For the Family
Notes
Transcript
The Family of God v1-3
The Family of God v1-3
And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”
By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,
choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.
He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.
And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.
Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.
When John expresses surprise and wonderment that we are , and are allowed to be called children of God, it is no wonder. It truly is amazing grace! No wonder the Psalmist said:
I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Who are Saints?
Who are Saints?
coterminous / hits a differing aspect, namely righteousness
coterminous / hits a differing aspect, namely righteousness
Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.
Little children, let no one deceive you. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.
The first saint canonized by a pope was Ulrich, bishop of Augsburg, who died in 973 and was canonized by Pope John XV at the Lateran Council of 993.
Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath.
And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in all the way of David his father, and he did not turn aside to the right or to the left.
To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:
Paul here specifically gives a shorthand definition of saint
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia:
Corinth was the capital in Achaia
If we take the term saint to be used as it is in our Bibles, we will understand that all the redeemed are saints, both alive and those already departed. Thus the Psalmist also said:
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!
Who are we? Who are You?
Who are we? Who are You?
Read 1Jn 3:4-10
2 interpretive choices
ignore these texts
John really meant something other than what he said
Let the Word say what it says (which is to say don’t try and muzzle or put words in God’s mouth
Simul Justus et Peccator
Simul Justus et Peccator
The fact that we have the Spirit in us ought to cause changes
We as a church need to be about the business of discipling, modeling Christ-like behavior and choices, and encouraging each other
We need to return to the basics… Matt 5 is a good place to start
We trust God, thus we can talk about what we feel, but we need to give space for what God has said.
Let scripture describe and define what the life of faith is
Be gracious in any such judgments
Give space that a lived out witness is infinitely more important than recollection of a one time experience
After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
If you are unsure, keep coming and ask questions
If you are certain of your conversion, yet your life doesn’t match your confession… call upon the Lord for forgiveness and help, and rely on your church family to help rather than toss you aside.
For anyone truly in Christ, regardless background of any kind, you are a child of God. You are a Saint of the Lord! No matter what comes: Grace, Peace, and Mercy are yours from the Eternal and Triune God; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit