ABBA FATHER -- Tomorrow:
"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father" (Rom. 8:15). "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of
his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father" (Gal. 4:6).
This is a privilege not afforded the ancients. They all "died in the faith, not having received the promises" (Heb. 11:13). They "obtained a good report through faith," but did not receive the promise (Heb. 11:39). The glorious announcement is this: "God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect" (Hebrews 11:40). That "better thing" involves sonship. It begins with regeneration, and will consummate in the fulness of eternal life, reigning with Jesus, and being forever with the Lord.
Do you sense the magnitude of this blessing in John's words to the saints? "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure" (1 John 3:1-3).
Note that the hope of being "like Him" springs from an awareness of sonship! It appears to me that the time sophists have spent promoting the term "Christian" could better have been spent persuading believers of their sonship. There is, after all, no comparison in the Holy Spirit's usage of the terms. This is not intended to be a criticism of the appellation "Christian." Rather, I simply want to point out that the Holy Spirit did not emphasize this term. And, if He did not emphasize the term, what possible reason can mere men adduce for doing so?
Three times the Spirit uses the word "Christian" (Acts 11:26; 26:1 Pet. 4:16). No congregation was addressed as "Christians." No doctrinal presentation is ever given in relation to this word. It is a good term, but certainly not the best. It is used, but not frequently.
But when we come to the term "sons of God," it is quite a different story. The Holy Spirit employs this term no less than 16 times. All of them are surrounded with doctrinal presentations (John 1:12; Rom. 8:14,19; 2 Cor. 6:18; Gal. 4:5,6,7; Phil. 2:15; Heb. 2:10; 12:5,6,7,8; 1 John 3:1,2; Rev. 21:7). More should be made of this status in grace!
PRAYER POINT: Father,