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from The Prayerline Newsletter by Darrell C. Porter

"The Sons of God"

April -June, 2009

As He stood before the law of Rome the crowd before Him waited anxiously. As to whether he would be condemned to death or acquitted was thrust into the hands of Pilate. The Roman governor studied Jesus with dismay. He then looked out at the restless crowd before him, hungry for blood. His eyes turned back to Jesus, puzzled. Pilate had spoken with Him earlier, and now wondered, anxiously. “Why don’t you defend yourself?”

Brutally whipped and beaten, Jesus stood before Pilate. His skin was gouged and bloodied. His weakened body screamed all over with pain. Pilate knew He was an innocent man. Yet he was also certain that the punishment he had authorized earlier would be enough to satisfy the Man’s accusers. The governor turned poetically, yet decisively back to the crowd. Cunningly and confident in himself he lured the onlookers into a “court yard” of compassion so they’d demand the release of Jesus. This would relieve Pilate of any blame certain to be placed on him by the religious leaders for setting Jesus free. Standing poised as though ready to deliver a political speech, Pilate stretched out his arm and cried out to the waiting crowd, “Behold the man!” The Roman governor was certain that human pity would well up in those who looked at the Man, Jesus.

‘See His innocence,’ he expected. Yet his expectation did not come to pass. The eyes of Pilate widened at what he heard.

The loud voices in the crowd had no desire to look at Jesus. Given the privilege of setting a proven criminal free or releasing an innocent Christ they choose rather to free the criminal. As for the Man Who did only good, and had wrongly suffered under the fierce Roman whip, they cried out at the top of their lungs. “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”

Stunned by the crowd’s stark rejection of Jesus, the Roman governor stood speechless. He suddenly realized he was trapped by his own cunning. There was no way he could turn the tide on what he had already done. In seeking to save himself from criticism and political trouble he had effectively delivered an innocent man into the hands of sinners.

His cunning cost him his conscience and the life of the Son of God.

ETERNAL VICTORY FOR MANY

Yet in three days it would come to light that the Man Who had stood before the Roman governor, and those whose hands were lifted against Him, was not a victim. Jesus never fell into their hands. He purposely stepped into it. The brutal execution he endured had been fore-told by the early prophets, and planned before the foundation of the world. (Rev.13:8) The Man, Jesus Christ, was the sacrificial Lamb of God Who was slain for the sin of the world. (Jn.1:29)

“For this cause came I into the world.” (Jn.18:37) Jesus told Pilate just before His death. In witness to the truth that man is a sinner in need of Salvation, Jesus willingly submitted to the penalty of that sin, which was His own death on the cross. Had He not been so willing, He would have never died, and none would have been redeemed. Cruel as was His fate was, Jesus endured the cross and its shame, not as a victim of man, but as a Savior for man, to bring eternal glory and victory to many.

Did He actually have to die? Some have asked.

Earlier Jesus had taught His disciples that unless a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die it will abide alone. (Jn.12:24) But if it dies it will bring forth much fruit. He said. For at the beginning of the creation of man God said, “Be fruitful and multiply.” (Gen.1:28)

Jesus is the Good Seed Who fell into the sinful earth and was buried (1Pet.1:23). Yet He would rise from the dead, and produce much fruit suitable for heaven, in fulfillment of the command of God from the beginning. “Be fruitful and multiply.” (Gen.1:22) Through Him would come forth many sons and daughters raised up into glory.

Enlivened through faith in Christ alone, by the work of God’s Holy Spirit, His off springs are known as the sons of God. Their special birth comes not from men, nor the works or even the will of men. (cf. Gal.1:1) They are born completely of God, as brand new creations in Christ Jesus. (2Cor.5:17) These belong not to the world but to Christ. “Theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt.5:3,10) The authority and privileges of God’s kingdom belong to them and is in them. “…behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” (Lu.17:21). The life of the Holy One Who saved them now lives in them; and their life is safely preserved and hidden in God. (Col.3:3) As Jesus is at this moment, in His resurrected glory, so are they in this world. “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.” (1Jn.4:17) The elect saints (ones set apart for God) are born of the Spirit of the living God, in Christ Jesus. (Jn.17:22; 20:22)

