FOR YOUR REVIVAL OR BIBLE CONFERENCE . . . Rev. John Fasano and his series of messages on "Christ in the Old Testament Tabernacle"
Doctrinal pointers by Gerald B. Stanton, Th.D. Prof, of Systematic Theology, Talbot Theological Seminary
TEN Wonderful sermons & dramatizations il lustrated with a 6 ' tall authentic colorful model of the Wilderness Tabernacle. Also Children's features. Films & Special Music. Write________ REV. JOHN FASANO, Box 284, Winona Lake, Ind. S T O P S M O K I N G Banish The Craving For Tobacco! The easily applied method explained in "THE SMOKING HABIT" by Wodehouse will enable you to quickly and positive ly rid yourself of the Tobacco Habit. Read this book through. You'll enjoy it, and if you don't give up smoking, you get your money back and no questions . asked. Postpaid only $1.00. NEW LIFE, Dept. KB-56, Rowan, Iowa
The Fam ily o f God
O ne of the most illuminating illustrations of spiritual truth found in the entire Word of God is that of the family relationship. Entrance into the fam ily o f God is by an act of faith in the Son of God and is called the new birth (John 3:1-7). A t that moment, God becomes our Father and we become His sons and daughters (2 Cor. 6:18). Heaven be comes our home (Phil. 3:20) and we become part of the household of God (Eph. 2:19). No doubt God has set forth these vital spiritual relation ships after the terminology of human family life, knowing that our very familiarity with that which is human and earthly would assist our learning of that which is spiritual and hea venly. Several terms stand in need of clar ification. Let us consider these four: children of God, adopted of God, heirs of God and household of God. Children of God. “ The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God” (Rom. 8:16). Christ Himself has declared that entrance into the divine family must be by spiritual birth. When the Spirit of God applies the saving mes sage of the Word of God to a believ ing heart, there is wrought within that individual the miracle of the new birth (John 3:5; 1 Pet. 1:23). The effect is two-fold: 1) there is the implantation of divine life by the Spirit (Eph. 2:1; Titus 3:5), and 2) the individual is removed from under the lordship of Satan (Acts 26:18) and made a member of the family of God. The doctrine which expresses this change of relationship by the new birth is called regeneration. Adopted of God. “ . . . but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, where by we cry, Abba, Father” (Rom. 8:15; cf. Gal. 4:5, 6; Eph. 1:5). Adop tion is not a mere substitute or syn onym for sonship. It sets forth an additional privilege—that of standing before God as an adult son. In strength and knowledge, the new Christian is a babe in Christ (1 Pet. 2:2), but nevertheless his standing
before God is that of an adult. He possesses adult privileges and adult responsibilities that could never be ac corded an infant. For example, im mediately after salvation he has the throne room privilege of prayer; im mediately he may turn to another and win that one to Christ. Sonship reflects his position in the divine fam ily; adoption declares that he stands before God with the stature of an adult son and reflects the privileges and responsibilities which are his. Heirs of God. “ . . . if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ . . .” (Rom. 8:17; cf. Gal. 4:7). While adoption adds to sonship the thought that the believer is an adult son, heirship adds to sonship the thought that he is a first-born son. In many economies, family title, lands and goods are inherited only by the first-born son. Lest any should think that sonship alone might not guarantee the fullness of our inheri tance, the doctrine of heirship stresses the wonderful fact that in Christ our inheritance is complete. More than that, we are “ joint-heirs” with Him, meaning that in our heavenly home, all that the Father shall lavish upon the Son of His love shall also be the portion of those who are heirs with Him. “ He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” (Rom. 8:32.) Household of God. “ Now therefore ye are no more strangers and for eigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God” (Eph. 2:19). While the previous terms reflect the relationship of the believer to his God, the “household of God” relationship speaks of the Chris tian and his fellow believers. He has brothers and sisters in Christ. He is a fellow citizen with the saints. There are responsibilities the one toward the other, the chief of which is Chris tian love (John 15:12, 17). Let it be said of us, as it was so often said of the first Christian community, “ Be hold how much they love one an other.” END.
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