Exponential Part 3

Romans 8 ESV

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be  against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

(Elect = Chosen by God)

RELATIONALLY VS POSITIONALLY. 

“GOD OUR FATHER.”

It’s easier for us to see Him as God than it is for us to see him as Father. 

1. We were all separated from God our Father because of sin.  

Separation from God. 

Romans 3 ESV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

John 8 ESV

34 Jesus answered, “I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.”

44 You are of your father the devil,

Luke 15 ESV

11 “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. 17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

The Son said:

“I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”

2. We need a new perspective of Our Father. 

Luke 15 ESV

20 But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 

“Best robe.”

Isaiah 61 ESV

10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Isaiah 1 NLT

18 Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.

The Father said: “My son who was lost is now found.”

Today’s goal:

To ELIMINATE the distance between us and  our Father for the purpose of having a deep relationship with Him. 

Romans 5 ESV

10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Reconciled = Return to favor.

Romans 8 ESV

31 If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up FOR US all, how will he not also with him graciously GIVE US all things? 

3. The God of all creation has called us His children.  

“Sonship”

“My Father”

“Our Father” 

Romans 8 ESV

33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.

(Elect = Chosen by God)

Old Testament… People of God vs New Testament… Children of God

1 John 3:1 NIV

1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!

We are considered children in three ways

A. Born Again: 

John 3 ESV

3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again[b] he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

B. Adoption:

Ephesians 1 ESV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 

4 even as he CHOSE US in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 

5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 

6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight.

C. Marriage:

Ephesians 5 ESV

31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.

John 1 KJV

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Why have we become comfortable with a servant's portion when we’ve been given a son’s portion?

I will POUR OUT My Spirit upon my sons and daughters.  

Lavishly applied Grace = Favor

Hebrews 4 ESV

16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Throne of “Grace” = Throne of “Favor”

John 16 ESV

26 In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; 27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”

What kind of relationship do we have with our father?