The wicked serpent that oppressed them all their lifetime with despair and fear, now burrows beneath their feet, in subjection to their commands in the Name of Christ. The purchased of God have been miraculously raised up to abide in the Light as their Savior is in the Light. (1Jn.1:7) They possess His full authority over the prince of darkness and all his wicked works. (Lu.10:19) For as the God of Creation gave man dominion over all things, (Gen.1:26) Jesus now wonderfully restores those who trust Him back to that same high position (1Jn.4:17) in God. (Eph.2:6) “I give you power over serpents and scorpions (all forms of demonic powers) and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (Lu.10:19) Furthermore, He charges them to freely give this good news away to others, commanding them that, “And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.” (Mat.10:7-8) Jesus’ offer is Himself to all who will welcome and receive Him.

His glorious and everlasting life lives in every person purchased by His precious Blood, and granted Life by God’s Holy Spirit. (Jn.3:5; 6:53) Those who receive Him and are faithful to this heavenly grace are called the sons of God.

Had Satan known that Jesus’ death would accomplish such unimaginable victory for believers in Christ he would never have crucified the Son of Glory. “Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” (1Cor.2:8)

Those who are born of God must also be discipled (trained and disciplined to obey the Word of God) (Matt.28:18-19; Jn.8:31; 13:35; 15:8) Why is this? So they may walk in the Light daily as Jesus is in the Light. (1Jn.1:7) Understand, Jesus tells them, you will endure trials and challenges when living to Christ. “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” (2Ti 3:12)

These hardships are sometimes like “rods” of correction to deliver them from evil and keep them on the paths of righteousness. “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the thingswhich he suffered.” (Heb 5:8) Other hardships come not for correction but out of unjust spite and persecution toward those who walk with God. (2Cor.11:24-26) Nevertheless, though the devil means it for evil, God uses it for good. (cf. Gen.50:20) For they are God’s own elect.

The Greek text of the Bible calls these elect saints teknon theos – children of God. (Rom.8:16) Though born again, they are yet learning and still immature in the faith. They often stumble through doubt and unbelief. Nevertheless, they are upheld by God. Jesus sternly declaring, “No man can pluck them out of my hand.” (Jn.10:28-29) Confirming His commitment to His precious lambs, Jesus said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee..” (Heb.13:5) This is most reassuring.
For as a faithful and loving parent the heavenly Father raises His children up in maturity and strength. (Eph.6:10) Yet many doubts, anxieties and fears emerge from the minds of the teknon theos, to the point where even these elect saints do have moments where they wonder whether or not they are actually saved. They have not yet learned the discipline of daily abasement to God’s Truth; nor is it established in their hearts that He is truly their heavenly Father. (cf. Matt.23:9) Yet Jesus upholds them though they stumble and fall. (Isa.4:9-10) He continues the work He began in them unto its completion. Jesus is truly the author and finisher of their faith. (Heb.12:2)

Can the world see this? Airily. As though it were afar off. What is near to the world, and the worldly in the church, are the things of the world. The worldly religious are solely occupied with buildings, money, power, religious traditions, inviting programs and the like. They are carnal; and they utterly miss the Spirit of God. The worldly wise and the wicked, together, oppose God in almost every way. For this reason the meek and obedient to Christ often suffer bitterly and unjustly at their hands. “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” (2Ti 3:12 ) Nevertheless, God uses these afflictions to bring His children into an even deeper knowledge and greater acquaintance with Him. (cf. Ps.42:7). Constrained into a straight and narrow path of submission and obedience to Christ, God works to increase their “spiritual mass” as He builds them up, stronger and stronger, spiritually, into what the Bible calls, huios theos –sons of God. (Gal. 3:26)

This Greek term refers to mature sons who have gained a heart of dependence on God and trust in spite of their many hardships. These are not mere hearers of God’s Word, (Jam.1:22) who give up or run when afflictions arise. Rather they are resolute soldiers committed in spiritual war through the Word of God. They require no constant re-instruction in the “milk” of the Word, and heaping to themselves many teachers. (2Ti 4:3) For they have learned to listen to the Voice of God’s Spirit in their own human spirit, as well as apprehend Him through others sent by Christ, as well as through the Scriptures.

