“No Longer Servants”

[WordSword]

Among the variations of administration between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant, the primary difference is the position one has in God. Before Christ is was “people of God.” Now, following Christ’s resurrection it is “children of God.” This is the difference between being with God, and being in God; which is a position reserved for those believing in His Son, possible only by the indwelling of the Spirit of God! 
NC

 

 

 

“No Longer Servants”

What a contrast between the bondage of the law, and the liberty of son-ship! Yet how slowly souls are to grasp it. One has only to read Acts to see how slow the Jerusalem brethren were to grasp their full deliverance from the law and their new position in the risen Lord Jesus Christ. God bore with a mixed state of things until Jerusalem was destroyed.

“Son” implies position. Thus believers now are placed in full possession of all the title-deeds of their heavenly position, and are admitted also into the Father’s confidence, and know His mind and counsel through the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven.

Being sons, the Spirit is given, a privilege unknown until Christ was glorified. Thus all believers have received from the Father His great “Gift” (Eph 2:8). The Spirit indwells to instruct us as to our position and portion and lead our souls into the enjoyment of it all. He directs our thoughts and hearts to heaven, to the glory into which the Son had gone. Through His gracious ministry we know ourselves to be in the Lord Jesus there, blessed with all His blessings, in the enjoyment of His relationship to the Father (Jhn 14:20).

Our proper cry now is “Abba, Father.” This is very different from the cries of those who believed in previous dispensations. If the Psalms be examined, for instance, Jehovah will be found appealed to, to burn up their enemies, to drive them away like stubble; and the man is praised who would “dash their little ones against the stones” (Psa 137:9). Are these Christian sentiments? Assuredly not. Yet they are all inspired of God and proper in their time and place. The speakers were those who believed under the law; Christians are under grace, free from law (Gal 5:23), and know the Father as fully revealed in the Son (Col 2:9).

Let us rightly divide the Word of Truth. To go back to the book of Psalms for proper Christian experience is to lose the savor of grace and to breathe legalism; it is to climb down from heaven to earth. If the Psalms are really understood, they yield a harvest of blessing to the soul (as does the entirety of the OT); but if misunderstood and misapplied, as alas, is too often done, only loss (of encouragement—NC) can result.

Being sons and having the Spirit, we “are no longer servants.” “Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Gal 4:6, 7). This is comparably higher than angels will ever know (1Pe 1:12). They are servants, ministers who do His pleasure (Heb 1:14), but they cannot say “Father,” nor join in redemption’s song (Heb 1:5). This is reserved for sinners, picked up by the sovereign grace of God.

Men sometimes have sons who are not heirs, because they do not choose to give them a portion. But there are none such in the family of God. All will share with the Only-begotten; when He takes up His rights and administers all things, we shall be with Him as sharers through grace.

—Wm Kelly (1821-1906)
 

[AdHoc]

1 hour ago, WordSword said:

Among the variations of administration between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant, the primary difference is the position one has in God. Before Christ is was “people of God.” Now, following Christ’s resurrection it is “children of God.” This is the difference between being with God, and being in God; which is a position reserved for those believing in His Son, possible only by the indwelling of the Spirit of God! 
NC

 

 

 

“No Longer Servants”

What a contrast between the bondage of the law, and the liberty of son-ship! Yet how slowly souls are to grasp it. One has only to read Acts to see how slow the Jerusalem brethren were to grasp their full deliverance from the law and their new position in the risen Lord Jesus Christ. God bore with a mixed state of things until Jerusalem was destroyed.

“Son” implies position. Thus believers now are placed in full possession of all the title-deeds of their heavenly position, and are admitted also into the Father’s confidence, and know His mind and counsel through the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven.

Being sons, the Spirit is given, a privilege unknown until Christ was glorified. Thus all believers have received from the Father His great “Gift” (Eph 2:8). The Spirit indwells to instruct us as to our position and portion and lead our souls into the enjoyment of it all. He directs our thoughts and hearts to heaven, to the glory into which the Son had gone. Through His gracious ministry we know ourselves to be in the Lord Jesus there, blessed with all His blessings, in the enjoyment of His relationship to the Father (Jhn 14:20).

