This article is a re-post from 2016, to fix a broken link elsewhere on the site.
Do you know who you are in Christ? Do you know your rightful place? Whenever I ask this question, I often receive answers such as “servant”, “sheep”, a few people even said “the dogs that get the crumbs under the table.” – but the reason I ask this question is because if you do not know who you truly are in Christ Jesus, if you don’t know your rightful place and status in Him, then you will always be in some ways vulnerable; you will never be totally secure.
That’s why today in this study we are going to examine how Jesus Christ has changed your status, how He has lifted you up, and what He has caused you to become. It is by seeing this truth of your new reality in Him, that you will be able to be free from the doubts and fears of the world, and how you will live in what the God calls “the pleasant land”.
Someone asked me once “James, what is the goal of your ministry?”, my response was “To raise believers up from sheep to sons.”
Now I cannot honestly take credit for that answer, because in-reality, God came up with it first, it’s in the Bible… and my vision to raise up mature sons in Christ is actually His vision. Now sadly, we don’t see many mature sons in Christ today. The church body is made up mostly of infants and sheep which are nothing more than food for any wolf which comes along. However this is not what God wants. He wants you to be safe; He wants you to grow in Him. He wants you to be secure and strong, and He wants you to have the best land.
Why aren’t we experiencing this today? Why is the growth of believers being stunted? I submit to you that it is because the people are not properly being fed with the milk and the strong meats of the Gospel. Does the Bible actually say this? Yes! In Hebrews 4:12-14:
“For when for the time you ought to be teachers, you have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
For every one that uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a baby.
But strong meat belongs to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
As verse 13 says, those who are unskillful in the word of righteousness, those who do not understand Grace or how to properly communicate it, God says that such people are still infants, they are babies. But as verse 14 continues, those who are mature and can feed on strong meat are able to discern between a good word and a bad word. You see, not every message from the pulpit is a good word of righteousness; in-fact there are very few preachers today preaching the word of righteousness by faith in Christ (which is the Gospel), As implied in verse 12, those who are unskillful in the word of righteousness, really shouldn’t be teachers until they mature. Until they can discern the difference between the word of righteousness, which is the message of the Gospel, versus all the other messages out there today.
Three times, Jesus said to Peter in John 21, “Feed my sheep.” – He did not say “beat my sheep.”, and in Acts 20, Paul warned about such things, and he has these words for us in Acts 20:28-32:
“Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost has made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he has purchased with his own blood.
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
And now, brothers, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.”
Again here in verse 28, Paul repeats the words of Jesus by stating that ministers are to feed the church of God, not to beat or abuse it. God sees it as precious, even purchasing it with His own blood. He then goes on to say in verse 29 that after Paul departs, he knows that grievous wolves will come in that will not spare the sheep; they won’t spare those who are still infants and who can not discern between the good word of righteousness and the bad word which condemns and kills.
We also see in verse 30 that out of yourselves some will arise that will speak perverse things. And that word “perverse” means to distort, misinterpret or otherwise corrupt. Now what exactly is being perverted here? It is the true message of the word of God: which as Paul defines in verse 24 of this same chapter, the ministry which he has received directly from the Lord Jesus, the testimony of the Gospel of the Grace of God. Anything that corrupts grace by trying to add works to it, which Romans 11:6 tells us makes it no more grace but it is counted as debt. Anything that misinterprets grace is a license to sin, which Romans 6:14 tell us that the opposite is true (sin shall have no dominion over you because of grace). Anything that distorts grace as not being the whole counsel of God, which Paul says in verse 27 of this same chapter of Acts 20, that he has declared the whole counsel of God is the message of grace.
Now moving on to verse 31, just in-case you thought that this was just Paul’s private message, he now charges every pastor, every teacher and all of us as ambassadors of Christ Jesus: I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace. And look what it does, in-case you weren’t absolutely sure: which is able to build you up (not tear you down), and give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified (made holy). Which means in Christ, you are holy – you are not working through your own effort to try and be holy… you are holy.
The true message of grace will build you up in Christ, and it will give you an inheritance. There are many pastors and many words and message out there today that are tearing people down and robbing people of their inheritance and not sparing the flock or the church of God. And they are doing it in the same of God, because they themselves are ignorant of the true Gospel of Grace. They themselves are babes in Christ, they themselves are still in need of milk; they are unskillful in the word of righteousness.
Now you might be thinking: “James, you are just being too hard on pastors!”. But my friend you must understand that the heart of God is to tend and care for and feed His flock, not to beat it down with condemnation and kill them, as so many of the pastors and leaders today are doing. And just so that you can be sure that this is the word of the LORD and not my personal word, turn to Jeremiah 23:1-6:
“Woe be to the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! said the LORD.
Therefore thus said the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; You have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit on you the evil of your doings, said the LORD.
And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries where I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.
And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, said the LORD.
Behold, the days come, said the LORD, that I will raise to David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.
In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.”
Any pastor that destroys and scatters (drives away) the flock of God instead of tending to it and caring for it is not doing their duty. They will be removed and God will bring in new pastors to care for, tend and feed the sheep. In verse 4, notice that when these new pastors feed the sheep, the sheep will fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, said the LORD. This is not teaching that beats down, creates fear, or causes dismay. This is not teaching that breeds poverty or lack. And as we see from verses 5 and 6, these new pastors will teach the people to declare their righteousness by none other than Christ Jesus alone.
