Family

Post 172

A preacher recently said; “What would you think of a man who came to your house, knocked on your door, and said; Excuse me, I am a good man and want to move in with you.”?
The strange man’s goodness has nothing to do with his request. He is not your child, you don’t know him. You would not move him into your children’s bedroom, and care for him as part of your family.
Neither does God.

We are not adopted into God’s family because of our good conduct or right thinking.
And contrary to most people’s assumption that because God is love, we are all God’s children so he would not reject us when we come knocking on his gates of glory. This is a nice warm and fuzzy sentiment, but it is not based in reality or scripture.

While God is indeed the Maker of all mankind, he is not everyone’s father. (John 8:44)
We are only adopted into his family through the lawful process of atonement *1 by the blood of his Son Jesus Christ, if we receive it.
OK, lots of people get this concept.

But what has happened is that because many actually despise “the old man’s offer”, they might fill out the paperwork to become sons, but never leave the streets to actually participate in all that adoption means. In otherwords, they want the benefits that come with adoption, but not the actual adoption.
Why? Because their heart sees it as a restriction of their desires.
These people will actually be surprised on that day, when they dig out their folded up grimy paperwork to hand it over with a grin, and the father declares; “Depart from me, I never knew you.” (Matthew 7:23, Luke 13:27, Psalm 6:8)

How is this possible?
If they have the paperwork of redemption, *2 how could they be rejected legally?
The short answer is that they signed the documents fraudulently. *3
The practical answer is found in the purpose and affect of Jesus’ sacrifice;

* * *

Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross does not change the sinner.
A sinner’s sin is paid for through atonement, but he remains the same sinner he was before, just unaccountable now for his passed sins.
So what happens when a sinner, accepts Jesus’ payment for his debts, but then continues to sin because he is still a sinner?
The scriptures are clear that there remains no more sacrifice for more sin;
“For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.” Hebrews 10:26-27

Then what is the point of His sacrifice?

To pay the debt of our sin… so that we can be adopted into God’s family.
But how can a sinner be adopted into God’s family if there is not more sacrifice for more sin?

The purpose of the redemption is not found in the Sacrifice. That was only for atonement.
The power of adoption (regeneration) is found in Jesus Resurrection. (Ephesians 1:17-20)

“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins:
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 (conduct) 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.
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sin, hath quickened *4 us together with Christ,…” Ephesians 2:1-5

If Jesus had not been raised from the dead, then we would have remained sinners unable to stop sinning even though our sins had been once cleansed.

But since he was raised from the dead indeed, he has power to make us sons after we have been made clean! (Romans 8:11)
Not the power to pretend to be sons, but to actually become sons! “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” Romans 8:14 (Ephesians 2:10)

THIS is the power of Jesus sacrifice that is greater than that of animals. Because once cleansed we are then also regenerated *4(adopted). We are no longer common sinners on the streets of evil, we are made the children of God. (Ephesians 2:19)

Does this mean that there is no conflicts or shortcomings in the family?
Of course it doesn’t. This is the purpose of Ephesians 4-6 among others, to instruct us in our conduct as children of God.
“I …beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called…” Ephesians 4:1

Every family has conflicts, every family member must come from time to time with hat in hand to apologize for poor behavior or errant ways.
But does that revoke their membership in the family?
Of course it doesn’t.
A family member is a family member, good or bad. This is the power of family.

* * *

So are we just arguing semantics?
No.
Because you married a woman, does that mean you can go home with any woman?
Of course not.
These concepts are extremely important to understand if we are to apply them correctly in reality.

So we see then that the lawful “paperwork of adoption” is not the intended end goal of God.
The Jews had such paperwork through animal sacrifice, but were rejected anyway because of unbelief. (Romans 11:20)

We understand then the goal of the paperwork of atonement is to aid the intended outcome in reality, which is to actually become in heart and deed the sons that the paperwork tells us we now have the right to be.
This is a love issue, not a law issue, though the law is required to allow the love to be applied.
So while the stranger at the door is rejected for not being family, the adopted son is welcomed with open arms, even if the stranger is the better man!