Our proper cry now is “Abba, Father.” This is very different from the cries of those who believed in previous dispensations. If the Psalms be examined, for instance, Jehovah will be found appealed to, to burn up their enemies, to drive them away like stubble; and the man is praised who would “dash their little ones against the stones” (Psa 137:9). Are these Christian sentiments? Assuredly not. Yet they are all inspired of God and proper in their time and place. The speakers were those who believed under the law; Christians are under grace, free from law (Gal 5:23), and know the Father as fully revealed in the Son (Col 2:9).

Let us rightly divide the Word of Truth. To go back to the book of Psalms for proper Christian experience is to lose the savor of grace and to breathe legalism; it is to climb down from heaven to earth. If the Psalms are really understood, they yield a harvest of blessing to the soul (as does the entirety of the OT); but if misunderstood and misapplied, as alas, is too often done, only loss (of encouragement—NC) can result.

Being sons and having the Spirit, we “are no longer servants.” “Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Gal 4:6, 7). This is comparably higher than angels will ever know (1Pe 1:12). They are servants, ministers who do His pleasure (Heb 1:14), but they cannot say “Father,” nor join in redemption’s song (Heb 1:5). This is reserved for sinners, picked up by the sovereign grace of God.

Men sometimes have sons who are not heirs, because they do not choose to give them a portion. But there are none such in the family of God. All will share with the Only-begotten; when He takes up His rights and administers all things, we shall be with Him as sharers through grace.

—Wm Kelly (1821-1906)
 

In these comments of William Kelly is revealed the huge difference between Israelite and Christian. Nicodemus could not fathom it. One of the most schooled students of scripture had no idea of what happens when a man goes from Moses to Jesus Christ. The Israelite is THE chosen NATION among all nations. Great was their former glory under Moses, Joshua and David. But Moses, who God spoke to "face to face", spoke of AN-OTHER Who would replace Moses (Deut.18:18). Moses is revered in Israel - and rightly so, but another Levite was greater than Moses - John Baptist. By His own word Jesus declared John the greatest man born to a woman (Matt.11:11)!

But hang on! Our Lord Jesus continues to another type of man - the man who is LEAST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN! Who shall we take as the least in the Kingdom of Heaven? Only God knows. Was is Mark, who Paul thought not fit for the rigors of missionary work? Or maybe the thief on the cross next to Jesus. I cannot tell, BUT ... how can the least if the Kingdom be greater than the greatest born to a woman. The answer is; "BY ANOTHER BIRTH"!

A man cannot "see" the Kingdom unless He is born out of the Holy Spirit (Jn.3:3) and a man cannot "enter" the Kingdom unless he adds Baptism to this birth (Jn.3:5). Nicodemus thought that more teaching and deeper doctrine would improve the Jew and drive the Romans out. The mention of "Kingdom" evoked thoughts of Daniel Chapter 2, no doubt. But Nicodemus had no idea that a man's birth from "a woman" is INADEQUATE for the Kingdom. A man born of a woman is God's creature, but the male sperm has transmitted death (Romans 5). Men have been kings, but their KINGDOMS end with death. Men have aspired to rule as God, but they turn out to be flesh and blood, and God says in 1st Corinthians 15:50 that what man received from the woman's womb - flesh and blood - CANNOT inherit God's Kingdom.

Moses in the bulrushes and crocodiles of the Nile was the future "friend of God". Moses would slap the Red Sea and it would part. Moses would strike the Rock and a gushing torrent of water that could slake the thirst of two million people would spray forth. Moses could live in the Sinai on a mountain for 40 days and nights without water and food and come down with his face shining so much that Israel begged him to veil it. Moses could raise his hand and Israel were invincible in battle. But he was less than John Baptist who only declared Jesus, ate wild honey and wore camels hair. What, in the end, MADE MOSES GREATER THAN JOHN BAPTIST?

A BIRTH!!!

Moses could not have been on the Mount of Transfiguration if he wasn't born again. the scene in Matthew 17 is THE KINGDOM! (Matt.16:28). Moses messed up badly in the wilderness. It is one thing to lose your temper and strike a man. It is one thing to commit adultery. David escaped - barely, but he escaped. But a leader of God's people CANNOT misrepresent God! And so Moses, thought he sought mercy three times, was refused. He was found UNWORTHY of even the kingdom of Israel. So how did he get into the Kingdom of Heaven? BY A BIRTH!

