Today I wont to touch on a much misunderstood topic and that is the phrase "Sons of GOD." My hope is that GOD will clear the air on this phrase and matter for all who receive HIS illumination that brings with it understanding. But first what does Pastor Hoekstra reveal about Grace and Christ. And then taking liberty I will draw on the ESV translation with editing where and when the LORD gives direction.
"Enriched with Grace by Christ"
"I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge... you abound in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us." (1Corinthians 1:4-5 and 2Corinthians 8:7)
"As we have seen, the New Covenant of Grace is essentially about developing our Relationship with the LORD Christ Jesus. Which had been lost to us by the rebellion of one man, Adam. And was from his passed down through his prodigy through the ages. Our GOD desires to impart His Grace into our lives through this acquaintanceship with His Son: "the Grace of GOD which was given to you by Christ Jesus." This phrase ("by Christ Jesus") points once again to the Intimate Relational aspect of living in Christ by (through) Grace. GOD's Grace flows into our lives "by (through) Christ Jesus." It might be helpful to restate this Truth. GOD's Grace comes into our experience by means of another person, the Lord Jesus (in John 1:14 and 17, Genesis 3:15). The limitless Grace of our great GOD available to us on the basis of Who Jesus is and all that He has done for us. It is accessed whenever we humbly, dependently relate to Him.
The resources that continually await us are so rich. The believers at Corinth found this to be true. "You were enriched in everything by Him." Two areas of God's rich Grace are mentioned here: "enriched... in all Utterance and all Knowledge." GOD's Grace had enriched them with a great capacity to know the things of GodOD and to put the wonder of those things into appropriate words.
When Paul wrote these Saints on a later occasion, he elaborated upon the richness of Grace that had become their personal experience. "You abound in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us." Three aspects are added to the previous list here: "faith, diligence, love." By the Grace of GOD at work in them, their capacity to trust Him had been enlarged. By the Grace of GOD at work in them, their attentive perseverance had grown. By the Grace of GOD at work in them, their loving concern for Paul and his missionary team had developed further.
When Paul prayed for other disciples of the Lord Jesus, he prayed in a manner that fits this picture. He prayed that their lives might be "filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of GOD" (Philippians 1:11). Righteous fruit, such as the Corinthians were enjoying, comes from Jesus Christ imparting His Grace into our lives."
Sons of GOD:
Hosea 1:10-11 "Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or numbered. And in the place where it was said to them, "You are not My people," it shall be said to them, "Children of the living GOD." And the children of Judah and the children of Israel shall be gathered together, and they shall appoint for themselves one head. And they shall go up from the land, for great shall be the day of Jezreel."
John 1:9-13 "The true light, which gives Light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world did not know (recognize) Him. He came to His own, and His own people did not receive (believe) Him. But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of GOD, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of GOD."
Romans 8:12-17 and 2Corinthians 6:18 "So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of GOD are sons of GOD. For you did not receive 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!" The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of GOD, and if children, then heirs—heirs of GOD and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him."
2Corinthians 6:14-7:4 "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has Righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has Light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of GOD with idols? For we are the temple of the Living GOD; as GOD said, "I will make MY dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their GOD, and they shall be MY people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the LORD, and touch no unclean thing; then I Will welcome you, and I Will be a Father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to ME, says the LORD Almighty." Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing Holiness to completion in the fear (reverence for ones husband) of GOD. Make room in your hearts for us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one. I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy."
Galatians 4:1-7 "I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, GOD sent forth HIS Son, born of woman, born under the law, to Redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons (Palm 2:8). And because you are sons, GOD has sent the Spirit of HIS Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through GOD."
Philippians 2:14-18 "Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of GOD without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of Life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me."
1John 2:28-3:3 "And now, little children, abide in Him, so that when HE appears we may have confidence and not shrink from Him in shame at His coming. If you know that HE is Righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of HIM. See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of GOD; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know HIM. Beloved, we are GOD's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when HE appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as HE is. And everyone who thus hopes in Him purifies himself as HE is pure."
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