God Is an Approachable Friend (5)

Jim Davis

Most religions of the world represent man's effort to reach up to God and become acceptable to Him. In China, for example, devout pilgrims ascend a sacred mountain called Taishan.  They climb 7,000 steps to its summit, first passing through the "middle gate," then through "heaven's southern gate."  Finally they reach one of the most beautiful buildings in all of China--the Temple of the Azure Cloud.  Here they offer sacrifices, which the worshipers believe will gain God's favor.  Such effort represents great religious fervor--and futility, for it brings the devotee no closer to God than when he mounted the first step.

The ancient world sought the Lord through making sacrifices to him. Micah cries out, “Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” (Micah 6:7 NIV)

Sometimes we may be like the Athenians who were seeking to worship God who was very near to each of them, but seemed so far away that he was really unknown to them. 

Acts 17:22-28
22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. 

24 "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.' NIV 

If we want to find God, all we have to do is reach out and find him because he is very near. Religions have a way of creating a distance between humanity and God. In times of difficulty we need to understand that God is very near. 

We Are God’s Children

During the Grecian times when Jesus walked the earth, Greek mythology discussed the possibilities of being the son of Zeus and the sons of other mythical gods. Grecian rulers sought kinship with the gods of Greek mythology. They sought to deify themselves by becoming the sons of God. Alexander the Great traveled to Egypt during his conquest to be proclaimed son of Amon-Ra the god who was proclaimed to be the father of the gods. Amon-Ra was recognized as a universal God. The power of his high priest rivaled that of the Pharaoh. The most massive temple ever built was constructed for Amon-Ra at al-Karnak. Amon was worshiped in ancient Greek colonies of Cyrene, where he was identified with Zeus, and in Rome, where he was associated with Jupiter. Alexander sought to identify with Amon-Ra to make himself supreme ruler over the world as he went forth conquering the world. It was shortly thereafter when he died of a fever.

Becoming a child of God is a real possibility for us today. It is little wonder that Christianity became such a challenging threat to the Greek mythological world as Christ promised every person the possibility of becoming sons and daughters of God. This is not myth or some fantasy world that we are speaking of, but it is real. 

1 John 3:1-3
3:1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure. NIV

Certain tribesmen in the Congo regard one particular idol as their spiritual father. Greatly revered, the image is kept hidden in a deep pit. Missionaries found that these primitive people were afraid to draw it to the surface, for they cried, "If we look on the face of our' father,' we will die." How different is our position as believers!  Looking into the face of 'our Father' in the person of Jesus Christ, we do not die but live!  In fact, the wonder-working Man of Galilee has clearly revealed to us the very mind of God. He has revealed to us that we are the children of God. 

The psalmist recognized his glorious position as he stood before God.

Psalms 8
O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory 
above the heavens. 
2 From the lips of children and infants 
you have ordained praise 
because of your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger. 

3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place, 
4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him? 
5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings 
and crowned him with glory and honor. 

6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet: 
7 all flocks and herds,
and the beasts of the field, 
8 the birds of the air,
and the fish of the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas. 

9 O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth! NIV

The reality of God’s presence in our lives is much different than the ancient world’s view of God. We may study the creation, DNA, and other scientific data to ascertain the mind of the creator. These things certainly reveal the power and wisdom of God, but it was Christ that revealed God’s desire for us to be his children. 

I don’t think we understand the full impact of being God’s children. It has lost its meaning through the ages, but it means living under the caring power of the ruler of the universe. Jesus did not come to make us orphans, he came to dwell in us through the Spirit of God so that we could become the children of God.

We Are Begotten of the Holy Spirit

It is through the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit that we become children of God today. Too many Christians have relegated the work of the Holy Spirit to the miraculous age of the first century. But the Holy Spirit must be present in each conversion. He is there to regenerate a new life in Christ.

John 3:3-8
3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." 

4 "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" 

5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." NIV

Jesus was begotten by God’s Holy Spirit; and each child of God is begotten by the same Spirit. Our conception as a child of God begins in a different way, but it is just as real as Jesus’ conception. We experience it as we allow the word of God to be planted in our hearts. There the Holy Spirit brings the seed of the kingdom to life as he regenerates God’s life in us. 

Titus 3:3-7
3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. NIV

1 Corinthians 6:16-17
6 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, "The two will become one flesh."  17 But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit. NIV

1 Corinthians 6:19-20
19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. NIV

Ephesians 2:21-22
21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. NIV

We are conceived of the Holy Spirit in baptism.

Acts 2:38-39
38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off-for all whom the Lord our God will call." NIV

1 Corinthians 12:13
13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body-whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free-and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. NIV

The Holy Spirit is God’s seal upon our lives that proves that we are his children.

Ephesians 1:11-14
11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession-to the praise of his glory. NIV

We can fully realize our standing before God as we allow the Spirit’s presence to make room for God’s word in our hearts. The Holy Spirit seeks to lead us to God through the counsel of God’s word. 

John 14:25-27
 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. NIV

The Holy Spirit seeks to lead us through the counsel of God’s word as he convicts us of our guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment. 

John 16:7-11
7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10 in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. NIV

Eph 5:25-27

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.
NIV

We can be sure that the Spirit is willing to guide us into all truth.

John 16:12-15
12 "I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. NIV

We grieve the Holy Spirit when we limited his potential in our lives. 

Ephesians 4:30-32
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. NIV

"Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God" commands Paul. Now, only a dear friend can be grieved. Not a stranger: he might be annoyed. Not a chance acquaintance: he might be perplexed. Not a business partner: he might be offended. Only a loved one can be grieved.

Ephesians 5:15-20
15 Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. NIV

We limit God’s Spirit in our lives by refusing to follow his counsel.

The resurrection power of the Holy Spirit resides in my heart to give me a new birth as a child of God, but it is subject to my willingness to obey. Paul writes, “The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets” (1 Corinthians 14:31-32 NIV). Paul is telling us that the spirit of the prophets were in submission to them. This meant that the Spirit of God was subject to the self-control of the person the Spirit resided in. The Corinthians were claiming their outburst in the assembly was the result of the Spirit’s word. But Paul told them that God’s Spirit was subject to them. 

The same holds true with God’s Spirit today as he seeks to lead us to salvation, he is subject to us. We can disobey him. In doing so we may reject the Spirit’s power to bring about a new birth.

The prophet Jonah refused to obey when God’s spirit sought to lead him to Nineveh to save a lost city. He was swallowed by a whale.

Samson was a pitiful example of a man who was empowered by the Spirit of God, but he lived like a spiritual vagabond.

Conclusion:

It is within you power to claim your right to become a son or daughter of God.

John 1:11-13
11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God- 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. NIV

Becoming a son or daughter of God is the greatest privilege in life. Imagine being allowed to claim kinship with God. 

You can become a child of God today through obedience to Christ through the message of the gospel.

Our rebirth as a child of God begins at baptism.