When Moses was shown God's Choice of Jesus to be Leader and Lawgiver of Israel, HE BELIEVED - and wrote it down in Deuteronomy 18:18. And it is this FAITH in Jesus, though he looked forward, that enabled Moses to: 

12 ... become the SONS of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were BORN, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Moses could not enter the Kingdom of Israel because of temporal chastisement. But his new BIRTH made him qualified for the Kingdom of HEAVEN when it is set up on earth - a BIRTH by the Holy Spirit (Jn.3:6). And 2nd Corinthians 5:17 is emphatic. When a man or woman is born again by the Holy Spirit IT ENDS THEIR OLD MAN. Genealogy, social position, race, color and wealth ARE GONE. A man from New York might be proud that he has a USA passport - a member of the the most powerful country on earth at the moment. Another man might revere his Israeli passport and his knowledge of Hebrew. After all, "salvation is of the Jews". But what does God think of the Old? NOTHING! It just doesn't exist. It passed away.

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

 

[Guest]

4 hours ago, AdHoc said:

In these comments of William Kelly is revealed the huge difference between Israelite and Christian. Nicodemus could not fathom it. One of the most schooled students of scripture had no idea of what happens when a man goes from Moses to Jesus Christ. The Israelite is THE chosen NATION among all nations. Great was their former glory under Moses, Joshua and David. But Moses, who God spoke to "face to face", spoke of AN-OTHER Who would replace Moses (Deut.18:18). Moses is revered in Israel - and rightly so, but another Levite was greater than Moses - John Baptist. By His own word Jesus declared John the greatest man born to a woman (Matt.11:11)!

Thanks for the reply and interesting comments! Concerning the word "flesh" in John 3:6, it's my understanding that it is not in  reference to the physical body but to the spiritual nature, i.e. "old man" or sin nature. Thus though Christ was "conceived" of the Spirit, yet to be human He used Mary's reproductive system for conceiving, or there would be nothing human about Him (not that this is pertinent information).

[AdHoc]

54 minutes ago, WordSword said:

Thanks for the reply and interesting comments! Concerning the word "flesh" in John 3:6, it's my understanding that it is not in  reference to the physical body but to the spiritual nature, i.e. "old man" or sin nature. Thus though Christ was "conceived" of the Spirit, yet to be human He used Mary's reproductive system for conceiving, or there would be nothing human about Him (not that this is pertinent information).

I would say - very pertinent. Our Lords humanity is foremost in the three synoptic gospels. He never called Himself the "Son of God". Other's did, but His answer was always; "The Son of man". And even in John, where His deity is foremost, we have Chapter 6 where we are to "eat His flesh and drink His blood" - the organic absorption of His perfect humanity.

Returning to your understanding of John 3:6, I can see your view and I think it is thoroughly valid. The "generation" or perpetuation of the flesh is the continuation of the Adamic nature. The rebirth starts a new work in a man which is completely realized by the Holy Spirit (Rebirth, sanctification of the soul, resurrection of the body and the dual achievements of being a "spiritual House" (1st Pet.2) and soldiers against "spiritual wickedness" (Eph.6:12). I would give it equal place alongside the contrast that I alluded to. I took the way I did because the context was the "womb". Nicodemus could not see past that. Added to this, Nicodemus, learned in the Oracles, would be looking for the "seed of the woman" for the Kingdom. Our Lord does not annul this prophecy of Genesis 3, but turns the argument from "teacher" to the Tree of Life. Thus, I see in John 3:6 BOTH understandings - or perhaps better said, both layers of revelation are given.

[Guest]

16 hours ago, AdHoc said:

I would say - very pertinent. Our Lords humanity is foremost in the three synoptic gospels.

I wasn't referring to the fact of His humanity, but to how He became Human (the sole Divine Human). Like your comments but some are a little different from what I understand. Appreciate your replies and God bless!

[AdHoc]

2 hours ago, WordSword said:

I wasn't referring to the fact of His humanity, but to how He became Human (the sole Divine Human). Like your comments but some are a little different from what I understand. Appreciate your replies and God bless!

I apologize if I misread your theme. I'm in agreement with your beliefs and enjoy your postings. I should listen more and write less.

Go well bro

[Guest]

4 hours ago, AdHoc said:

I apologize if I misread your theme. I'm in agreement with your beliefs and enjoy your postings. I should listen more and write less.

Go well bro

Thanks, and I think you're doing fine!

