Sons of God J I Packer Knowing God

Sons of God J. I. Packer Knowing God Chapter 19

1 John 3: 1 Behold what manner of love the Father has given unto us, That we should be called the sons of God

Sons of God Outline I. What is a Christian? II. New God / Man Relationship III. Adoption (five key dimensions) IV. The Great Secret

I. What is a Christian? A. Someone who has God as his Father B. How can God be your Father? 1. Jesus said “No one comes to the Father but through Me” – John 14: 6 2. “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus” – Gal. 3: 26 3. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe on His name” John 1: 12

I. What is a Christian? (cont. ) C. Fatherhood - Old Testament vs New 1. Old Testament – God is Father of Israel Exodus 4: 22 -23 2. New Testament – God is Father of repentant sinners who put their trust in Christ as their sin bearer and master. • Packer says New Testament is revelation of the Fatherhood of the holy Creator (p. 201 b) “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. . And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring” – Gal. 3: 26 - 29

I. What is a Christian? (cont. ) D. Sonship to God 1. Gift that comes not through being born, but through being born again a. John 1: 12 -13 - He gave right to become sons b. John 3: 3 – must be born of Spirit 2. Not natural but adoptive (p. 201 M) a. Galatians 4: 4 -6 – Full adoptive rights b. Ephesians 1: 5 – He planned our adoption

1 John 3: 1 -3 “See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons (children) of God; and such we are. …. . Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet that we shall be. We know that, if He should appear, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is. ”

II. New God/Man Relationship A. We no longer fear coming to Him Hebrews 10: 19 -22 B. God established “Father” standard in Ephesians 3: 14 C. Fatherhood implies four things (205 T) 1. Authority – John 6: 38 ; 17: 4 2. Affection – 5: 20; 15: 9 -10 3. Fellowship – 16: 32; 8: 29 4. Honor – 17: 1; 5: 22 -23

III. Adoption – 3 Key Dimensions A. Highest Privilege B. Basis For Our Lives C. What It Shows Us

III. Adoption A. Highest Privilege? 1. Our status as sons of God is the highest privilege the gospel offers 2. Justification is the primary and fundamental blessing that God provided for us on the cross, but it does not imply any deep or intimate relationship with Him 3. See example on 207 B & 208 T

III. Adoption B. Basis for our lives 1. Christian Conduct 2. Christian Prayer 3. Life of Faith

III. Adoption C. What it shows us 1. Greatness of God’s Love – Yard Sticks? a. Cross – Rom 5: 8; 1 John 4: 8 -10 b. Sonship – 1 John 3: 1 (p 214 B) God went to the cross for us and then adopted us because He chose to do so, not because He had to 2. Glory of Christian Hope a. The best is yet to come! John 17: 24; Matt 5: 8 b. Our Father has guaranteed it - John 14: 2

C. What adoption shows us (cont. ) 3. Understanding the Holy Spirit’s Ministry Rom. 8: 15 – You have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out “Abba! Father!” and Galatians 4: 6 • He makes and keeps us conscious • He moves us to look to God as our Father • He impels us to act like the King’s kids (re: authority, affection, fellowship and honor)

C. What adoption shows us (cont. ) 4. Meaning and Motives of Gospel Holiness • Connect Heb 12: 6 -7, 11 with Romans 8: 28 • Example - Page 222 M 2 While it is true that justification frees one forever from need to keep the Law of God or try to as the means of earning eternal life, it is equally true that adoption lays on believers the abiding obligation to keep the law as the means of pleasing your new father. God said “Be holy as I am holy. ” Lev 11: 44

C. What adoption shows us (cont. ) 5. How to Assess Assurance Packer reviews Reformed, Roman Catholics, Puritan, Wesleyan, and general Evangelicals views on assurance (p. 223 & 224) His position - If God in His love made us His children, and if He is the perfect Father, then two things follow: • The family relationship must be an abiding one lasting forever. The Prodigal story. • God holds nothing back to make His children know He loves them, and to understand their privilege and security as family members

Romans 8: 16 -17 “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs of God and fellow heirs of Christ , …. ” 8: 35 f – “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ” 8: 38 -39 “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. ”

IV. The Great Secret – I am adopted • I am a child of God • God is my Father • Heaven is my home • Every day that passes is one closer to my going home • My Savior is my Lord, but I am His adopted brother • Every Christian is also my brother