Sons Becoming Like Our Father

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Sons Becoming Like Our Father

Introduction: Romans 8:12-17 expresses the benefit and challenge of becoming “sons of God.”

• As seen in our earthly families, there are immense advantages to “family” and immense benefits to becoming a heir.
• This is also seen in our spiritual life as sons of our Father. We were not brought into his family as slaves, but adopted as sons & daughters, having all the full rights and benefits that would be given to a natural born child.
• But as is seen in verse 17, to be brought into God’s family is just like being adopted to any family. Yes, there are amazing benefits, but as a family, we are called to participate in the work and purposes of the family head. Therefore, if we are to be glorified with him, we will also suffer with him.

1. Our Purpose as Sons of Our Father
   1. “Sons of God” in the heavenly realm
      1. Deut. 32:8-9 The Lord placed angels (or spiritual beings) over the nations and called them “sons of God.” We also see this in Daniel 10
      2. Job 1:6, “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themself before the Lord, and Satan (Accuser) also came among them.” In this case, we even see these sons of God gathered in a type of council giving a report to God.
      3. Psalm 82 describes a similar council, calling it a “divine council.” In this case, we see those within the council who have not kept their charge before the Lord. This reminds us of Daniel 10 and the angel of the Lord mentioning his battle with the prince of the kingdom of Persia and the future battle with the prince of the kingdom of Greece.
   2. Let’s stop and make a couple quick conclusions:
      1. The fact that these beings are called sons of God indicates that their existence and purpose is defined as image-bearers of God. This is even evident in the Psalm 82 text in which the Lord condemned them for failing to reflect and teach about God to the nations.
      2. The heavenly realm existed before the creation of the heavens and earth. In that heavenly realm, we get glimpses of how God ordered his spiritual universe. God did not just “do” everything by himself. In other words, he didn’t always just “speak” and it happened, like in the Creation story. Spiritual beings were created to participate in God’s work in the heavenly realm.
   3. Now transition to the creation of our earthly realm (Genesis 1:27-28). It would seem that when God created the heavenly places, he also had in mind an eventual “expanded dwelling place” and a new creation. We also were made in the image of God. We also were given a high calling, not only multiplying the image of God throughout the world, but also having dominion over the world. 
   4. Though through sin we fracture ourselves as image-bearers, the Lord was determined to bring us back into his image. Romans 8:14-15 tells us, “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not received the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear but you have received the spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba Father!’” 
   5. Therefore, we are immediately able to see our similarity in this earthly realm in comparison the angelic beings in the heavenly realm. In speaking of our creation and our ultimate purpose, Hebrews 2:5-10 explains that we have been given dominion over the world to come, and that even though we have not yet attained that position, Jesus is leading us to the same glory and honor as he received. But the path to the goal is through suffering.
   6. Why suffering? The creation of the earthly realm obviously did not sit well with Satan and a host of angels who have followed him. Thus, “there was war in heaven” (Rev. 12:7). Satan was determined to destroy God’s new creation. Thus God appointed us to show his manifold wisdom by our fidelity to him no matter how severe our suffering from the result of Satan and sin. Therefore in Hebrews 2:11, we are told that for this reason Jesus is not ashamed to call us “brothers.” To bring about victory with our Savior, we will gladly share in his suffering.
   7. Therefore, we are “sons of God” in regard to our position as image-bearers, but also “brothers” in that we participate with him in suffering so that his work in this world bears fruit (Isaiah 49:6-8).
2. Divine Power to Make Us Sons of Our Father (2 Peter 1:3-4)
   1. Peter begins his second letter by immediately making the connection with the same purposes we have previously seen. Through God’s divine power, he “called us to his own glory and excellence.” 
   2. He has also “granted to us his precious and very great promises” (to say the least!!), so that we can “become partakers of the divine nature.” Do you recall the “divine council” of Psalm 82:1? Again we see God making us sons like him in order to participate with him in his purposes. “Partakers of the divine nature!” Who can grasp the thought? It is a pursuit above all pursuits! 
   3. Therefore, when we think of ourselves as sons becoming like our Father, we must reconfigure the way we consider the reason for being born again or born from above.
      1. We must not simply think in terms of us becoming better people, better Christians, better fathers of our own children. Those goals are certainly important but only when they are seen in how we practice and grow to the greater purpose of reflecting God’s image and preparing for the future goal of the world to come. God’s purpose for us is glory and honor, not becoming “Dad of the year.”
      2. Please consider Peter’s contrast to being a person sharing in the divine nature. 2:12 “irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed.” They are like Balaam (2:15-16), dumber than a speechless donkey. This is simply more evidence of what we become when our pursuit is not becoming sons of our Father.
3. Becoming Sons of Our Father (2 Peter 1:5-11)
   1. Please note some of the key words in the text:
      1. Vs. 5: “make every effort…” 
      2. Vs. 8: “yours and increasing”
      3. Vs. 10: “be all the more diligent”
   2. Partaking of the divine nature; becoming like our Father:
      1. Virtue relates directly to the characteristic of God already mentioned in vs. 3. It means “excellence” or “goodness.” It is an excellence of character or moral excellence that is seen in how we live our daily lives.
      2. Knowledge: Not just knowledge of the Word, but knowledge that brings us to know God. God supplied us with a book that one can study for a lifetime and not learn it all or see it all; there is still more to understand. And yet, how many Christians remain satisfied with the basics?
      3. Self-control is the foundational quality of a person who is mature. Self-control has to do with what we do with food, with our tongue, with possessions, with sexual desire, with our emotions, with our work, and with our time. A person who lacks self-control is doomed. A self-controlled person does not allow his feelings and urges to control him. He is able to say, “No.” He is disciplined.
      4. Endurance/steadfastness is the ability to bear up in the face of difficulty. One is able to remain steadfast whether he is dealing with persecution or dealing with the constant pressures of temptation. He does not give in to the fleshly desire to relax and quit.
      5. Godliness is a loyalty toward God so that a person is fully conscience of God’s presence at all times and responds accordingly. Godliness is a mind and a life that is the opposite of the ways of the world.
      6. Brotherly affection is a love of family members and thus a love of brethren, our spiritual family. Peter has already gone to great lengths to stress this: “love one another fervently from a pure heart.” This is the most important command that Jesus left His disciples (Jn. 13:34), and yet it is repeatedly violated.
      7. Love: Jesus defined love when he sacrificed his life so all could be saved. This may be the one command in which we are most lacking, and yet it is the primary description of being God’s image-bearers. We do not involve ourselves in the lives of others so we can share Jesus with them. “Love” lays down his life, as John says (1 Jn. 3:16).

Conclusion: God made a heavenly realm and then expanded his dwelling place in an earthly realm. The time will come when God merges these two realms together (Eph. 3:10). In both realms, God created sons of God, those who would reflect him and bring about his purposes. And in both realms rebellion marred God’s creation. But when God created us as his sons, he also created us to be crowned with glory and honor and have “dominion over the world to come.” He said we would even judge angels (1 Cor. 6:3). Now, are we living up to the title sons of God? 

Berry Kercheville