Sonship: The identity God gives us is because of the security He desires for us!
Pastor Brad Abley: Biblical Educator / Pastor / Teacher / Expositor
What is Biblical Sonship?
The Awesome, Transforming Power & Joy of Sonship
The identity God gives us is because of the security He desires for us
Have you ever heard a message on sonship? If I had just 10 messages left to preach, this would be one of them, it’s the Heart and soul of New Testament. By the grace of God the Holy Spirit, I want to lay a foundation in you on this central topic of Sonship to transform how you see God the Father & how you relate to Him.
Quote Ps. 27:4: Do you know that there is nowhere in the NT that describes a relationship with God quite like this one & yet there is a vast difference between David and you and me: David could never refer to God as Father & himself as his son. Only thru Jesus can we. More on that shortly.
First, the vast importance of adoption into sonship: three points:
1. Satan attacked Jesus’s identity Son (Mt. 3:16-4:3, 5:)
2. How Jesus viewed Himself, always (e.g., John 5:19)
3. Given just these two examples, why isn’t sonship strongly emphasized?
Now, the awesome transforming power & joy of our adoption as sons:
1. The invitation & revolution (Mt. 6:9)
2. The transformation (Eph. 1:3-6).
3. I’ve been walking with the God for 46 years. The unspeakable joy, now & throughout eternity (Rom. 8:15b-18; Rev. 21:6-8).
On a human level, I would be a good candidate for why it’s too difficult to know God as my Father and to see myself as His son. But for the Holy Spirit, if He can redeem me, He can impart all this to me – and to you. What does it take? A relentless pursuit.
Prayers of gratitude: Father, Thank you that You’re my Father thru Jesus & I’m your son. Simple, but intentional and keep in mind what we read in Rev. 21:6-8.
One of the most respected theologians of our time is/was J.I. Packer, who had an essential understanding of sonship. He wrote, "adoption is the highest privilege that the gospel offers; higher even than justification…the entire Christian life has to be understood in terms of it.” Knowing God, 186, 190.
Now, what I’ve prepared for you is a simple but highly effective prayer, which I call a “Sonship Prayer.” This is my own prayer; you can use it as a template. But it’s a great way to start and a great way to apply this message.
I’m still convinced that the best application for anything in the Bible is to pray it.
-A Sonship Prayer-
* Please note: This prayer is intentionally trinitarian – designed to help you to recognize how each member of our Triune God is involved in your sonship.
Father thank You that I am Your son/daughter whom You love for eternity through You, Lord Jesus. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for giving me the status and position of sonship (Eph. 1:4-5).
Thank You, Holy Spirit, for giving me the experience of this invaluable gift (Rom. 8:15-16; Gal. 4:4-6).
Father in Your brilliance, You have given me, your son/daughter, every provision for absolute security and joy with this sonship. It begins with Your forgiveness (Eph. 1:7-8) and Your justification -- You declaring me righteous in Your sight -- through Jesus (Rom. 3:23-25).
Father, thank You for the reconciliation I have with You through You, Lord Jesus – the bringing me into friendship with You (Rom. 5:1).
In addition, Father, You have given me your redemption because of You, Lord Jesus (Rom. 3:24). Father, You have glorified me through Jesus (Rom. 8:30), and on that day I will then fully understand the indescribable wonder of my sonship (Rev. 21:7; Is. 25:9).
Father, thank You that through You, Lord Jesus I have been and I'm continuing to be sanctified (1 Cor. 1:2; 1 Thess. 5:23) -- set apart for You and conformed into Your image, Lord Jesus!. This is the status that I have before You, Father.
And now I ask you, Holy Spirit to open my eyes, my ears, and my heart to more fully recognize, appreciate and desire more to understand and walk in this sonship.
Holy Spirit, please remind me to pursue this in prayer, in Your Word, and in and through praise and worship. I ask these things with faith and expectation in Jesus’ name, amen.
Pastor’s Corner - What is Biblical Sonship?
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