17 July 2005

Becoming Children of God

Romans 8:12-25

A father had three very active boys. One summer evening, he was playing cops and robbers in the back yard after dinner. (They were not Anabaptist). One of the boys "shot" his father and yelled, "Bang! You're dead!" He slumped to the ground and when he didn't get up right away, a neighbor ran over to see if he had been hurt in the fall. When the neighbor bent over, the overworked father opened one eye and said, "Shhh. Don't give me away. It's the only chance I have had to rest all day."

You know? Children are such a delight. They come with a lot of hard work, but it is very rewarding. I look forward to the day when I can spend more time with my children. Maybe I'll change my mind when I find my self on the ground pretending to be dead so I can rest, but I doubt it. I love my children. Forgive me if I sound too proud, but I think Danny is a great boy. I love spending time with him. And, Cristinita has a great personality. She is always smiling and laughing. To me, they are the best kids in the world.

My love for my children has given me a new awareness of the love that God has for us. In the Gospel of John we read, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life" (John 3:16 NRSV). I think we all understand that God loves us. Of course, the love that God has for us is more than feelings. It is a love that includes a great level of commitment. In other words, no matter what the world does, God will continue to love it. This does not mean God likes all that the world does, but that God is committed to loving us in spite of our mistakes or bad behavior.

This concept of God loving the world was not new to Judaism. It was not new to the followers of Jesus Christ. What was new, however, was the concept that Jews and non-Jews can become children of God apart from the Law of God. For the Jew, to be part of the people of God means being the children of God. In Deuteronomy 14:1 we read "You [the Hebrews] are children of the Lord your God." Yet we know that it was possible for Gentiles to convert to Judaism and join the family of God. However, normally a male Gentile person had to be circumcised. In addition to that, he would be asked to strictly follow the Jewish laws. In their eyes, becoming a Jew or becoming a child of God apart from the Law of Moses was impossible.

When Jesus Christ died and rose from the dead, a new concept of the Messiah came to be. Jesus Christ, The Messiah, came to liberate all those who were oppressed. And, according to Paul, this liberation included the liberation from slavery at the hands of the Ruler of this world and his kingdom, the kingdom of Sin (capital "S"). Because the Messiah defeated death and sin, so we, who believe in Him, have defeated death and sin. Paul writes, "For if we have been united with him in death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to Sin... if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him" (Romans 6:5-8).

If all who believe in Jesus Christ, The Messiah, can be liberated from death and sin, simply by believing, why then do we have the Law? This is a good question. In the last few Sundays, I believe, we have answered this question. According to Paul the Law is good and holy (Romans 7:12). The Law continues to be holy, and it should be seen as good. Because of the Law, we know what sin is. However, the Law was limited. The Law could not completely save us from the hands of Sin (capital "S"). The Law could not help us not sin. It only pointed to sin.

Jesus, on the other hand, by defeating Death and Sin through his resurrection, has helped us overcome the power of Death and Sin. Jesus, not the Law, has given us eternal life.

The next logical question is: if Jesus has given us eternal life, can Jesus make us part of God's family? The answer, of course, is Yes! If we have received salvation through Jesus Christ, through Him we also have become part of God's people, and therefore, God's children.

However, there is more to it than that. Paul writes, "For all who are LED by the Spirit of God are children of God" (8:15a). According to Paul, in order to become a child of God one must do more than believe. We must also choose to be led by the "Spirit of God." It is the Spirit of God that makes the difference. After all, it is the Spirit of God that leads us away from the wrong path. It is the Spirit of God that helps us distinguish between what is wrong and what is right; between the kingdom of this world and the Kingdom of God; between our own selfish desires and His perfect will for our lives. It is the Spirit of God that gives us peace in times of trial. It is the Spirit of God that assures us of God's love when we feel down. On the other hand, it is the spirits of this world that tell us we are worthless, we are ugly, we are unlovable. It is the spirits of this world that bring doubt and fear into our lives. Paul writes, "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption" (8:15).

So far we have answered the question: Can we become part of the people of God apart from Law? The answer is yes. We can become part of the people of God and therefore we can become children of God. Through Jesus Christ, both Jew and non-Jew, have found liberation from the powers of Death and Sin (capital "S"), and have been united in Christ. Therefore, there is no longer a distinction between a Jew and a Gentile. We, who were not part of the Hebrew people, the people of God, are now adopted into the family of God. In Christ we are indeed one. John E. Toews writes, "Paul's thesis is that all, Jew and Gentile, who choose to live in the Spirit are children of God."

However, there is still more good news to discover. Not only have we been liberated from the powers of Death and Sin, not only have we become part of the people of God- His children-, but also we have become coheirs with Jesus Christ our Lord. Paul writes, "For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, 'Abba! Father!' it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ- if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him" (vv 15-17).

Now, I do not know what this future glory will look like. I know that Paul believes that even our natural world will be rectified and glorified. However, it is difficult for me to imagine how we would be glorified as Jesus has been glorified. I do not know what that all means, but I know it has to be good. Paul writes, "I consider that the suffering of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us" (v 18). However, the key for me is not how we will be glorified, or that we will be glorified like Jesus, but that we are connected with Jesus in suffering. It is because we will suffer that we may be glorified. The key for me is suffering for Jesus Christ. And, maybe this not a popular massage to preach these days, but I believe that if we are going to talk about becoming children of God, becoming glorified like Christ, we should talk about being united with Christ in suffering.

Following Jesus is not all fun and games. Following Jesus means doing things the world does not want us do to. Following Jesus means being counter-cultural. For example, the world tells us we should kill the terrorists, invade and destroy the nations that harbored them. Jesus tells us, "Love your enemies. Do good to those who persecute you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you" (LK 6:27). The world tells us "the more material goods you have, the happier you will be." Jesus tells us, "If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possession, give money to the poor...(and) follow me" (MT 19:21). The world tells us seek to be first, demand your rights, assert yourself. Jesus tells us "For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted (LK 14:11).

No, if we are children of God, if the Spirit of God leads us, we are going to do things the world does not like. We are going to be counter-cultural. We are going to be a people that challenges the norms of our society, and seek to transform our society.

I love my children. There is little I wouldn't do for them. This is why, it warms my heart; it touches my soul to think our God loves us even more. We have a great God. We have a great loving Heavenly Father.

This summer we have been studying the book of Romans. And, we will continue to look at Romans for a few more Sundays. In Paul's letter we have talked about Sin and how we can overcome it. We have said that the world is divided into two kingdoms: the kingdom of this world (which is the kingdom of Sin), and the kingdom of God. We have said that the kingdom of Sin (capital "S") can enslave people. Furthermore, we have said that Jesus has come to liberate the world from the dirty hands of Sin. We are no longer slaves to Sin. We have been set free, because Jesus Christ has defeated Death and Sin. Yet, we not only have been liberated from Sin, but God has adopted us into His family. We are now His children. And, not only that, when the time comes we will be glorified as Jesus Christ has been glorified. All of this has taken place, because God loved us; because God loved you and me. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life" (John 3:16 NRSV). Sometimes I become overwhelmed by the love of God.

We are set free. We are slaves no more. Therefore, let us not act as if we are. Let us seek the Kingdom of God and obey our new Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

We are now part of God's family. We are children of God. Therefore, let us act as children of God. Let us seek to do the will of our Father. Let us seek to please Him, and not the world.

We are now coheirs with Jesus Christ. We will be glorified with Him. Therefore, let us resolve to follow Him, even if it means suffering for Him. Let us choose to obey Him rather than men. Let us choose to be different. Let us choose to be counter-cultural. Let us choose to be truly God's people.

Amen.