Sermon Tone Analysis

In John’s prologue he introduces us to the “Word” (Vs 1)

Who was in the beginning with God

Who was God and was the very source of life He is called “true light” Vs 9

Most astoundingly this “true light” entered into His creation (Vs 9)

= This is what John is pointing us to......the Creator has entered His Creation!

(Astounding)

Note:

There should be no doubt that John is saying that the Creator of the Universe, the Pre-existent one is none other than Jesus Christ who entered into His Creation

= This is Jesus Christ!

This is not some later development of the church

The church later grappled with how to put all this together (i.e.

Nicea and Chalcedon)

First century Christology was expressed by Thomas to Jesus (John 20:28) “My Lord and my God”

= The first century church in Jesus own day worshipped Him as God...the Word, the Creator!

A. The historical reception of the Word is recorded:

We can see this from the gospels where most of the Jews rejected Jesus

This of course culminated with the crucifixion of the “Word”

= I can’t think of a greater sin......than to reject your Creator!

B. But what about those who do receive the Word?

= Those who receive the word are given a "right" to be "Children of God"

The Word’s ability to give this right is proof of his exclusive and unique relationship with God

This is proof of the “Word’s” unique position:

Not only....

Is the Word God Is the Word the Creator Is the Word the one who gives life to all men

= The Word and only this Word has the authority to grant the “right” to be a “child of God!” (Doctrine - Adoption)

(To receive the Son (or to be in the Son) is to be received by the Father as a son)

Point - It is only through this “Word” (I.e. - Jesus Christ) that we can become “Children of God”

People are not naturally “Children of God”

It is only through coming to “know” this Word that we are ushered into the Family of God As (Vs 18) says “No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known” (esv)

= It is only through receiving this Word......that we enter into the blessed status of “Child of God”

Application: Do you know Christ?

Does He know you?

If you do not.....then the rest of the sermon will not pertain to you.....You are not a “child of God”

= I urge you to consider your reception of Jesus Christ.

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Why is “Adoption” such a great blessing?

(JI Packer wrote)

"You sum up the whole of New Testament teaching in a single phrase, if you speak of it as a revelation of the Fatherhood of the holy Creator.

In the same way, you sum up the whole of New Testament religion if you describe it as the knowledge of God as one’s holy Father.

If you want to judge how well a person understands Christianity, find out how much he makes of the thought of being God’s child, and having God as his Father.

If this is not the thought that prompts and controls his worship and prayers and his whole outlook on life, it means that he does not understand Christianity very well at all.

For everything that Christ taught, everything that makes the New Testament new, and better than the Old, everything that is distinctively Christian as opposed to merely Jewish, is summed up in the knowledge of the Fatherhood of God.

“Father” is the Christian name for God. ( Evangelical Magazine 7, pp.

19-20)"

Note:

In the OT the emphasis was on God’s holiness:

The whole of the OT was determined by this concept of Holiness Only a priest could enter into the presence of God Even then there was elaborate washings and rituals Very few people experienced a “nearness” to God (Moses, David) No individual ever had God as their “Father”

= God’s was known by His covenant name of Yahwey

In the New Covenant:

God has not changed, He is still holy He acts to bring a people into a new relationship with Himself

Through Christ’s work He opens access to Himself (I.e.

Hebrews)

There is a nearness, the veil is torn

= To these people His covenant name is “Father”

(The stress of the NT is not on the distance, between believers and God - but the nearness)

Point - John is saying in Vs 12 that this Word - Jesus Christ has entered into Creation to bring us into this wonderful relationship of knowing God as “Father”

1. Adoption is a distinct act of God to graciously bestow a particular right to the believer.

We are born as sinners and enemies of God - children of wrath

In regeneration we receive the new nature - we are made alive, we are new

In justification we are declared just with God (i.e.

court of law)

In adoption we receive all the rights and privileges of a child of God!

*Adoption should not be conflated with justification...although it is always connected

= Sovereign love is underneath all of our salvation, but there are beautiful differences in what they bring to us.

( i.e. - Just as you can see a painting from many angles so it is with salvation)

ILL.(2 examples)

Justification - God declares us just before His law

Adoption - God makes us children and we are instructed to call Him - “Father”

It is one thing to stand before the judge and receive a sentence It is another to be brought into the home of the judge as a son or daughter

Justification - Is forensic, it takes place in the justice of God

Adoption - Is experiential, the Holy Spirit is poured into our hearts and we cry “Abba Father”

We are meant to experience our “sonship” as sons and daughters We are to be changed by our adoption in how we relate to God and others

Point - In Adoption we experience something far more “relational” than a legal declaration......both are important, justification* clears the way for a relationship with God as “Father”

(Adoption is the highest gift of God’s grace)

A. Adoption into the family of God is the *goal/pinnacle of God’s saving activity.

I.e.

Election - Predestination - Calling - Justification = All of these are necessary steps to accomplish God’s supreme purpose of making us “Sons”

God cannot have sinful Children God cannot have rebellious Children Our sinfulness need to be dealt with

= So He sets out to Regenerate, Justify so that He can “Adopt” us as His own!

(Adoption is the highest gift of Grace!)

Notice the motivating factor in:

It is the great heart of God that overflowed to sinners There was nothing in us that prompted the bestowment of this wonderful right It was God’s overflowing Love to rebels (you/me) to make us His own children

= He didn’t purpose to adopt good people......but sinners!

When we contemplate that we went from “children of wrath” to “children of God, we can say with John:

B. Adoption is brought about by the indwelling of the Spirit.

2 Things in this passage:

1.

The Spirit is called the “Spirit of adoption” meaning when we are sealed with the Spirit He causes us to see God as our Father.

He assures us our sins are gone

He bears witness with our Spirit that we are the children of God

This removes (should remove) the “fear”

We find within ourselves a love for the Father (I.e.

Abba Father)

We find a nearness to the Father

Access by the Spirit to the “throne* of grace” (!) (Not the Spirit of slavery and fear)

We no longer see God as a Judge but as Father

= This is the pinnacle of our salvation.....to know* God as Father!

Application: Do you actively think of God as your Father?

*There are some Christians who through lack of teaching or incomplete understanding see God as a judge....not as “Father”

ILL - One time a Christian lady told me “I like to think the Father as the judge and Jesus as the one who made the Father love me.

This is a distorted picture that will lead to a “distorted Christian life” Christ did not die to make God love us.....Christ died because God loved us

= In reality it was God who sent the Son into the world specifically so that we would receive the adoption as sons (Gal 4)

Point - It is vital to our Christian life that we learn to think of God as “Father”