CHECKS TO UNCONDITIONAL COVENANTS 5

Checkmarks Supporting Conditional Covenants

SOUND DOCTRINE SHOULD ENDURE• In the first session we saw that there would

come a time when Christians would not endure sound doctrine

GRACE IS WHAT SAVES LOST MANKIND

• Without grace not a single person could be saved. The grace of God is the complete plan of redemption secured for all mankind by God’s only begotten son JESUS.

THE CASE OF SPIRITUAL ADOPTION

• The once in grace always in grace advocates like to suggest and assume the logical scenario:

• If you are born how can you be unborn?• This sounds logical but really it is biblically

illogical :-).• It presupposes that spiritual birth is the same

function as natural birth.

SONS NOT “ONLY BEGOTTEN SONS”

• Let us consider The Son of God• You cannot compare Christians, children of God,

to natural born children.• God has but one, and only one, natural born

Son.• The Lord Jesus Christ Is God’s Only Begotten Son

ONLY BEGOTTEN SON

• John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

• John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

CHRISTIANS ARE SONS OF GOD

• 1 John 3:1-2 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. 2 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.

CHRISTIANS ARE JOINT HEIRS WITH CHRIST

• Romans 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

NOT THE SAME• Christians Do Not Hold the Same Position As Jesus

Christ• It ought to be plainly obvious that Christians do

not hold the same position as does Jesus Christ• The term Only Begotten Son of God is special and

unique and refers to Jesus Christ as to his genealogy/bloodline

MODERN VERSIONS • It is interesting that modern versions drop

the term “only begotten”• They do this an attempt to deny the virgin

birth• It is not that he is the only son but that he is

the only begotten son of God

SONS OF GOD• Men are ADOPTED into the Family of God• Many “once in grace, always in grace, believers

would strongly disagree• They see being born again as different from being

adopted• There are inclined to see adoption as a group

rather than adoption as an individuals

ADOPTION AS A GROUP• Adoption pertains to Israel, yes• Romans 9:4 Who are Israelites; to whom

pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;

Grafting As a Group• The Gentiles are grafted in the vine• Romans 11:17 And if some of the branches

be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

ADOPTION/GRAFTING• Surely were not going to suggest that adoption and

grafting are different?• They must be the same, the olive tree has the natural

branches in the grafted branches and is one tree• To say that the term adoption only applies to groups is

to suggest that grafting only applies to groups.• This is an exercise in futility

ADOPTED INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD• Christians Are Adopted into the Family of God• This happens by being born spiritually, by being

born-again – hallelujah• Romans 8:15 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.

THE WATER AND THE SPIRIT• The person is saved when he is born again of

the “water and the Spirit”• John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say

unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

SPIRITUAL ADOPTION• A person is assured that he is born again when he

receives the Holy Spirit of God• You are one of God’s children no matter your

pedigree (Israelite/Gentile)• Romans 10:12 For there is no difference between

the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

THE HOLY GHOST• Besides Being “the Comforter,” the Holy

Ghost Is:• Let us take a moment and have a look and

see just who is this Holy Ghost/Holy Spirit

THE EARNEST OF OUR INHERITANCE• Ephesians 1:13-14 In whom ye also trusted, after

that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

GOD’S SEAL OF REDEMPTION• Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit

of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

THE AGENT OF ADOPTION• Romans 8:15 For ye have no received the

spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

BORN-AGAIN/ADOPTION• A child of God is an individual who must be BORN

AGAIN and he must be ADOPTED• It is not only important who claims to be one of God’s

children but it is equally important who God claims his children to be!

• We declare ourselves to be God’s children by claiming Jesus Christ as saviour and God claims us by giving us His Holy Spirit

THE SAME EXPERIENCE• Being born-again and being adopted are the same

experience• John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

• Romans 8:15 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.

UNQUESTIONABLE TESTIMONY• The Unquestionable Testimony of the Word of

God• Romans 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves

also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

TRUE OF JEWISH & GENTILE CONVERTS

• What is true of Jewish converts is also true of Gentile converts – absolutely

• Ephesians 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

MANKIND IS BEGOTTEN • Mankind Is Begotten by the Holy Spirit into God’s Family• 1 Corinthians 4:15 For though ye have ten thousand instructors in

Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

• 1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

• 1 John 5:18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

MANKIND IS ADOPTED• Men Are Adopted by Way of Spiritual Birth• Romans 8:15 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.

GRACE IS NOT FOR GRANTED• This point cannot be missed.• Christians are sons of God, but they do not hold the position in

heaven that Jesus does.• The Bible warns Christians NOT to take God’s grace for granted:• Hebrews 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great

salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

• 1 Corinthians 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

REPEATED WARNINGS• The Bible repeatedly warns Christians of the

danger of abusing God’s grace• We will look at these in session 6