Sons of GodSons of God

J.I. Packer J.I. Packer

Knowing God Chapter 19Knowing God Chapter 19

1 John 3:11 John 3:1

Behold what manner of love the Behold what manner of love the Father has given unto us,Father has given unto us,

That we should be called the That we should be called the sons of Godsons of God

Sons of God Sons of God OutlineOutline

I.I. What is a Christian?What is a Christian?

II.II. New God / Man RelationshipNew God / Man Relationship

III.III. Adoption (five key dimensions)Adoption (five key dimensions)

IV.IV. The Great SecretThe Great Secret

I.I. What is a Christian?What is a Christian?A.A. Someone who has God as his FatherSomeone who has God as his Father

B.B. How can God be your Father?How can God be your Father?

1.1. Jesus said “No one comes to the Father Jesus said “No one comes to the Father but through Me” – John 14:6but through Me” – John 14:6

2.2. ““You are all You are all sons of Godsons of God through faith in through faith in Christ Jesus” – Gal. 3:26Christ Jesus” – Gal. 3:26

3.3. ““But as many as received Him, to them But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe on His God, even to those who believe on His name” - John 1:12name” - John 1:12

I.I. What is a Christian? What is a Christian? (cont.)(cont.)

C.C. Fatherhood - Old Testament vs New Fatherhood - Old Testament vs New

1.1. Old Testament – God is Father of Israel Old Testament – God is Father of Israel Exodus 4:22-23 Exodus 4:22-23

2.2. New Testament – God is Father of New Testament – God is Father of repentant sinners who put their trust in repentant sinners who put their trust in Christ as their sin bearer and master. Christ as their sin bearer and master.

• Packer says New Testament is revelation of the Packer says New Testament is revelation of the Fatherhood of the holy Creator (p. 201b)Fatherhood of the holy Creator (p. 201b)

““You are all You are all sons of Godsons of God through faith in Christ through faith in Christ Jesus. ... And if you belong to Christ, then you Jesus. ... And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring” – Gal. 3:26 - 29are Abraham’s offspring” – Gal. 3:26 - 29

I.I. What is a Christian? What is a Christian? (cont.)(cont.)

D.D. Sonship to GodSonship to God

1.1. Gift that comes not through being born, Gift that comes not through being born, but through being born againbut through being born again

a.a. John 1:12-13 - John 1:12-13 - He gaveHe gave right to become sons right to become sons

b.b. John 3:3 – must be born of SpiritJohn 3:3 – must be born of Spirit

2.2. Not natural but adoptive (p. 201M)Not natural but adoptive (p. 201M)

a.a. Galatians 4:4-6 – Full adoptive rightsGalatians 4:4-6 – Full adoptive rights

b.b. Ephesians 1:5 – He planned our adoption Ephesians 1:5 – He planned our adoption

1 John 3:1-31 John 3:1-3

““See how great a love the Father has See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons (children) of God; and called the sons (children) of God; and such we are. ….. Beloved, such we are. ….. Beloved, now we are now we are children of Godchildren of God, and it has not appeared , and it has not appeared as yet that we shall be. We know that, if as yet that we shall be. We know that, if He should appear, we shall be like Him, He should appear, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is.” because we shall see Him just as He is.”

II.II. New God/Man RelationshipNew God/Man RelationshipA.A. We no longer fear coming to Him We no longer fear coming to Him

Hebrews 10:19-22Hebrews 10:19-22

B.B. God established “Father” standard in God established “Father” standard in Ephesians 3:14Ephesians 3:14

C.C. Fatherhood implies four things Fatherhood implies four things (205T)(205T)

1.1. Authority – John 6:38 ; 17:4Authority – John 6:38 ; 17:4

2.2. Affection – 5:20; 15:9-10Affection – 5:20; 15:9-10

3.3. Fellowship – 16:32; 8:29Fellowship – 16:32; 8:29

4.4. Honor – 17:1; 5:22-23Honor – 17:1; 5:22-23

III.III. Adoption – 3 Key Adoption – 3 Key DimensionsDimensions

A.A. Highest PrivilegeHighest Privilege

B.B. Basis For Our LivesBasis For Our Lives

C.C. What It Shows UsWhat It Shows Us

III.III. AdoptionAdoptionA.A. Highest Privilege?Highest Privilege?

