WHY YOU ARE NOW A SON (3).

*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*

*WHY YOU ARE NOW A SON (3).*

*Scripture Treasure.*

1 John 3:1: *Behold what manner of love the Father has given unto us, that we should be called the children of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.*

*Insight and Highlight.*

Not everyone is a child of God. Only sons and daughters of God are children of God.

*Scripture Commentaries.*

We continue with the gradual transition of the child of God from servants of God to friends of God and sons of God.

Sons and daughters of God are distinctive, and they enjoy far more Kingdom privileges.

Jesus is the Son of God.

This expreses His unique and intimate relationship with God. He was called the servant of God. Though He never undermined His role as a servant-leader or that He took the form of a servant

or undermined the inspired written introduction of His followers and eventual writers of the gospel from being referred to as a servant of God, He never called Himself a servant of God. John 10:36, 1 John 5: 20, John 3:16, Luke 1:35 all point to His testimony as the Son of God.

We may ask ourselves why Jesus would call us His friends rather than servants.

It may awaken the preference of some to be referred to as a friend of God rather than a servant of God.

The truth is that it is through the knowledge and role of friendship and sonship with God that servanthood finds its true meaning.

If Jesus Himself was referred to in Acts 3:13, 26; 4:27, 30 as *"......your holy servant Jesus whom you anointed......."* and in Phillpns 2:7: where He was described as humbling himself and taking the form of a servant, these tell us how important the role, description and reference of the servant of God.

It is important also for us to know that Jesus called Himself more as the Son of man, Matt 12:32, Mk 2:10, Lk 12:8, than He called Himself the Son of God. He called Himself the Son of God in John 10:36; 10:30, Lk 22:70, Mk 14: 61-62, but there are more testimonies of Him being referred to as the Son of God than He reffered to Himself as one.

At His baptism at Jordan in Matt 3:17, Lk 3:22, Heaven referred to Him saying, *'This is my beloved Son...."*

John reffered to Him as the Son of God, John 1:34.

Peter referred to Him as the Christ the Son of the living God, Matt 16:16.

Demons in Luke 4:41 and Mark 3:11, demons acknowledged Him as the "Son of God."

The importance of sonship also goes that when a son serves as a servant, there is a willingness to do so, but if a servant serves as a servant, he has no choice but to do so.

A ''servant'' in meaning is not more than a slave or in some cases in the bible a ''bondservant''.

In referring to Jesus as a servant, He is a servant of God who willingly *"....took the form of a servant...."* in humility and obedience. He, as a servant of God, laid down His life, He was not forced or compelled, John 10:18. In all of this, He also knew Himself as a Son.

Servants do not know or see themselves as sons but a servant of God must see, know and have the revelation that he is a son of God redeemed, sanctified and his service is to willingly offer himself to the service of others.

While servants are not often vindicated or promoted, Christ in John 15:15 promotes the servant of God as He Himself is more than a servant but the Son of God.

He was a suffering servant who was ultimately vindicated and exalted by God, Phillipns 2:5-11.

We can not remain under this title servant of God. While there is nothing wrong with it, we must appreciate that there is a progression in the Kingdom of God

A 'servant' by context of a slave often does or will do what his master says, whether good of bad.

For example in Rom 6:16 Paul asked a question, *Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?*

So a servant, in obedience to his master, could be asked to go and evil, and he would not refuse just as when he was asked to go and do what is good.

This is because a servant by his duties is a servant to his master because he must obey him and he is known or accepted as his master's servant as a slave who must obey him whether he is aked to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness.

For us to be co-labourers with God, we are not just working as servants but as those who have a stake in the Kingdom.

We must embrace servanthood with the revelation and understanding that we are friends and sons of God.

We are not hired as servants.

We are not paid, but we get rewards.

Sons are not hired but begotten. They willingly serve as servants but are not compelled.

They are not servants with slavery mentality to sin and who do not have knowledge but servants with knowledge of sonship to work righteousness.

We sit with the Son and the Father.

Sons have the authority of the Son and Father. The authority was freely given, Luke 10:19.

Anyone who has a true understanding of sonship will not undermine servanthood.

Sonship gives servanthood a refined definition, not of slavery, but of dominion.

Only sons can understand these!

*Remorse Corner.*

Jesus was referred to as a servant of God and a Son of God. He accepted all these as and His most common self-designation.

*Call to Word action.*

As a friend and son of God, we fulfill and claim authority of Jesus and for ourselves. We have the rights that were given Him as a Son of God.

*The Christian clarion duty.*

A friend of God is also a son of God.

*Prayer.*

Lord, let me have a divine understanding of sonship and servanthood. Help me to know this so that l can be committed to serving you in Jesus name.

Good morning all, and have a blessed day.

God bless you.