifest the Persons of the Son and the Father. Jesus teaches this point in John 16:13-15  "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you." 

The Apostle Paul prayed for the Ephesian Christians with respect to grasping a better understanding of God in the Person of the Father through the ministry of the Spirit in Ephesians 1:17-20 "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places."

So as we think about the effort God does in reteaching every Christian the revelation of Himself in the Person of the Father, we find that such an insight does not come by naturally - but supernaturally. All of us come into salvation with incomplete, inaccurate or missing conceptions of "father". Our natural man, as it were, has been radically affected by the fall. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit's work of sanctification progressively reteaches us this crucial revelation of God as Father from the Bible. Just as the Son brings to us the Father's Person, the Spirit works in concert with the Son to crystallize to the Christian the Personhood of the Heavenly Father.

More tomorrow.........

P1 - How every Christian is retaught the revelation of "Father"

Galatians 4:6-7 "Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God."

Introduction:

Every reader has a father or had had one. Some readers had good dads, others had absentee ones. Some reading this post today may have had bad experiences or none at all. For others, perhaps your father passed away. Mine has been gone for two years. I miss him. In my Christian-life at least, I have found my own conception of "father" being constantly taught. Whatever the situation, everyone has had some experience of fatherhood. 

Oftentimes I come across Christians who have no issue connecting with Jesus as Savior and Lord. Moreover, when it comes to the Person and work of the Spirit, many Christians are receptive to His aids and comforts. However, when it comes to the First Person of the Trinity - The Father - there is often that disconnect. 

Every Christian from conversion onward is being retaught about the concept and identity of "Father"
In the above opening verse of today's post, we find the Holy Spirit's ministry of aiding the Christian to verbalize God as "Abba" or "Father". As I said a moment ago, all of us have had some sort of experience with fathers. Even if one's experience was a good one, a "good dad" is still imperfect. There are times where even good dads will falter and fail. By nature, the father in human families functions as an illustration of the "Heavenly Father". Sadly, because of the fallen condition of our world, that "Father image" is expressed in broken ways. As Jesus teaches in Luke 11:13 "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” It is this blogger's conviction that Satan's tactic is to undermine the concept and revelation of "Father" as much as possible, since knowing God the Father is so central to salvation.

More often-than-not, our human fathers give to us a certain image of father that we bring into our salvation experience. To experience salvation is to come to a true knowledge and relationship with God in the Person of the Father. Jesus defines what it means to have eternal life in John 17:1-3 "Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said,“Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, 2 even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. 3 This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."

Henceforth, the remainder of the believer's sanctification (that process whereby the Holy Spirit is conforming the Christian to the attitudes and actions of Jesus Christ as they co-operate with Him) is all about re-learning Who and what the Father is all about. 

How God the Father has designed our Christian life to re-learn Who He is
When we take some time to think about how all of us must be retaught the meaning and revelation of God as "Father", we understand that this truth does not come naturally. In the natural realm, the concept of fatherhood is clouded, warped or utterly destroyed. As Christians, we come to appreciate the revelation of the Person of the Father as we come to terms with Who He is through the following:

1. The Son is needed to bring to us the Presence of the Father. 
We find the following conversation between Jesus and one of his disciples in John 14:6-10 "Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.7 If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.” 8 Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?" For Phillip, who was a Jew, the concept of "Father" was viewed mainly in national terms - that is, Jehovah God relating to the nation of Israel as a Father to a son (Theologian Geerhardus Vos lists the following passages: Exodus 4:22; Deut. 1:31; 8:5; 32:6; Isaiah 1:2; 63:16; Jeremiah 3:19; Hosea 11:1; Malachi 3:16). Geerhardus Vos further expounds this point in his book: "Biblical Theology, Old and New Testaments", page 366: "the idea (of God's fatherhood) is in the Old Testament limited in its range, being applied to Israel only, and that in a collective capacity, not individually to single Israelites." Undoubtedly Phillip's mind must had been "blown" so-to-speak.

Jesus' point is this: unless He, the Son, had become incarnate, there would had been no way people like Phillip could have interacted directly with God in the Person of the Son. Moreover, as the Son shares eternally in the same undivided nature with the Father, His role within the Trinity is to manifest what would otherwise be the invisible glory of the Person of the Father. Jesus Christ, the Son, God incarnate, brings to us the presence of His Father "who dwells in light unapproachable" (see Jude 1:24-25). 

