BORN OF THE SPIRIT Sons of God Romans

BORN OF THE SPIRIT

‘Sons of God’ • Romans 8: 19 -23. "For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. "For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected [the same] in hope, "Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. "

‘Firstfruits’ • "For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. "And not only [they], but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, [to wit], the redemption of our body. "

Use of Term “Firstfruits” • "Christ was the firstfruits of them that slept. This very scene, the resurrection of Christ from the dead, was observed in type by the Jews at one of their sacred feasts, called the feast of the Jews. . . The firstfruits of the harvest crop was sacredly dedicated to the Lord. . "{CTr 286. 5}

Use of Term “Firstfruits” • "As Christ ascends while in the act of blessing His disciples, an army of angels encircles Him as a cloud. Christ takes with Him the multitude of captives as His trophy. He will Himself bring to the Father the firstfruits of them that slept, to present [them] to God as an assurance that He is conqueror over death and the grave. "—Manuscript 115, 1897. {CTr 286. 6}

• “When Jesus, as he hung upon the cross, cried out, It is finished, the rocks rent, the earth shook, and some of the graves where shaken open; for when Jesus arose from the dead, and conquered death and the grave; when he walked forth from his prison house a triumphant conqueror; while the earth was reeling and shaking, and the excellent glory of heaven clustered around the sacred spot, obedient to his call, many of the righteous dead came forth as witnesses that he had risen. Those favored, resurrected saints came forth glorified. They were a few chosen and holy ones who had lived in every age from creation, even down to the days of Christ. And while the chief priests and Pharisees were seeking to cover up the resurrection of Christ, God chose to bring up a company from their graves to testify that Jesus had risen, and to declare his glory. ' {1 SG 69. 1}

Meaning: • • • That which belongs to God First of it’s kind Sample of what is to follow The unique work of the Holy Spirit in every time period The first of every work that God does for the An acknowledgement of who is our God: our Creator, Sustainer and Redeemer.

First use of Term, "Sons of God" • Gen 6: 1 began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, "That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they [were] fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. "And God saw that the wickedness of man [was] great in the earth, and [that] every imagination of the thoughts of his heart [was] only evil continually. "

Application to Unfallen Intelligences • when Job the day"Now 1: 6. athere was sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. " ing 38: 7. he "When • Job sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? "

Application to Those Born of the Spirit • John 1: 12, 13. "Butasmanyasreceivedhim, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name: "Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. "

Those Led by, and Filled with the Spirit many • Romas 8: 14 For Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. • Galatians God sons, are 4: 6 because ye. And hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Those in Whom the Spirit is Working • Phil 2: 12 -15. "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of [his] good pleasure. "Do all things without murmurings and disputings: "That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; "

To Those Who will be Like Him at His Coming • 1 John 3: 1 -3. "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. • "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. "And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. "

How do we Become Like Him? For • Rom 5: 17 -19. death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. ) "Therefore as by the offence of one [judgment came] upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one [the free gift came] upon all men unto justification of life. "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. "

Producing Seed After His Kind • Gal 3: 16. "Now Abraham toseed were his and the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. " • Rom 6: 23. "For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. "

The Seed was Perfected • Heb 2: 10. "For it became him, for whom [are] all things, and by whom [are] all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. "

Passing on Perfection Through Obedience • Heb 5: 7 -9. "Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; "And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; "

Secret of Perfection • Isa 50: 4, 5. "The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to [him that is] weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. • "The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back. "

Willingness to Suffer • Isa 50: 6, 7. "I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting. • "For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. "

Christ Himself Sows the Good Seed • Matt 13: 37, 38. "He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; "The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked [one];

"Through the Grace of Christ" • "The Holy Spirit implants a new nature, and molds through the grace of Christ the human character, until the image of Christ is perfected. This is true holiness. . " {UL 27. 4}

The Mind of Christ • Phil 2: 5 -8. "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: "But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. "

Suffering is Inevitable • John 12: 24, 25. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. • "He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. "

We Must be Crucified as Christ was • Gal 2: 20. nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. " • Gal 5: 24. crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. "

Christ’s Heart was Good Soil • Matt 13: 23. "But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth [it]; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. "

Christ’s Life Bore Good Fruit • Gal 5: 22, 23. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, "Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. “ • "This fruit can never perish, but will produce after its kind a harvest unto eternal life. " {COL 68}

What a Privilege! • Phil 1: 29. "For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; "

Sowing Seed by Bearing Fruit • "It is the privilege of every Christian not only to look for but to hasten the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, (2 Peter 3: 12, margin). Were all who profess His name bearing fruit to His glory, how quickly the whole world would be sown with the seed of the gospel. Quickly the last great harvest would be ripened, and Christ would come to gather the precious grain. " {COL 69. 2}

The Restoring Power of the Good Seed • "Verily, verily, I say unto you, " Christ continued, "He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also. " The Saviour was deeply anxious for His disciples to understand for what purpose His divinity was united to humanity. He came to the world to display the glory of God, that man might be uplifted by its restoring power. {DA 664}

We May Have His Perfection • "God was manifested in Him that He might be manifested in them. Jesus revealed no qualities, and exercised no powers, that men may not have through faith in Him. His perfect humanity is that which all His followers may possess, if they will be in subjection to God as He was. " {DA 664}

