1 FAMILY CHRISTMAS: AN INVITATION TO HIS FAMILY JOHN 1:12-13, 3:5-6; ROMANS 8:15-17 DECEMBER 15, 2013 This last year I searched out much of our family tree through ancestry.com. I ve been fascinated by the people I ve found, some of whom were historically significant or participated in significant events. There was some old European royalty, a couple of folks on the Mayflower, and a settler in Jamestown, Virginia. On the darker side of things, there were a couple of folks who were accused at the Salem witch trials, several people whose last will and testament passed on slaves to their children, and at least a couple of Confederate soldiers. And, of course, there are many genealogical dead ends, where there were common folks who left little historical imprint and no written record of their lives. Genealogies and who was born from whom can be very interesting. But what does it really say about who I am? Starting back that many years there are thousands of people who have royalty in their bloodlines, and they just don t know it. And that s OK, because that s not really who they are. I remember an episode from the old Andy Griffith television show where the Women s Historical Society discovered that a living descendant of a Revolutionary War hero was living right there in Mayberry. The news generated excitement and curiosity throughout the town, as people made plans for recognizing the hero s relative. Everybody was trying to figure out who it was. Barney Fife, of course, twisted his own family tree to the point that he put himself in line for the honor. Most of the townspeople felt special just because someone among them was related to a hero. However, everyone was shocked when the person was finally revealed. A careful analysis of the genealogical records determined that the hero s descendent was none other than Otis Campbell, the town drunk. Despite suggestions to find a substitute Otis for the presentation, the real Otis showed up for the ceremony, more than one bubble off level. When the ladies finally gave him the plaque, Otis held it in his hands for a moment, and then decided instead to give the plaque to the town. He said, Just because you re the descendent of a hero doesn t make you one too. So I would like to present this plaque to the town of Mayberry, to which I am just proud to belong. In the divine scheme of things it does not matter so much what your bloodline is. The Bible says what matters is your spiritual lineage,
2 that you are part of the family of God. So who is in the family of God? You often hear it said that everyone is a child of God. God is the Father of us all, and we re all children of God. It has a nice, egalitarian ring to it. But that s not what the Bible says. Oh, everyone is INVITED into the family of God. But not everyone IS IN the family of God. God is certainly the creator of all people and of everything. John s Gospel says of Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made. (Jn.1:3) But being made by God does not mean God is your Father or that you are his son or daughter. That sort of language implies an ongoing relationship. A few verses later John makes that clear. Yet to all who receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband s will, but born of God. (Jn.1:12-13) Not everyone who is created by God is necessarily a child of God. A father is someone with whom you have a relationship. So how does one become a son or daughter of God? John s Gospel says it s not by natural descent. Just because your parents were Christians does not mean you are. Just because they dragged you to church on Sundays does not mean you re a child of God. Again, it s a matter of relationship. But not a biological or blood relationship. And it s not just because you say so. As John s Gospel says, it s not by human decision. You must be born of God. That s what Jesus told one of the Jewish leaders, a man named Nicodemus. In John 3 Jesus and Nicodemus have a theological conversation, and in that context we find some familiar words. Oh, there s John 3:16, God so loved the world that he gave his only Son. (Jn.3:16) But I m looking a few verses before that, starting with John 3:3. Jesus said, No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. No one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. (Jn.3:3, 5-6) The Greek term can be translated as born again or born from above. It is a picture of being born into a new life by the power of God. Born of the Spirit. We know from other verses that when you put your trust in Jesus and seek to follow him, his Spirit comes into you. (1Cor.12:3) When you trust Jesus you are then born of the Spirit. You don t just get a ticket to heaven, but you are born into a new life. The apostle Paul used a different image for how one becomes a son or daughter of God, but again in terms of joining God s family.
3 He wrote in Romans 8:15-17 in terms of adoption. You did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear. (Ro.8:15a) You do not have a reason to fear God, to hide from him or cower before him. The Greeks feared the pantheon of their gods and goddesses, because they were so capricious and seemed to have no care for humanity. The Romans worshiped many of the same deities with different names, and, of course, divine Caesar was certainly to be feared. Even the Jews, who knew the one true God, approached with a degree of fear and trembling. He was, after all, the HOLY God before sinful people, high and lifted up over lowly humanity. His wrath was very much part of the picture. But Paul said to the church in Rome, You did not receive a spirit of fear. You received a Spirit of sonship. (Ro.8:15b) Actually the truest translation says You received a Spirit of adoption. Adoption in the Roman world meant you were taken into the family just as much as a child of flesh and blood. You had as much place, as much honor, as much inheritance as anyone in the family. Adoption did not mean you flew coach. You were in first class. You were a son or daughter just like anyone in the bloodline. By him (by the Spirit) we cry, Abba, Father. (Ro.8:15c) Better in English is Daddy, Father. It is the address of a child to their daddy. Wow. To call God Daddy. Not Father, which sounds sort of 1950s formal, or maybe Downton Abbey formal. But Daddy or Dad. It is close and intimate and trusting. A good experiment for you this week would be to address God as Daddy all week in your prayers. Try it and see what that does to your prayer life. By the Spirit we cry, Daddy, Father. The Spirit himself testified with our spirit that we are God s children. (Ro.8:16) John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, made a lot of this. He spoke and wrote repeatedly of the inner testimony of the Spirit, and the assurance of salvation. In his time a lot of people felt uneasy about where they stood with God. Some people felt like they needed to earn their way into God s good graces, just to make sure. And they worried they were not good enough, or they had not done enough. John Wesley himself had that struggle. In 1735 he and his brother Charles took a ship from England to travel to the Georgia colony as missionaries.
