Family of God

1. Family of God 1 John 2:15-17

2. Facts on Roman Slavery • A common practice- One-fifth of the population was represented by this socioeconomic class • The slave did not have rights and was considered property of the owner- A) Servants were hired B) Slaves were owned • A man was either A) born into slavery or B) purchased as a slave. Aristotle’s reference to article of property in his Book of Politics

3. Slaves were bound to follow the will of the master. • Slaves were completely dependent on their owner for the necessities of life such as food and shelter • If slaves disobeyed the master could inflict a severe beating or sell them. • Name of owner imprinted on slave • A slaves dignity was derived from the power and position of his owner. The slaves of the King was the most highly respected of all!

4. 14 “For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! 16 Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?” Romans 6:14, 15

5. Paul’s Slavery-Sin Analogy We are, by default, slaves to sin: A) We were owned by sin B) We were born into sin C) We were bound to the will of sin D) Sin was our master E) In the way a slave could received physical punishment, when we tried to change our own sin would bring us back.

6. “Every man is the servant of the master to whose commands he yields himself; whether it be the sinful dispositions of his heart, in actions which lead to death, or the new and spiritual obedience implanted by regeneration.” – Matthew Henry 17 “But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. 18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.” Romans 17:18

7. Sin is no longer your master- You are not under its dominion; you are no longer its slaves. You were made free, as a servant is who is set at liberty, and who is, therefore, no longer under obligation to obey. See 1 John 3:8 As a Christian you have voluntarily become a slave of Christ. You became voluntarily under the dominion of righteousness; you yielded yourselves to it; and are therefore bound to be holy.- Barnes Notes

8. The apostle references known laws of servitude or slavery by showing that Christians, who had been the slaves of sin, have now become the servants of righteousness, and were therefore bound by the proper laws of servitude to obey their new master; as if he had said, "I assume that you know; you are acquainted with the laws of servitude; you know what is required in such cases." This would be known to all who had been either masters or slaves, or who had observed the usual laws and obligations of servitude. - Barnes

9. We experience this at Repentance when we decide to: • Make Christ Lord of our lives. We are dedicated to His will! • We were born into sin but now will be born into Christ. • The way a slave could be punished, Christ can chastise us, but it will be with Love! • We receive his seal, His name, upon our lives! (Invoking His name at water baptism) see Revelation 22:4

10. 34  “Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.” John 8:34, 35 When we choose to live for God (repentance) we voluntarily become slaves of righteousness. Then God extends His love in a greater way by adopting us as sons (Doctrine of Adoption)

11. Formal adoption of slaves was permissible under Roman law. –ref. Slaves, Citizens, Sons; Lyall Adoption resulted: • All former family ties were broken • Legal procedures such as financial obligations were eradicated and 7 reputable witnesses were required. • Final and absolute • The newly adopted son became a full citizen and had rights to inheritance

12. 14 “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” Romans 8:14-17

13. Because of God’s love, he purchased us to be sons. The means of our adoption is the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God also is the legal witness of the adoption proceedings. Spirit: πνεύματι (pneumati) Used in Matthew 3:11, Acts 1:5 means wind, breath, spirit. Repentance- We voluntarily become slaves. Baptism- As slaves we choose to be born into His slavery. We desire “all” our sins to be cancelled. Holy Spirit- The adoption from slaves to sons.

14. Benefits of Sonship • We can approach His throne with confidence, calling on our “Abba, Father” • We receive citizenship of Heaven (do this mean you need sonship/ Holy Spirit to enter heaven?) • We become joint-heirs with Christ receiving his power and authority • We receive inheritance read Ephesians 2: 5, 6 and Psalm 16:5

15. Why study? John is beginning a discourse assuming we know our position as Children of God. “I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.” 1 John 2:12 Entry into the family of God is based on the account of His name.

16. “ I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.14 I write to you, dear children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.” 1 John 2:13, 14

17. LITTLE CHILDREN, paidia- disciples of Christ, not of very long standing in the Church, nor of much experience, but who had known the Father; persons who had been made sons: God had sent the Spirit of his Son into their hearts, whereby they cried Abba, Father! YOUNG MEN, neaniskoi -youths in the prime of their spiritual life, valiant soldiers, fighting under the banner of Christ, who had confounded Satan in his wiles, and overcome him by the blood of the Lamb.