WHO ARE THE SONS OF GOD?

The world, including the worldly in the church, does not recognize the sons of God, anymore than they recognized the Son of God. If they do perceive them, they are held in light regard. God’s elect are often unpopular and largely unknown. Even though some are quite wealthy most are quite poor. (Jam.2:5) The elect are in churches; and many serve faithfully outside the churches. They belong not to men, but to Christ. Like sheep they have only one Shepherd; and when known to be shepherds they have only one objective, to feed God’s sheep His heaven sent Word.

The elect are twice born – first of water, by natural birth (to distinguish them from the angelic sons of God over which they will rule) (1Cor.6:3); secondly by the Spirit of God. (1Jn.5:1) Even though called to a very high calling in Christ, (Php.3:14) they abide in whatever state they find themselves, (Php.4:11) Whether it be sewage worker, corporate executive, school teacher, preacher, waitress, mechanic, garbage collector or king. Nothing on the outside signals what they really are, “for the kingdom of God is within.” (Lu 17:21) Their outward life is most like anyone else. They work, play, raise families and the like. Moreover, the sons of God live in the world, do good to those around them, while also feeling deeply that they are but aliens and strangers in the world they live. (Heb.11:13; 1Pet.1:1)

Their real home is in heaven. Their estrangement to the world draws them closer to Christ. Communing with the Lord of heaven, through prayer, is their daily delight. Such prayer is the sense and soundness to their life. In all that is wrong in the world prayer is always right. Prayer is also their weapon against the fallen nature that rages against them each day. (2Cor.10:4) Heartfelt prayer is their sword of power over the plots and purposes of hell. It is also their “shield” of defense against wickedness. These “lights of the world” (Matt.5:14) comfort themselves in God and live by prayer as their necessary breath. God is their all-in-all, upon Whom they depend each day.

On the opposite side come the children of darkness who, as zombies in the night, creep out of the darkness of iniquity to assault all things clean and innocent, even the children of light. These living dead souls and their spiritual cousins, the “wolves”, “warlocks” and “witches”, rush after wickedness as in a competitive race. Joining along side them are those whose blood-lusty spirits, like vampires, prey upon the weak and unsuspecting, gorging themselves on the innocents, leaving them empty and as dead as they are. Jesus identified what they actually are when He said, “Let the dead bury their own dead.” (Mt 8:22) These are the same spirits that launched out against Jesus in His life and at His cross. They also assault His elect saints each day. Hence “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Eph 6:12)

Yet, Jesus overcame them all! Because of this great victory the Bible says that those who are made alive in Christ “are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.” (Ro 8:37) It reveals that “Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” (1Jn.4:4) It further states that, “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper.” (Isa 54:17) Wickedness will come against you; yet nothing can defeat God nor His elect children.

Here it is plain to see that the sons of God are ordained to fight a war that has already been won. They are ordered to fight the good fight of faith (the good fight of victory). (1Ti 6:12) Those determined for God and committed to doing His will, will receive the reward. “Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” (Col 3:24)

These elect men and women will not enter into the eternal kingdom unscathed. The beloved Savior, Himself, bears the wounds of His own cross, even now in His resurrected body. (Jn.20:24-29) So, too, will many bear wounds in their glorified bodies as an eternal witness of their faithfulness to God in this earth. (Matt.18:8-9; Mk.9:43)

At that Day a Voice of praise will resound throughout the corridors of heaven, crying out unto the sons and daughters of glory, “Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” (Mt 25:23)

Then the wicked and the perverse will be no more in the land; nor will they be remembered at all.

At that Day of Deliverance the clean air of refreshing will blow sweetly, and the trees of the field will clap their hands. (Isa.55:12) The holy angels of heaven and all of creation will rejoice before the Lord at the manifestation of the sons of God, (Rom.8:19) redeemed from the foundation of the world. (Eph.1:4) These are they who stayed steadfast in the Way of Christ through their faith and obedience and were made worthy to to be called the sons of God.

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The PRAYERLINE Newsletter is a quarterly publication of Darrell C. Porter Evangelistic Assoc., Inc.

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