There were also 26 German Moravian Christians onboard seeking religious freedom. Three months into their journey a violent storm struck, damaged the ship and threatened to sink it. Terrible screaming broke out among the English. But the Moravians were worshiping God with hymns and prayers. John Wesley was impressed and asked their pastor if he d been afraid. I thank God, no, he answered. Well, Wesley asked, Weren t your women and children afraid? The Moravian replied, No, our women and children are not afraid to die. Then the pastor said Wesley, My brother, I must ask you one or two questions. Have you the witness within yourself? Does the Spirit of God bear witness with your spirit that you are a child of God?" Numbed by the question, Wesley remained silent. The pastor asked another question, "Do you know Jesus Christ?' Wesley, I know that He is the Saviour of the world. True, replied the German. But do you know that he has saved you? Finally, John Wesley gulped, I hope... He... died to save me. But his words had a doubtful ring in them. (Susanna Wesley", by Charles Ludwig, pgs. 170-72) After his return to England in 1738, his memory of the German Moravians fearlessness in the face of death stuck with him. He wanted a faith like that. He wanted to not only believe in his head that he was forgiven and loved by God. He wanted a knowledge deep within himself of God s forgiveness, love and acceptance, a confidence so profound that he would not be afraid to die. He went to a Moravian Bible study on Aldersgate Street. And in that context he had a profound religious experience. He wrote in his journal, I felt my heart was strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for my salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine. John Wesley became convinced that not only can we be forgiven of our sins, but that we can know inside ourselves with confidence God s forgiveness and acceptance and love. Do you know? Deep inside, do you know? Does the Holy Spirit testify to your spirit that you are God s child? The invitation to God s family is extended to all people. There are some Christians who do not believe that. The theological school called Calvinism believes in what is called limited atonement. The idea is Jesus did not die for everyone s sins, but only for those who would one day believe. And God had already predestined who that would be. That s how they reconcile the fact that God is sovereign over all things, but not all people end up in the family of God. But John Wesley believed, and I believe, the Bible says something else. God wants everybody and invites everybody into his family. But he allows us the freedom to RSVP that invitation with a yes or a no. To force us into a relationship with him. That s the equivalent of spiritual rape. God allows us freedom to choose for him or against him. So in Ezekiel we read, 4
5 I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. How about, God so loved the world that he gave his only Son. Not God so loved certain people, but God so loved the world. Jesus came for the world, in the original Greek the cosmos, the whole creation and everyone in it. But there s the rest of that verse, that whoever believes in him would have eternal life. Jesus came and did what he did for all people. But there is a faith response necessary for new life and inclusion in the family of God. And that s evident all over the Bible. In 1 Timothy Paul says God wants all people to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. In 2 Peter it says, God is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. And in 1 John it says, He (Jesus) is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. God wants ALL people in his family. His invitation is sent to every person you ll ever meet. Every person you will ever encounter, everyone you ll ever heard of, is invited into the family of God. Including people you don t like. Including the bad guys you hear about in the news, like shooters and terrorists and corrupt politicians. The neighbor whose dogs leave calling cards in your front yard. The guy who cut you off on Loop 1604. And the one who stole your identity. Your ex-husband or ex-wife. And anyone else who is on your list. God so loved you AND THEM that he gave his only Son, and invited them into his family. And if they accept his invitation, what are you going to do? Now, get this: God wants YOU to invite them. When he said, Go make disciples, when he said he came to seek and to save the lost, and he called us to Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people. he was calling us to seek and to save the lost. So who will you invite into the family of God? You could start by just inviting them to experience Christmas Eve worship with you. (Ez.33:11) (Jn.3:16) (Jn.3:16b) (1Tim.2:3-6) (2Pe.3:9) (1Jn2:2) (Mt.28:19) (Lk.19:10) (Mt.4:19) Prayer:
6 For those who have not made a conscious decision to RSVP God s invitation with a yes For those who are not assured they are invited and accepted For all of us to extend God s invitation for others to join his family SERMON NOTES: God is the creator of all. (John 1:3) God is not the Father of all. (John 1:12-13) God loves and wants to save all. (John 3:16) We must be born again/born of the Spirit into God s family. (John 3:3, 5-6) All who follow Jesus have the Holy Spirit and so have his new life. (1 Corinthians 12:3) We are adopted into the family of God through the Holy Spirit. (Romans 8:15-16) Inner witness of the Spirit, assurance of salvation God invites all, but allows us freedom to RSVP yes or no. (Ezekiel 33:11; John 3:16; 1 Timothy 2:3-6; 2 Peter 3:9; 1 John 2:2) Who will you invite? (Mt.28:19; Lk.19:10; Mt.4:19)