[steve morrow]

ARE  YOU  NOT  SERVANTS  FIRST  AND  THEN  --friends because--

  

ISAIAH 2:22  cease you from man whose breath is in his nostrils ---FOR  WHEREIN  IS  HE  TO  BE  ACCOUNTED  OF---

JOHN 8:43  why do you not understand  MY  speech  ---even because you cannot hear  MY  word---

JOHN 8:47  he that is of  GOD  heareth  GODS  words you therefore hear them not  ---because you are not of  GOD---

PSALM 60:11  give us help from trouble ---for vain is the help of man 

PSALM 144:3  LORD  what is man that thou takest knowledge of him or the son of man ---that thou makest account of him---

 

*******2 TIMOTHY 2:7 consider what I say and  THE  LORD  give thee understanding --in all things*******

PROVERBS 8:14  counsel is mine and sound wisdom ---I am understanding   --  I have strength---

PROVERBS 2:6  for  THE  LORD  giveth wisdom out of  HIS  MOUTH  cometh knowledge and ---understanding---

PSALM 119:130  the entrance of thy words giveth light ---it giveth understanding unto the simple---

 

*******PROVERBS 20:16  the man that wandereth out of the way of understanding  ---shall remain in the congregation of the dead*******

 

ROMANS 6:16  know you not that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey his servants you are to whom you obey whether of sin unto death or of obedience unto righteousness 

 

               **************************************************************************

JOHN 15:14  you are  MY  friends --IF-- you do whatsoever I command you

--15:15--  henceforth I call you not servants for the servant knoweth not what his  LORD  doeth  but I have called you friends for all things that I have heard of  MY  FATHER  I have made known unto you 

GENESIS 26:5  because that abraham obeyed  MY  voice and kept  MY  charge  MY  commandments  MY  statutes  and  MY  laws

ROMANS 4:20 he staggered not at the promise of  GOD  through ---unbelief--- but was strong in faith ---GIVING  GLORY  TO  GOD---

--4:21-- and being fully persuaded that what  HE  had promised  HE  was able to perform 

--4:22-- and therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness 

JAMES 2:23  and the scripture was fulfilled which saith abraham---believed  GOD--- and it was imputed unto him for righteousness and he was called the friend of  GOD

               ***************************************************************************

PROVERBS 8:20  I lead in the way of righteousness in the midst of the paths of judgement 

PSALM 119:172  my tongue shall speak of thy word for all thy commandments are righteousness

1 JOHN 3:10  in this the children of  GOD  are manifest and the children of the devil ---whosoever doeth not righteousness  ---  is not of  GOD  --- neither he that loveth not his brother---

PROVERBS 10:2  treasures of wickedness profit nothing ---but righteousness delivereth from death 

PSALM 119:144  the righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting ---give me understanding---and I shall live

PROVERBS 8:8  all the words of  MY  MOUTH  are in righteousness there is nothing froward or perverse in them

 

ROMANS 1:18  FOR  THE  WRATH OF  GOD  IS  REVEALED  FROM  HEAVEN  AGAINST  ALL  --UNGODLINESS--  AND  UNRIGHTEOUSNESS  --  OF  THEM  WHO  HOLD  THE  TRUTH  IN  UNRIGHTEOUSNESS 

1 TIMOTHY 6:3  --IF--any man teach otherwise and consent not to wholesome words even  THE  WORDS  OF  OUR  LORD  JESUS  CHRIST  and to the doctrine which is ---according to godliness---

--6:4--  he is pround knowing --nothing-- but doting about questions and strifes of words whereof cometh envy strife railings and evil surmisings 

2 JOHN 1:9  whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of  CHRIST  ---HATH  NOT  GOD--- he that abideth in the doctrine of  CHRIST  ---he hath both  THE  FATHER  AND  THE  SON---

PROVERBS 26:24  he that hateth dissembleth with his lips and layeth up deceit within him

 

LOVING  THE  LORD  JESUS  CHRIST

 

[Guest]

17 hours ago, steve morrow said:

ARE  YOU  NOT  SERVANTS  FIRST  AND  THEN  --friends because--

I see it that Christians are always servants of God, but in the capacity as "children of God" and not merely "people of God"! He wants us close as it can be with Him (1Co 7:22).

Thanks for the reply and God bless!