18. FATHERS, paterev- those who had been converted at the very commencement of Christianity, and had seen the eternal Word manifested in the flesh; persons who had embraced Christianity on its first promulgation in Judea and in the Lesser Asia, some of them had probably seen Christ- Adam Clarke Commentary With each state comes certain obligations. The common factor is the LOVE OF GOD which adopted us….

19. Your place as the Son 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the Power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God dayand night, has been hurled down.” Revelation 12:10

20. The Great Accuser: Constantly declares why we shouldn’t be the sons of God. Tries to discourage with weakness and infirmities. Tries to entice us NOT to act like sons. The Holy Spirit: • Testifies that we are the Son of God. • Gives us help in the time of need. • Guides and instructs us how we should conduct ourselves as sons.

21. 15 “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” 1 John 2:15-17

22. Message of John Having assured the believers of their position before God John moves to application. Since we are sons: • With awareness of God’s immeasurable Fatherly love we demonstrate love for Him by not investing in things contrary toHis Kingdom. • John’s concern about believers being drawn away from the Father’s love and forgetting about their citizenship of Heaven. • .

23. John is not identifying sins but rather categories of sins. ALL sin can be grouped in one of these three descriptions: • Lust of the Flesh • Lust of the Eyes 3) Pride of Life We see these three alluring groups in the fall of man and the Temptation of Christ.

24. Pride of Life Pride- Greek word signifies arrogance and production of haughtiness; seeking to impress others. Sins: Emulations, strife, jealousies, hatred, dissentions, wrath, revelries, bitterness. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3: 5

25. Lust of the Eye Eye- refers to strong desire for anything that captivates the mind through the eye; an arousing image; refers to moral sins. Sins: adultery, fornication, homosexuality, whoremongers, sodomy, uncleanness. 6 “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye….” Genesis 3:6

26. Lust of the Flesh Lust- strong desire for evil thing that will produce physical actions contrary to the will of God: Sins: Idolaters, Drunkards, thieves, vanity, lewdness, extortion, sorcery, and false witness. “…and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it.” Genesis 3:6

27. Temptations of Christ 3 “The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Matthew 4:3 Lust of the Flesh- The Devil appealed to Jesus’ desire to showcase His miraculous power to appease his the appetites of his flesh.

28. 5 “Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple” Matthew 4:5 Pride of Life- The Devil took Jesus to the pinnacle of the Holy City. He desired Jesus to enjoy the sensation of power and then throw Himself down allowing Angels to catch Him. This would demonstrate an insatiable desire for pride.

29. 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Matthew 4:8, 9 Lust of the Eye- The Devil took Jesus to the top of the Mountain and appealed to his sense of sight.

30. How do we Overcome? God has given us weapons to use against these desires and lusts: • Lust of the Flesh- Worship • Lust of the Eye- God’s Word • Pride of Life- Prayer and Service.

31. Worship- Overcoming Lust of the Flesh Worship is a physical activity. The physical shell is an gate to man’s soul and spirit. This is illustrated in the duties of the Priest at the Temple: • The Brass Altar produced an aroma • The Brass Laver was a vessel used for washing hands and feet. • The Holy Place was lightly dimmed and the candlestick had to be burning.

32. 4) The Table of Showbread were twelve loaves were kept and replaced weekly. The priests were allowed to eat once a week. 5) The Golden Altar- This was the place that verbal prayers were offered unto God. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship” Romans 12:1

33. God’s Command for Physical Activity • Communion • Lifting Holy Hands • Singing a New Song • Bowing (Kneeling) • Praising These acts of Worship combat the desires of the lusts of the flesh.

34. Spiritual Eyes The eyes are a conduit for the mind. Thoughts are generated by images. 22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy,your whole body will be full of darkness.” Matthew 6:22, 23

35. 18 “the eyes of your understandingbeing enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints…” Ephesians 1:18 • Focus your thoughts on God’s Word. Your perspective will change. Concentrate on items with “virtue and praise”

36. The Humble Life Humbleness is a choice you make not an Emotion; you give up right to be haughty. 6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. 7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:6-8

37. “But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir” Galatians 4:4-7

38. 27 “And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, whohave been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” Romans 8:27-29

39. Because we are heirs God, our Father, has destined us to not just be Christ joint-heir by position but also by acting like Him (conform to His image). The spirit will help us in this regard by guiding, strengthening, and helping us accomplish this purpose because this is God’s will (desire).

40. 17 “The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” 1 John 2:17 As a Sons of God, we must act like Children of God-that is God’s will. In doing so we will be assured of claiming the rights to: • Our inheritance • Our position • Our Residency (citizenship)