1.1. Our status as Our status as sons of Godsons of God is the highest is the highest privilege the gospel offersprivilege the gospel offers

2.2. Justification is the primary and Justification is the primary and fundamental blessing that God provided fundamental blessing that God provided for us on the cross, but it does not imply for us on the cross, but it does not imply any deep or intimate relationship with Himany deep or intimate relationship with Him

3.3. See example on 207B & 208TSee example on 207B & 208T

III.III. AdoptionAdoptionB.B. Basis for our livesBasis for our lives

1.1. Christian ConductChristian Conduct

2.2. Christian PrayerChristian Prayer

3.3. Life of FaithLife of Faith

III.III. AdoptionAdoptionC.C. What it shows usWhat it shows us

1.1. Greatness of God’s Love – Yard Sticks?Greatness of God’s Love – Yard Sticks?

a.a. Cross – Rom 5:8; 1 John 4:8-10Cross – Rom 5:8; 1 John 4:8-10

b.b. Sonship – 1 John 3:1 (p 214B)Sonship – 1 John 3:1 (p 214B)

God went to the cross for us and then adopted us God went to the cross for us and then adopted us because He chose to do so, not because He because He chose to do so, not because He had tohad to

2.2. Glory of Christian HopeGlory of Christian Hope

a.a. The best is yet to come! John 17:24; Matt 5:8The best is yet to come! John 17:24; Matt 5:8

b.b. Our Father has guaranteed it - John 14:2Our Father has guaranteed it - John 14:2

C.C. What adoption shows us (cont.)What adoption shows us (cont.)

3.3. Understanding the Holy Spirit’s MinistryUnderstanding the Holy Spirit’s Ministry

Rom. 8:15 – You have not received a spirit of Rom. 8:15 – You have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out “Abba! Father!” and Galatians 4:6 we cry out “Abba! Father!” and Galatians 4:6

• He makes and keeps us consciousHe makes and keeps us conscious

• He moves us to look to God as our FatherHe moves us to look to God as our Father

• He impels us to act like the King’s kids (re: He impels us to act like the King’s kids (re: authority, affection, fellowship and honor)authority, affection, fellowship and honor)

C.C. What adoption shows us (cont.)What adoption shows us (cont.)

4.4. Meaning and Motives of Gospel HolinessMeaning and Motives of Gospel Holiness

• Connect Heb 12:6-7,11 with Romans 8:28Connect Heb 12:6-7,11 with Romans 8:28

• Example - Page 222M2Example - Page 222M2

While it is true that While it is true that justificationjustification frees one frees one forever from need to keep the Law of God or forever from need to keep the Law of God or try to as the means of earning eternal life,try to as the means of earning eternal life,

it is equally true that it is equally true that adoptionadoption lays on lays on believers the abiding obligation to keep the believers the abiding obligation to keep the law as the means of pleasing your new law as the means of pleasing your new father.father.

God said “Be holy as I am holy.” Lev 11:44 God said “Be holy as I am holy.” Lev 11:44

C.C. What adoption shows us (cont.)What adoption shows us (cont.)

5.5. How to Assess AssuranceHow to Assess Assurance

Packer reviews Reformed, Roman Catholics, Packer reviews Reformed, Roman Catholics, Puritan, Wesleyan, and general Evangelicals Puritan, Wesleyan, and general Evangelicals views on assurance (p.223 & 224)views on assurance (p.223 & 224)

His position - If God in His love made us His His position - If God in His love made us His children, and if He is the perfect Father, then two children, and if He is the perfect Father, then two things follow: things follow:

• The family relationship must be an abiding one The family relationship must be an abiding one lasting forever. The Prodigal story.lasting forever. The Prodigal story.

• God holds nothing back to make His children God holds nothing back to make His children know He loves them, and to understand their know He loves them, and to understand their privilege and security as family membersprivilege and security as family members

Romans 8:16-17 “The Spirit Himself bears Romans 8:16-17 “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs of God and fellow God, and if children, heirs of God and fellow heirs of Christ , ….” heirs of Christ , ….”

8:35f – “Who shall separate us from the love of 8:35f – “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or distress, Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” peril, or sword?”

8:38-39 “For I am convinced that neither death, 8:38-39 “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come nor powers, nor present, nor things to come nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing height, nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

IV.IV. The Great Secret – I am adoptedThe Great Secret – I am adopted

• I am a child of GodI am a child of God

• God is my FatherGod is my Father

• Heaven is my homeHeaven is my home

• Every day that passes is one Every day that passes is one closer to my going homecloser to my going home

• My Savior is my Lord, but I am My Savior is my Lord, but I am His adopted brotherHis adopted brother

• Every Christian is also my brotherEvery Christian is also my brother