Fine Gold is Gold Tried in the Fire • Isa 13: 12. precious than fine gold; even a man the golden wedge of Ophir. " • "I Rev 3: 18. gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. "

The Blessing of Repentance • Rev 3: 19. "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. hat • 1 Pet 1: 7. much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: "

The Blessing of Repentance: Liberty of Sons of God • "The Lord is not pleased to have His people a band of mourners. He wants them to repent of their sins, that they may enjoy the liberty of the sons of God. Then they will be filled with the praises of God, and will be a blessing to others. The Lord Jesus was anointed also "to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garments of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified. " 1154 {4 BC 1153. 6}

The World Will be Convinced • "That He, " Christ Jesus, "might be glorified"-O that this might be the purpose of our lives! Then we should have regard even to the expression of our countenance, to our words, and even to the tone of our voice when we speak. All our business transactions would be wrought in faith and integrity. Then would the world be convinced that there is a people that are loyal to the God of heaven. . {4 BC 1154. 1}

A Call to Escape Corrupting Influences • God calls for all to come into harmony with Himself. He will receive them if they will put away their evil actions. By a union with the divine nature of Christ, they may escape the corrupting influences of this world. It is time for every one of us to decide whose side we are on. (MS 43, 1908). {4 BC 1154. 2}

Heavenly Agencies Are Waiting on Us • The agencies of Satan will work with every mind that will allow itself to be worked by him. But there also heavenly agencies waiting to communicate the bright rays of the glory of God to all that are willing to receive Him. It is truth that we want, precious truth in all its loveliness. Truth will bring liberty and gladness (MS 43, 1908). {4 BC 1154. 2}

Eating Fruit Exposes the Seed • James 5: 10, 11. "Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. "Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. "

Seeds Rot When Flesh Remain Attached to Them ng • 1 Pet 1: 23 -25. corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. • "For all flesh [is] as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: "But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. "

Fruit must be harvested as Soon as Ripened • Mk brought is forth, fruit 4: 29. when "But the immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come. “ • "Christ is waiting with longing desire for the manifestation of Himself in His church. When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own. " {COL 69}

• Gal 4: 6: And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. • Gal 4: 7: Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Continual Dependence on God

Subjects of God’s Kingdom: • "Those who endeavor to obey all the commandments of God will be opposed and derided. They can stand only in God. In order to endure the trial before them, they must understand the will of God as revealed in His word; they can honor Him only as they have a right conception of His character, government, and purposes, and act in accordance with them. " {DD 36}

His Character • Exod 34: 6 -8. "And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, "Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear [the guilty]; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth [generation]. "And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped. "

God’s Purposes • Isa 45: 22, 23. "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I [am] God, and [there is] none else. " or • Hab 2: 14 the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. "

Christ our Example in Submission • John 6: 38. "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. • John 14: 10. "Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. " •

Perfection and Consistency • As the head of humanity, Christ lived on this earth a perfect, consistent life, in conformity with the will of His heavenly Father. . Always uppermost in His mind and heart was the thought “Not My human will, but Thy will, be done. ” Letter 303, 1903. {CTr 227. 5}

The Real Battle was Against Self • 2 Cor 10: 3 -5. "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: "(For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; ) "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; "

God’s Word Cannot Fail • "God will do great things for those who trust in Him. The reason why His professed people have no greater strength is that they trust so much to their own wisdom, and do not give the Lord an opportunity to reveal His power in their behalf. He will help His believing children in every emergency if they will place their entire confidence in Him and faithfully obey Him. " {PP 493. 2}

The Battle of Ai • Josh 7: 2, 3. "And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which [is] beside Bethaven, on the east side of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai. "And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; [and] make not all the people to labour thither; for they [are but] few. "

Self-confidence Mars God’s Perfect Work • "The great victory that God had gained for them had made the Israelites self-confident. Because He had promised them the land of Canaan they felt secure, and failed to realize that divine help alone could give them success. Even Joshua laid his plans for the conquest of Ai without seeking counsel from God. " {PP 493. 4}

Sanctification In The Time of Judgment Isa 13: 12. "I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man the golden wedge of Ophir. " Rev 3: 18. tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; “ God makes us even more precious than Gold that we may be devoted to the service of the heavenly sanctuary.

Promise to Philadelphia • Rev 3: 10, 11. "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. "Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. "

Message to Philadelphia • Rev 3: 12. "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name. "

Demonstration of Righteousness • Isa 62: 2. righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name. " • Isa 33: 16. those "In days shall Judah saved, be and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this [is the name] wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness. "

Judgment; A Call To Sanctification • "And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these that are arrayed in white robes, and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. " {BEcho, December 1, 1892 par. 7}

Our Confidence To be in His Power to Help • " It is by a living faith in His power to help, that we shall receive strength to fight the battles of the Lord with the confident assurance of victory. {OHC 128. 2}

God’s Throne Built on Judgment of Mercy • Psa 89: 14, 15. "Justiceand judgment [are] the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face. • "Blessed [is] the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance. "

God Delights in Mercy • Jer 9: 23 Thussaiththe. LORD, Letnotthewise [man] glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty [man] glory in his might, let not the rich [man] glory in his riches: • 9: 24 glorieth that him this, let But glory in that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I [am] the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these [things] I delight, saith the LORD.

Blessings