NEWSLETTER - FEBRUARY 2008
VERSE OF THE MONTH:
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” John 1:12 (NIV)
IN THIS EDITION:
The Blessings of Sonship
365 Promises
Events
iTunes
THE BLESSINGS OF SONSHIP
When we meet and accept Jesus our sins are forgiven. The prospect of eternal separation from God is removed and we enter into eternal life. We can never earn our eternal life; money can’t buy it nor can any knowledge or natural ability make it happen. It is quite simply a gift!
However, that is not the whole story. There is much more. Salvation opens the door to relationship with the Father.
Relationship is at the heart of the gospel. God so loved the world that He sent Jesus (John 3:16). God wants a family (Isaiah 1:2 and Jeremiah 3:19). When we come to Jesus and accept him we receive the right to His children (John 1:12).
Galatians 4 tells us that we used to be slaves but now we are sons. We used to be bound by the law, observing all sorts of festivals and special days. Now all that has been replaced by a spirit of sonship that enables us to cry “Abba, Father”.
There are three characteristics of sons that I want to mention, which are ours to enjoy. They are not a prize we strive for but they are the rights of those who belong to the Father.
Sonship gives us a new identity. The Father affirmed Jesus as a son above everything else. Sonship was central to Jesus’ life; it was Satan’s attack on him in the wilderness, it was the Pharisee’s claim against him and it was the Father’s affirmation at his baptism and on the mount of transfiguration. In Matthew 11:27-30 Jesus reveals the Father to us and shows us a relationship of intimacy where our identity comes out of who we are rather than what we do.
Secondly, sonship gives us an inheritance. It is not something we gain in the future but something we can live in now. Like the Father in the story of the lost sons God says “you are always with me and everything I have is yours”. We don’t know if the elder son ever came to accept that!
Thirdly, sonship is freedom. We were set free to be free! (Galatians 5:1) Creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed - sons who will lead people away from bondage and decay into glorious freedom. Freedom comes out of a restored relationship with the Father and brings us wholeness and healing. A son has a permanent place in the family. Jesus said that if He sets us free we are free indeed!
Our salvation is more than having our sins forgiven, as wonderful as that is! Our salvation opens the door for us to become sons - sons who can receive and enjoy a new identity, an inheritance and who live in freedom.
365 PROMISES
I would like to feature Barry Adam’s new website: www.365promises.com This is a pictorial devotion that lands in your inbox each day. It has been amazing over the last month to see how many of these promises has been relevant to what has been happening that day. Subscription is free and I would encourage you to visit Barry’s website and sign up for this daily treasure.
EVENTS
The Events page is updated regularly so please keep checking to see if any events are happening in your area of the UK. For other events and Fatherheart schools please visit: www.fathershouseeurope.com
ITUNES
You can now add our audio resources to your iTunes subscription. You need to have iTunes downloaded and installed on your computer – click here to download.
Click here for to subscribe to our podcast.
In His Love
Mark Gyde |
