Firstborn Son, Rom 8 29-37

Author: Christian NuesaDate: 10/11/08Title: Those who are in Christ.

Pasage

Rom. 8:29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined

to become

conformed to the imageof His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;Rom. 8:30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.Rom. 8:31 ¶ What then shall we say to these things? If God

is

for us, who

is

against us?Rom. 8:32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He notalso with Him freely give us all things?Rom. 8:33 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies;Rom. 8:34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who wasraised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.

ReviewWe studied conformity.

The the

complete conformity

to the image of the Son of God

would make people in Christ tobe real brothers of Christ.

They are literally sons of God.

Again, Literally!Actually!In reality,

brothers to Christ!And this was achieved through:

Adoption

.Rom. 8:14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.Rom. 8:15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you havereceived a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”

Adoption -

“

huiothesia

” –Compound word:1.

Huios – A son

2.

And a derivative of “tithemi” – To place

“

huiothesia

” – The placing as a son

Translated in English as adoption.

However in Greek form, adoption

is not to be the best word

to describe the meaning of “placingas sons”.

Because

adopted child is

not actaully a real child but legal

child. Basically children in papers.

How did God produce real brothers to Christ? How did God placed them as sons.

i.First, by conception

a.

They were

foreknown and predestined

to be brothers of Christ.i.Romans 8:29

b.

The sons of God

begun

in the mind of God.

c.

Before God created them

He conceived

them in His mind.

ii.Second, by birth – that is spiritual birth.

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is bornagain he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

John 3:4 ¶ Nicodemus *said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second timeinto his mother’s womb and be born, can he?”

John 3:5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and theSpirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.John 3:6 “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit isspirit.

Jesus in John 3 there are people

who were born by the Holy Spirit

. They are sons of God, John 1:12So the

Holy Spirit is the mother

that birth the sons of God.This is not a physical birth but a

spiritual birth.

We know this is birthing

is by regeneration/or recreation.

iii.

Third, raising them to maturity

a.

Through sanctification

-The process of becoming

more and more holy

or mature into the

measure

of Christ.

b.

This is God’s way of

rearing a son

, or bringing up a son to adulthood or maturity.[mention the points again]

Therefore a complete conformity in Christ has given us

Rom 8:14-17

1.

Father and son relationship

with the God – He is our Abba Father

2.

Status

– In the nature of sonship, like the sonship of Christ.

3.

Dignity

– Inheritance and glory as literal sons

4.

Experience

– Sufferings in accordance to Christ’s sufferings

5.

Mindset

– Renewed mind in Christ

6.

Holiness

– As Christ

7.

Perfection

– As Chrst

8.

A never ending life

– As Christ will live forever

To sum up

: the people who are in Christ (8:1) were

exalted to the true nature and dignity

of sons of God.Therefore, adoption may be the English translation to “

huiothesia

”, but what God did

exceededthe meaning

of the English word “adoption”, because these are

literal

children of God, and not just

mere

adopted children.

That’s how God experience them, see them, treat them, and love them.

To further prove that:READHeb 2:10For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, inbringing many

sons to glory

, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.Heb. 2:11 For both He who sanctifies [CHRIST] and those who are sanctified [SONS OF GOD]are all from one

Father

; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren [BECAUSETHEY ARE HIS BROTHERS GIVEN BY GOD],Heb. 2:12 saying,

“I WILL PROCLAIM YOUR NAME TO MY BRETHREN,IN THE MIDST OF THE CONGREGATION I WILL SING YOUR PRAISE.”Heb. 2:13 And again,“I WILL PUT MY TRUST IN HIM.”And again,“BEHOLD, I AND THE CHILDREN WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN ME.”

In view of eternity

: these children of God are

not outsiders

, but

they came from God

Himself.

Therefore, the sons of God are from God birth by God for God.

Just a last note:Among the children of God, there is one Son who has

NO beginning

, the rest of His brothers aresons with beginning.Christ remains to be God,

we are not and never

will be.However it does not negate the fact that we are real children of God, and not merely adopted.[pause]Tonight we shall study the word

Firstborn

here.

First born

First bornFirst in the order of birthThe point is: being the First.

Similarly

:First fruitsFirst agricultural produce of the harvestThe point is: it is the first.

Usages

First Fruit in the bible is use either literally or metaphorically.

Metaphor

Believers are first fruit:Household of

Stephanas

, that they were the first fruits of Achaia.1 Corinthians 16:14-16Other referencesJames 1:18Revelation 14:4Christ is also the firstfruits1 Corinthians 15:23In all cases it does

not mean

they are literal fruits but the

first is what is being conveyed.