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PREACHED BY JOHN GAINES
AT LEONARD STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST

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SONSHIP AND FAITH

Introduction

1. Who is a child of God?

2. The answer might seem simple, but this is a controversial question.

a. The question is the same as "Who is saved?" The answer is extremely important.

b. We ought to study with an open mind because our understanding might be lacking.

c. We need to be prepared to reason from Scripture with others who might disagree with us.

I. VARIOUS INTERPRETATIONS OF "GOD'S CHILDREN"

A. Some say all human creation are God's children.

1. This makes "Creator" equal to "Father."

2. Evolutionists deny God's role as creator and as judge, but see Him as a benevolent father taking care of all people.

3. This view of God is not supported by Scripture.

a. God does love every person in the world. [John 3:16]

b. God does want good things for every person [Matthew 5:45 (NKJV) "that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.]

c. NOT everyone has a "father-child relationship" with God. If so, why would Jesus have said "that you MAY BE SONS of your Father in heaven"?

B. It's a better answer to say those who are going to heaven are God's children.

1. Surveys show that an overwhelming majority of people believe in heavy. It's a natural conclusion, then, that everyone who is going to heaven is a son or daughter of God.

2. It's biblical that God's children will be His heirs --thus inheriting everlasting life in heaven [Romans 8:16-17 (NKJV) The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.]

C. Who is going to heaven?

1. The Universalist says "Everyone." He says no standards of faith or conduct or required since no one will be condemned.

2. Some say "All religious people" will go to heaven including Christians, Buddhists, Confucianists, practitioners of African tribal religions . . . doesn't matter what you believe just as long as you believe something. Look no further than Acts 17 to see the error of that view [Acts 17:30 (NKJV) "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,"]

3. Others limit it to "all believers in God." This excludes pagans and idolaters, but includes all "Christians", Jews, and perhaps Moslems.

4. More limited is "all believers in Christ." This requires belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God [John 8:24; Mark 16:16b]

5. Still more limited is the idea that only "born-again believers" will be saved.

a. This is consistent with Jesus' teaching in John 3:3 (NKJV) Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

b. We face another question, "What is meant by being born again?"

6. The most biblical answer is that only those who obey the gospel of Christ will go to heaven.

a. This requires harmony in doctrine and life with the teachings of the New Testament.

b. The New Testament is seen as a pattern or standard which must be followed if one is going to heaven.

(1) All live by the same rule [Philippians 3:16 (NKJV) Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.]

(2) Calling on the name of the Lord involved obeying the gospel [Romans 10:13-16 (NKJV) For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved." 14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!" 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?"]

(3) Those who do not obey the gospel will suffer everlasting destruction away from the presence of the Lord [2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 (NKJV) in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,]

II. BIBLICAL ANSWERS

A. Romans 8:14 (NKJV) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

1. People who are not living according to the flesh.

2. People whose life demonstrates the fruit of the Spirit, not the works of the flesh [Galatians 5:16-24 (NKJV) I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.]

B. Adoption by Jesus Christ [Galatians 4:4-7 (NKJV) But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.]

C. What we must do to become God's children:

1. Have faith [Galatians 3:26 (NKJV) For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.]

2. Never in the Bible is acceptable faith presented as mere intellectual assent.

a. Warned against the danger of dead faith [James 2:14-17 (NKJV) What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.]

b. Working faith necessary [James 2:20-26 (NKJV) But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

(1) Abraham

(2) Rahab

(3) They had the kind of faith which caused them to do what God wanted.

3. Baptism

a. Baptism is inseparably linked with faith in Christ.

(1) Galatians 3:26-27 (NKJV) For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

(2) Mark 16:16 (NKJV) "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

(3) Acts 8:36-39 (NKJV) Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" 37 Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." 38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. 39 Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.

b. Baptism is doing what God wants us to do.

(1) It puts us "into Christ" [Romans 6:3; Galatians 3:27]

(2) It clothes us with Christ [Galatians 3:27]

(3) It washes away sins [Acts 22:16].

CONCLUSION

1. God's children are led by the Spirit. They walk by the Spirit [Galatians 5:16]. They believe in Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God. Because of that, they are willing to submit themselves to His will.

2. Repentance and baptism are acts of obedient faith as we submit to God's will.

3. Everyone is living either IN SUBMISSION TO or IN REBELLION AGAINST the will of God.

4. Invitation

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