Seeking Jesus First Nov. 29, 2024
We have been given the privilege of walking with God as His sons - just like Jesus who is the firstborn among many brethren. This privilege was not granted under the Old Covenant Law of Moses, but it is available now in the New Covenant of faith, hope and love in Christ Jesus.
“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” (Galatians 3:26–4:7, NKJV)
We have the right to grow from children, who are under constant restricted supervision, to being treated as mature sons, who, being led by the spirit, walk in freedom.
The law was not bad and school was not bad. They taught us the righteous and acceptable ways. However, we only adhered to them out of fear of punishment.
As adults, we enter into a different kind of relationship with our teachers. We do not give them the power to punish us, but we do give certain teachers the right to correct us. As mature believers, we allow Holy Spirit and The Word of God to teach and to correct us. But these teachers do not punish us.
Our adversary, the devil, is looking for opportunities to steal, to kill and to destroy us.
There is more freedom as adults but there is also more potential for danger. When we make our own decisions, we are responsible for our consequences. This is what it means to grow up.