More tomorrow.......

What makes for a good testimony - 1 John 5:1-9

1 John 5:9 "If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for the testimony of God is this, that He has testified concerning His Son."

Introduction:

In our car we have a little strip of numbers located under the speedometer. Those little strip of numbers display how many miles the car has traveled over the course of its use. Such a strip of numbers are called an "odometer". When I look at how many miles are currently on our vehicle, I imagine all the places the car has traveled. One could conceive of the stories that car could tell if it had the capability of speech. The "odometer" functions as a testimony of that vehicle's travels. When we consider the Christian life, there is the faith of the Christian and the testimony that follows from his faith. One cannot see faith. It is an intangible, supernatural ability given by God and grasped by the Christian for trusting in what Jesus has done. A testimony functions as the "odometer" of faith. Every digit on your testimony and mine speaks of obedience, triumph, failure, pain, sorrow, joy, insights, setbacks and perseverance. The Apostle John speaks of "testimonies" here in the opening fifth chapter of his short letter. What makes for a good testimony?

1. Faith. 1 John 5:1-4

Notice 1 John 5:1-4 "Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith." At the end of that string of numbers on an odometer is a special number that can be seen moving and marking off "tenths-of-a-mile". Every mile we go in our car, that little number at the end is seen "ticking by". 

Do you know every decision, every trial and every opportunity that is presented to us is a choice between faith and unbelief? Every time we trust God, our little number of faith records a small step forward. Now it may not seem like much, however, over the course of one's faith-life, it adds up to a glorious testimony of God's grace. Faith is a must in every good testimony. This is why John brackets his remarks with reference to faith. What else can we say about what makes for a good testimony....

2. Foundations. 1 John 5:5-9

As one reads on through 1 John 5:5-9, three foundations necessary for a testimony are noted:

God's love. 1 John 5:9 speaks of the "testimony of God concerning His Son". Elsewhere we see how God "so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son" (John 3:16) and "demonstrated such love" (Romans 5:8).  

Christ's blood.  Three times we find reference to Christ's blood. Without the blood of Jesus, no Christian would have the power nor grounds for any testimony.

The Spirit's working. Here we find the Holy Spirit bearing witness to the Christian and to the world concerning the reality of the Christian faith. The terms "water" and "blood" represent the bookends of Christ's earthly ministry - from his baptism to his cross. It is the righteousness of Jesus Christ that is credited to me at salvation, all due to the Spirit's working. Furthermore, the Holy Spirit bears witness continually that I as a Christian am adopted by God because of Christ (Romans 8:14-16). Finally, the Spirit is continually sanctifying or cleansing me to make me progressively more like Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:30; 6:19-20).

Any good testimony will include the work God has done and is doing in that person's life. The odometer records how far I've gone in the car, not how fast I've traveled. With that said, the odometer could not move without a motor, a transmission, wheels and a driver. In like manner, my testimony tells others how far I've traveled. However, unless I had God's love, Christ's blood and the Spirit's working in my life, I would have no testimony. Henceforth we see that Faith and Foundations make for a good testimony. Lets see one final ingredient....

Form. 1 John 5:10-11

1 John 5:10-11 give us the two-fold form for a testimony: before and after. All good testimonies describe what life was like before Christ, the moment of saving faith in Christ, and life following after salvation. In testimonies pertaining to God's provision or extraordinary moments wherein God has been seen moving, we find out what life was like before that moment and life thereafter.

The odometer is an amazing instrument when you think about it. It only records how far the vehicle has traveled. Its readings are limited. A Christian's life is of course far more robust. The testimony's form is shaped by Jesus. There was life before Christ (b.c) and there is life after Christ (a.c). Before and after. Who I was and whom I am. 

Closing thoughts

We have considered briefly what makes for a good testimony: faith, foundations and form. God is working forth His testimony, by His Word and Spirit, in our own. He desires to change the Christian from the inside/out. May we be yielded to Him and walk forth the walk of faith - adding miles to the journey!