DIVINE & ETERNAL ADOPTION

"Wherefore, thou art no more a servant, but a son." -Galatians 4:7 [KJV]

Why does St. Paul tell believers this, seeing he had in the former verse said, that the Spirit assured their hearts of it? We hence plainly see the necessity of the outward word of reconciliation, as well as the inward testimony of the Spirit: and if the witness of the Spirit within does not accord to the testimony of the word without, we do well to suspect it. Besides, from the working of a legal spirit, the prevailings of unbelief, the raging of corrupt lusts, an undue attention to the things of this life, and the accusations of Satan, children of God are prone to live below their glorious state and inestimable privilege. 

Hence, our loving heavenly Father has not the joy of our hearts, nor the glory of our lives. We do not always, as commanded, rejoice in Christ, our dear elder Brother. Therefore, St. Paul reminds, “thou art no more a servant.” Consider, (1st.) what means he by a servant? (1st.) He is under the law, in bondage to it. He gets no freedom of spirit, nor liberty of soul from it, do what he will. It still says, Do: work on: you have not done enough yet. I must have perfect obedience from you. You are my bounden servant. (2d.) He works for wages: he expects justification by his works, and salvation for his obedience. (3d.) He is always under fear and terror, of being punished in hell for his faults, and the wrath of God coming upon him for his disobedience. For, (4th.) he sees no higher motive to act by, and work from, than the law of works. 

He is alive to the law, though he is under the sentence of the curse, and death by it. Tell him of free and full justification unto life, by the work of the Son of God only, without works; he rejects it as downright Antinomianism. O, believer in Jesus, rejoice that thou art no more such a servant, but a son. (2d.) See the blessedness of this state. (1st.) You are not left to work under the law, to obtain God’s favour: for He hath freely adopted you to be His son. You have not received the Spirit of bondage to fear (hell and damnation), but the Spirit of adoption, whereby you cry, “Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15.) 

(2d.) You are a regenerate son. God hath begotten you again, (from the dead hope of the law) to a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:3.) What work couldst thou do, to deserve this blessing? Just as much as a devil in hell could, to deserve to be made an angel in heaven. It was of thy Father’s abundant mercy. (3d.) Thou art a son of God by faith in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:26.) A believing son by gospel grace: not a working servant, under legal terror. Live then up to your dignity, upon your Father’s love, and elder Brother’s grace, above the slavery of sin, the bondage of the law, and the fear of hell. Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed on us! see 1 John 3:1.

 

-preacher Wm. Mason (1724-1797 A.D.)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

CHRIST OUR ONLY AND PERFECT RIGHTEOUSNESS

" The flesh lusteth against the Spirit." —Galatians 5:17 [KJV] Christian experience fully proves this apostolic truth. Hence the children of God cannot do the things that they would: nor have we any authority from God's word to conclude this lusting ever ceased in any of the saints till they got to glory; none are delivered from it while in the flesh. For, as the renewed soul or spirit loves to enjoy spiritual and heavenly objects, so the flesh, or unrenewed part, lusts after those objects it is naturally conversant with, and from which it derives its happiness.  Here is thy conflict, O Christian. Hence the necessity of thy Lord's command, "Watch always." This is the use of the doctrine. What woeful effects have fulfilling the lusts or desires of the flesh produced in eminent saints! Thou standest by faith, be not high-minded, but fear. The conceptions of lust are the productions of sin.— see James 1:15 . The commission of sin contracts fresh s
Read more

Encouragement in Christ JESUS ~ 04 October, 2023 A.D.

" All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient." —I Corinthians 6:12 [KJV] The constraints of love and jealousy of fear sweetly unite in the believing heart. Where the faith of Jesus prevails, love constrains. It holds and keeps us in our station and duty, as soldiers are kept together under a banner or ensign displayed. What cheerfulness and activity of soul do we experience, when we can say with the church in the Canticles (Songs of Solomon), ch. 2, vs4. "Jesus' banner over me was love!" Then how sweetly do we judge and determine our conduct by the law of Christ, which is LOVE!  This excites a godly fear lest we should allow ourselves a latitude in things in themselves indifferent, to the wounding and hurt of our souls or our fellow-soldiers. Though all things of an indifferent nature, which are innocent in themselves, are lawful to us; yet the cause and interest of our dear Saviour, and the good and edifying of His beloved memb
Read more

JESUS - Rock of Ages

Jesus remains the same in all ages. He is the One who is constant when everything and everyone else fails. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever; the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. He is our R ock [I SAMUEL 2:2 ] . In the Old Testament, in Exodus 33, Jesus is pictured as the Cleft Rock. In that chapter, verse 18 and following, Moses desired to see the glory of the Lord, but was told, "You cannot see My face; for there shall no man see My face and live.” And the Lord said, “There is a place by Me, and you shalt stand upon a rock: and it shall come to pass, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by." Notice that as Moses stood upon the rock, the Lord hid him in the cleft. This wonderfully applies to us today! Believers are both standing on and hidden in Christ [COLOSSIANS 3:3 ] . We are both in and on the Rock. As life with its many bitter events presses upon us,
Read more