So, now that we have a solid foundation and understanding of what the true word of righteousness is, with our time remaining today, I would like to share with you about Sonship. This is the truth about your status and position in Christ Jesus today. Galatians 4:1-7:
“Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differs nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Why you are no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”
Take notice right in verse 1, that an heir (which we all in Christ are) as long as he is a child, which in the Greek is nepios – “an infant” while the heir is an infant, he is no different than a servant. Which makes sense, you don’t entrust the riches of the kingdom to a baby that has no ability to manage or make use of them.
Verse 2, but we are under tutors and governess until the appointed time of the Father. This was the law of Moses. The law is not bad, in-fact we know from Galatians 3:24-26 that the law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, but now that the faith in Christ has come we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Verse 3 tells us that when we were children (nepios, infants) we were yet in bondage under the elements of the world. This was the bondage of the law, which is mentioned in verse 24 of this same chapter (more on that later). Also notice the past-tense language which Paul is using here: when we were children… something has changed my friends.
Here it is in verses 4 and 5: But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. Now that word adoption in your English Bible, is not even as strong a word as in the Greek, because in the Greek text it is the word Sonship – not merely adopted, but a full blood-son Jesus’ blood to be precise. And the word “sons” used in the verse is not nepios (an infant), but it is rather huios which means “a mature son” with all the rights and privileges of such a state.
Now verses 6 and 7 continue that because you are a son (huios, mature) God has sent the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying “Abba, Father”. Wherefore you are no more a servant, but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
You see, that once you are mature in the word of righteousness, you will recognize who you are to God. His Spirit will testify and cry out that God is not some distant being up in the sky that you must serve as a taskmaster, but that He is your Abba, your Father – and don’t think of the word “Father” here as some super-holy title of reverence…. Because it is better translated as Daddy! Or whatever your personal childhood name for your father would be. And as you realize that God is actually your Daddy, you also realize as stated in verse 7, that you are no longer a servant, but a son, and an heir of God through Christ. When you begin to realize that God is your Daddy, you begin to realize how very safe and secure and beloved you are by Him. You begin to see how the things you used to worry about really don’t stack-up in relation to your position in Christ. The schoolyard phrase “My dad can beat up your dad!” takes on a whole new meaning when you realize who your Daddy really is!
A servant does not have these rights, a son does. This is why Paul begins warning against returning to the law in verses 9 and 10: You see Galatia had a problem, and it’s the same problem that we also have today… a desire to return to the Law. We desire it because we do not understand this truth of Sonship that I am sharing with you tonight. Many people believe that by keeping the Law they will earn themselves more favor, more esteem, more blessings and more privileges – when in reality, the opposite is true. Trying to keep the Law earns nothing, because remember that this is not about personal growth or merit, but everything rests on believing in Christ. The moment that you believe right, you are right; there is no delay, no minimum time that you must believe. Simply believe, and you are accepted in the beloved, which is Jesus Christ.
Look at what Paul says in verses 9 and 10:
“But now, after that you have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn you again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto you desire again to be in bondage?
You observe days, and months, and times, and years.”
Paul says of the Law that it is weak and beggarly (that is, poor) and when you place yourself under such bondage, that is exactly what it will make you… weak and poor. So what is God’s solution? What is the antidote to this natural propensity of our flesh to try and earn what is a free gift in Christ? Skip down and read verses 21-31:
“Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law?
For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a female slave, the other by a free woman.
But he who was of the female slave was born after the flesh; but he of the free woman was by promise.
Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which engenders to bondage, which is Agar.
For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
For it is written, Rejoice, you barren that bore not; break forth and cry, you that travail not: for the desolate has many more children than she which has an husband.
Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
Nevertheless what said the scripture? Cast out the female slave and her son: for the son of the female slave shall not be heir with the son of the free woman.
So then, brothers, we are not children of the female slave, but of the free.”
Paul is referring to Abraham and his two sons in Genesis 16, and Genesis 21. He says in verse 24 that these two sons are allegories: Ishmael the son born of the slavewoman representing the Old Covenant law which engenders to bondage, and Isaac the son of the freewoman which is of promise.
You see, the law will always bring you into bondage. It was never meant to set you free, or accomplish anything other then to show you that you need a Savior. To try and use the law for any other purpose is to abuse it. Look at verse 29. Ishmael hated and persecuted Isaac. Just as those who cling to the Law today, hate and persecute those of us who are free. I have personally been called names, railed against and shunned by people in churches who should have been my brothers and sisters. But this is nothing new.
Verse 30 is God’s advice for how we should behave now that we are in Christ. God says cast out the slavewoman (which represents the Law) and her son (everything that is of the Law) everything that the Law gives birth to, all of the guilt, all of the shame, all of the bondage and ultimately the death. God says to get rid of it! Cast it out!
Verse 31 then concludes with a reassurance and a reminder of the truth of our new nature in Christ. Remember which Covenant you are under today: we are not children of the slavewoman, but of the free.
When you start to see yourself in your rightful place, it breeds intimacy with God, and it sets your relationship on the right foundation, which is the truth in Christ. Let me give you one more example in closing… Jeremiah 3:19:
“But I said, How shall I put you among the children, and give you a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of nations? and I said, You shall call me, My father; and shall not turn away from me.”
The word “children” used in this verse is in Hebrew ben which means “son”. God is wanting to place His people into inheritance as sons, but how shall it come? God says what the answer is in the second-half of the verse: You shall call me, My Father; and shall not turn away from Me.
You see my friend, when you realize the true relationship that you have with God today, it will create closeness and intimacy with Him, and when that happens, you will no longer turn away. And you will enjoy the inheritance in Christ and you will have the pleasant land. This is not just wishful thinking, this is your new reality in Christ Jesus.
Be blessed,