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Relationship With God

Adoption

A new mother stayed with her parents for several days after the birth of her first child. One afternoon she remarked to her mother that it was surprising the baby had dark hair since both her husband and she were fair. The grandmother said ¡§Well your daddy has black hair.¡¨ To which the daughter replied ¡§But Mama that doesn¡¦t matter because I¡¦m adopted.¡¨ With an embarrassed smile that mother said the most wonderful words her daughter had ever heard: ¡§I always forget.¡¨

All Christians are adopted children of God who are accepted by god with the same unconditional love that this mother had for her daughter. ¢w¢w Michael P. Green¡mIllustrations for Biblical Preaching¡n

Blasphemy

¡§Operationally God is beginning to resemble not a ruler but the last fading smile of a cosmic Cheshire cat ¡¨ wrote Julian Huxley. He also wrote ¡§For my own part the sense of spiritual relief that comes from rejecting the idea of God as a supernatural being is enormous.¡¨――¡mReligion Without Revelation¡n

Defiance Toward God

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me

Black as the Pit from pole to pole

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade

And yet the menace of the years

Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate

How charged with punishment the scroll

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.

¢w¢w William E. Henley

Christ the Lord

An unknown author wrote "I asked a student what things he desired most. He said 'Books.' I asked a miser; he cried 'Money.' I asked a beggar; he faintly said 'Bread.' I asked a drunkard; and he called only for alcohol. I asked the multitude around me; they lifted up a confused cry in which I heard the words 'Wealth fame and pleasure!"

"Finally I asked a poor man who had long displayed the character of an experienced Christian. He replied 'I greatly desire three things: first that I be found in Christ; second that I may be like Christ; third that I may be with Christ.'" His deepest aspirations centered on Christ alone. ¢w¢w Michael P. Green¡mIllustrations for Biblical Preaching¡n

AN ILLUSTRATION OF GRACE.

MATTHEW 21:1-7.

As the lord needed the colt upon which He rode into Jerusalem so He needs every sinner. ¡§ Not a very complimentary simile to compare us to an ass!¡¨ says one. We often find that man is compared to animals in the Scriptures. He is compared to a sow for uncleanness (2 Peter 2:22) to a sheep for stupidity (Isaiah 53:6) to a dog as an object of contempt (Matt.15:26) and to an ass for his wildness and willfulness (Job 11:12). I am therefore warranted in taking the ass as illustrating the condition the sinner is in and what the Lord is willing to do for him.

¢¹. As the ass was ¡§ tied¡¨ (verse 2) so the sinner is under the bondage of sin (Gal.3:22).

¢º. As the ass was ¡§ without¡¨ (Mark 11:4)¡Xnot in a comfortable stable¡Xso the sinner is without the blessings of the covenant (Eph.2:12).

¢». As the ass was in a place where two ways met (Mark 11:4) so the sinner is where two paths are found in this life¡Xthe broad and the narrow way (Matt.7:13).

¢¼. As the colt had never been ridden on therefore had been of no use (verse 2) so the sinner is useless to God for they who are in the flesh cannot please Him (Rom.8:8).

¢½. As the colt was known by Christ before it was brought to Him (verse 2) and He directed where and how it would be found; so Christ knew us before we knew Him and He gives in detail our natural character in Rom.3

¢¾. As the colt was loosed by a power outside itself (verse 2) so the grace of God is the only power that can free us from the consequence and control of sin (Eph.2:5)

¢¿. As the colt was brought to Christ ( verse 7) so the Holy Spirit is the Power that leads us to the Lamb of God who takes away our sin (Acts 26:18).

¢À. As the colt was used by Christ (verse 7) so those who are brought to Christ are used by Him (Col 1:29).

¢Á. As the colt was needed by Christ (verse 3) so He needs all His people to carry out His purpose even as the head needs the members of the body to accomplish its will (1. Cor.12:12).