There are “good” people going to hell,
And there are hellions going to heaven.
Why?
Because this is an issue of family, not an issue of deeds.

Does the hellion receive discipline for his wayward conduct?
You bet he does. Not to make him suffer, but to teach him the conduct worthy of his family name. (II Thessalonians 3:6,14-15, II Timothy 3:16-17)

Does the stranger get praised for his good works?
No, because his conduct has nothing to do with the family.
Let him be praised by his own family if they will.

As for us, we are praised or rebuked for our conduct, which now has little to do with our family claim, but lots to do with our family standing and our presentation of the family name before the world.

You, the poor street urchin, destine for prison due to how you were brought up in the spiritual family of evil…
You, who while a wretch, was smiled upon by the King.
You, who received the unfathomable love of the LORD even while the stench of your ways wafted into his nose.
You, who were cleaned of your filth, dressed in the fine cloths of the kingdom, and given a crown of life…
Should you not in overwhelming gratitude, utterly reject your former life, and with great zeal of love and gratitude take on fully and eagerly the new life of the family name? (Romans 12:1)
Only a committed fool would cling to the memories of his life of former crimes against the God who has taken him in!

Yet many cannot seem to break away from their old friends still living under the bondage of wickedness, or the wickednesses themselves. What fools! To presume to tread on the sacrificial gift of the King’s own Son for you the wretch to receive the love gifts of the King!
What kind of a King would hold you hostage in his home if your heart was still out in the street? Go. Be free. God’s gift of redemption was not to shackle you, but to give you life.
So if you cannot see it that way, you are free to return to the filth of your former life if you wish. There are no chains here.
“(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ;
Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)” Philippians 3:18-19

And now we see the Jews who themselves were more naturally able to fit into the family, are rejected because of their unwillingness to accept the end of the King’s offer, The new life in the Spirit through the resurrection of His Son. (I Thessalonians 2:15)
So then, how much more should we street urchins by nature, take caution in our conduct not to despise the name we now bear?!

* * *
Why am I spending so much time belaboring this topic? Because without an applied understanding of these basics, everything else will be building on a wrong support.
If you are building your dream home, you don’t want to make the mistake of erecting your structure on the neighbor’s foundation. Proximity is not close enough!
Title of ownership is everything!
God has offered you the foundation on which to build your new life.

The days now arriving upon us, are days of increasing darkness.
The children of promise, the children of adoption and the children of hell, are all becoming more and more confused, and looking more and more alike.
It is becoming quite difficult to sort out just who is who, and even more difficult to identify who has worthy truth to follow, and who has a doctrine of confusion.

The time is now, to get serious with your maker the King who would adopt you into his royal family. Love the Savior by and for whom all things were made.

Are you a filthy street urchin?
Respond to this, the Kings invitation, he loves you and wants you...No matter how bad you have been!
Are you already adopted?
Rejoice, and remain focused on such a wonderful gift you have received. Then with that focus choose in gratefulness to live the life worthy of a child of the King! (Galatians 13:5)
Are you a troubled Jewish natural son? Observe the Spirit of the accepted street urchin, and likewise receive the new heart of a true son which is offered by Jesus the Messiah.

* * * * * * *
*1 Atonement:
2643 katallage; Greek from 1644; exchange (figuratively adjustment), i.e. restoration to (the divine) favor. [only use in the NT Romans 5:9-11]
3722 kaphar; Hebrew a primary root; to cover (specifically with bitumen); figuratively to expiate or condone, to placate or cancel.

*2 Redemption:
629 apolutrosis; Greek, from a comp. of 575 and 3083; (the act) ransom in full, i.e. (figuratively) riddance, or (specifically) Christian salvation. [Ephesians 1:7,14 redemption seems be often presented as a sure, but future event.]

*3 Fraud: 1. Deceit; trickery. 2. Artifice; trick. 3. Collog. A cheat; imposter. 4. Law. An intentional perversion of truth to induce another to part with some valuable thing belonging to him, or to surrender a legal right. - Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary 5th edition 1948

*4 Quickened:
4806 auzoopoieo; from 4862 and 2227; to reanimate conjointly with (figurative).
*