¢w¢w F.E. Marsh¡mFive Hundred Bible Readings¡n

BELIEVERS ¡¦ ATTITUDES ¡® RELATIONS TO CHRIST.

¢¹. Walking with Him as the two disciples to Emmaus (Luke 24:15) is revelation.

¢º. Talking with Him as Moses and Elias did on the mount of transfiguration (Luke 9:30) is fellowship.

¢». Listening to Him as Mary of Bethany (Luke 10:39) is instruction.

¢¼. Abiding with Him as the two disciples mentioned in John 1:39 is joy.

¢½. Living with Him as the disciples of John is oneness (Jno.1:39).

¢¾. Waiting upon Him as the early Christians is power (Acts 4:31).

¢¿. Watching for Him as the people were waiting for Christ is expectancy ( Luke 8:40).

¢w¢w F.E. Marsh¡mFive Hundred Bible Readings¡n

BELIEVERS HAVE A COMMON INTEREST IN CHRIST.

¢¹. Partakers from Him of one common life. ¡§Quickened us together with Christ¡¨ (Eph.2:5).

¢º. In Him they have a common interest in His atonement. ¡§ In whom we have redemption ¡¨ ( Col.1:14).

¢». Saved in Him by a common salvation. ¡§ To write unto you of the common salvation¡¨ (Jude 3).

¢¼. Related through Him to one common Father. ¡§ All the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus¡¨ (Gal.3:26).

¢½. Sheep by Him in one common flock. ¡§ There shall be one flock¡¨ (John 10:16 R.V.).

¢¾. Stones on Him in one beautiful and common temple. ¡§ Ye also as lively stones are built up a spiritual house¡¨ (1.Peter 2:5).

¢¿. Branches in Him as partaking of a common life. ¡§Vine ye are the branches¡¨ (John 15:5).

¢À. Sharers with Him of one common glory. ¡§Be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory¡¨ (John 17:24).

¢w¢w F.E. Marsh¡mFive Hundred Bible Readings¡n

 
Belonging To The Lord
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. In our previous lesson
we began this series...
 a. Asking what is the significance of being a Christian
 b. Starting with the idea that a Christian is "A Person Reborn"
 
2. We noted that a Christian is a person reborn because in Christ...
 a. They are a new creation - 2 Co 5:17
 b. They have been born again - 1 Pe 1:22-23
 c. They now have a new loyalty: to serve Jesus Christ - Ga 2:20
 
3. We begin this lesson by noting Paul's comments to the Corinthians...
 a. As recorded in 1 Co 6:19-20
 b. In which he challenged their thinking by asking "Do you not 
 know...you are not your own?"
 c. The Christian needs to understand that he or she has been "bought 
 at a price" and consequently is a person "Belonging To The Lord"
 
["Belonging to the Lord" has many connotations attached to it. One is
that a Christian is...]
 
I. GOD'S SPECIAL PERSON
 
 A. CHRISTIANS ARE NOW GOD'S OWN SPECIAL PEOPLE...
 1. Note how Peter describes them in 1 Pe 2:9-10
 a. "a chosen generation"
 b. "a royal priesthood"
 c. "a holy nation"
  d. "His own special people"
 2. These are terms that were once reserved for the physical 
 nation of Israel
 a. The Lord had chosen them - Deu 10:15
 b. He made them a kingdom of priests and a holy nation - Exo 
  19:5
 c. Thus they had become a special people above all other 
 nations - Deu 7:6
 -- What had once been limited to physical Israel
is now possible
 to all people who are in Christ
as promised to Abraham - cf.
 Ga 3:8-9
28-29
 
 B. A SPECIAL PEOPLE
WITH SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITIES...
 1. To proclaim the praises of God - 1 Pe 2:9-10
 a. Because He called us out of darkness into His marvelous 
 light
 b. Because He showed mercy
and made us the people of God
 2. To grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ - 2 Pe 1:8-11
 a. To make our calling and election (as God's people) sure
 b. To have an abundance entrance into the everlasting kingdom
 -- From the example of physical Israel
let us beware of becoming
 hardened and not lose faith
or we may not enter the heavenly 
 rest that awaits us! - He 3:12-4:2
11
 
[A Christian is truly "a special person" because he belongs to the 
Lord. He can rejoice in knowing that he is one of God's "beloved" (Ro 
1:7). God's love for the Christian is made even more evident when we 
note that he is also...]
 
II. GOD'S BELOVED CHILD
 
 A. CHRISTIANS ARE BLESSED TO BE CHILDREN OF GOD...
 1. In one sense
all people are God's children - Ac 17:26-29
 2. In another sense
many do not have God as their Father 
 - Jn 8:42-44
 3. Yet Christians are the children of God in a very special way
 a. Because of their faith
and having put on Christ in baptism
 - Ga 3:26-27
 b. Redeemed and adopted by God
they have received His Spirit 
 into their hearts 
 - Ga 4:4-6
 c. Because we do the Father's will
Jesus considers us His 
 family - Mt 12:48-50
 -- Christians should be touched by this expression of God's love 
 - 1 Jn 3:1-2
 
 B. AS GOD'S CHILDREN
WE HAVE BLESSINGS AND RESPONSIBILITIES...
 1. We are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ - Ga 4:7; Ro
 8:16-17
 a. For we are heirs according to the promise of God - Ga 3:29
 b. It is an inheritance that is incorruptible
undefiled
that
 does not fade
and is reserved for us in heaven - 1 Pe 1:4
 2. As heirs
we have many responsibilities
including:
 a. Being thankful for the inheritance we have - Co 1:12
 b. Abstaining from the works of the flesh - Ga 5:19-21
 c. Perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord - 2 Co 6:17-7:1
 -- If we wish to receive the promised blessings
we need to
 patiently carry out our responsibilities with an enduring 
 faith - He 10:35-39
 
[Besides being God's special person and God's child
a Christian who 
"belongs to the Lord" also has a special relationship to the world in 
which he or she lives...]
 
III. GOD'S HEAVENLY PILGRIM
 
 A. CHRISTIANS ARE IN THE WORLD
BUT NOT OF THE WORLD...
 1. As Jesus mentioned in His prayer for His disciples - Jn 17:
 15-16
 2. Like Abraham
a Christian is a sojourner
a pilgrim - He 
 11:13; 13:14; 1 Pe 1:1
 3. We are fellow citizens with members of God's family - Ep 2:19
 -- As such
our true citizenship lies in heaven
not here on 
 earth - Ph 3:20
 
 B. AS GOD'S PILGRIMS
WE HAVE SEVERAL OBLIGATIONS...
 1. To conduct our sojourn on earth with fear - 1 Pe 1:17
 2. To abstain from worldly lusts - 1 Pe 2:11; 1 Jn 2:15-17
 3. To keep our conduct honorable
filled with good works - 1 Pe 
 2:12
 4. To obey the laws
and respect the leaders
of the countries in
 which we sojourn - 1 Pe 2:13-17
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. We have seen that a Christian is a person who "belongs to the Lord"

 one who is...
 a. God's special person
 b. God's child
 c. God's pilgrim
 
2. The more we understand the significance of such privileges...
 a. We ought to be filled with gratitude and humility
 b. We ought to be moved to be the kind of people God intended
 
3. Are we living and conducting ourselves as those who "belong to the
 Lord"?
 a. Are we acting like a special people?
 b. Do we live like a child of God should?
 c. Is our life truly a sojourn
or are we living like we want to
 make this earth our permanent home?
 
As we saw in our beginning text:
 
 "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy
 Spirit who is in you
whom you have from God
and you are not
 your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify
 God in your body and in your spirit
which are God's."
  (1 Co 6:19-20)
 
May the significance of belonging to God prompt us to always glorify
God in our bodies and our spirits!

¡Ð¡Ð¡mExecutable Outlines¡n