Reason to want to be a part of the Family of God

1. I’m So Glad I’m a Part of the
Family of God
by Samuel E. Ward
Romans 8:12-18
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2. I. We Have Been Made Children of
God by His Grace.
A. We Are Born into God’s Family by
His Grace.
John 1:12-13 (NIV2011) 12 Yet to all who
did receive him, to those who believed in
his name, he gave the right to become
children of God— 13 children born not
of natural descent, nor of human
decision or a husband’s will, but born of
God.
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3. B. We Are Born into God’s Family
through Faith, Not Works.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV2011) 8 For it is
by grace you have been saved, through
faith—and this is not from yourselves,
it is the gift of God— 9 not by works,
so that no one can boast.
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4. C. We Are All Welcome to Seek to Join
God’s Family.
Romans 10:11-13 (NIV2011) 11 As
Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in
him will never be put to shame.” 12 For
there is no difference between Jew and
Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all
and richly blesses all who call on him,
13 for, “Everyone who calls on the
name of the Lord will be saved.”
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5. II. We Have Been Made Children of
God to Reflect His Glory.
A. We Are to Reflect His Goodness,
Righteousness, and Truth.
Ephesians 5:8-10 (NIV2011) 8 For you
were once darkness, but now you are
light in the Lord. Live as children of
light 9 (for the fruit of the light
consists in all goodness, righteousness
and truth) 10 and find out what pleases
the Lord.
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6. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless
deeds of darkness, but rather expose
them. 12 It is shameful even to
mention what the disobedient do in
secret.
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7. B. We Are to Have Nothing to Do with
the Fruitless Deeds of Darkness
1. The command
Ephesians 5:11-12 (NIV2011) 11 Have
nothing to do with the fruitless deeds
of darkness, but rather expose them. 12
It is shameful even to mention what the
disobedient do in secret.
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8. 2. The warning
Ephesians 5:3-7 (NIV2011) 3 But
among you there must not be even a
hint of sexual immorality, or of any
kind of impurity, or of greed, because
these are improper for God’s holy
people. 4 Nor should there be
obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking,
which are out of place, but rather
thanksgiving.
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9. 5 For of this you can be sure: No
immoral, impure or greedy person—
such a person is an idolater—has any
inheritance in the kingdom of Christ
and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you
with empty words, for because of such
things God’s wrath comes on those
who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do
not be partners with them.
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10. C. We Are to Do Everything in the Name
of the Lord Jesus and to the Glory of
God.
From the most menial action to the most
meaningful service…
1 Corinthians 10:31-33 (NIV2011) 31 So
whether you eat or drink or whatever
you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32
Do not cause anyone to stumble,
whether Jews, Greeks or the church of
God—
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11. 33 even as I try to please everyone in
every way. For I am not seeking my
own good but the good of many, so
that they may be saved.
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12. Colossians 3:17 (NIV2011) 17 And
whatever you do, whether in word or
deed, do it all in the name of the Lord
Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father
through him.
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13. III. We Have Been Made Children of
God so That We Would No Longer
Be Slaves to Sin.
What does this mean?
A. It Means We Have a Father Who
Loves Us Instead of a Slave-master
Who “Uses” Us.
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14. (Rom 8:15 NIV) For you did not
receive a spirit that makes you a slave
again to fear, but you received the Spirit
of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba,
Father."
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15. B. It Means We Have a Father Who Has
Rescued Us from a Death-dealing
Master of Sin to the Life-giving
Master of Heaven.
Romans 6:13-14 (NIV2011) 13 Do not
offer any part of yourself to sin as an
instrument of wickedness, but rather
offer yourselves to God as those who
have been brought from death to life;
and offer every part of yourself to him
as an instrument of righteousness.
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16. 14 For sin shall no longer be your
master, because you are not under the
law, but under grace.
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17. IV. We Have Been Made Children of
God so That We Might Receive the
Benefit of His Counsel.
A. For Israel, It Is Still a Prophetic Hope.
Isaiah 30:19-21 (NIV2011) 19 People of
Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will
weep no more. How gracious he will be
when you cry for help! As soon as he
hears, he will answer you.
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18. 20 Although the Lord gives you the
bread of adversity and the water of
affliction, your teachers will be hidden
no more; with your own eyes you will
see them. 21 Whether you turn to the
right or to the left, your ears will hear a
voice behind you, saying, “This is the
way; walk in it.”
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19. B. For Believers, It Is Always Available
Without Rebuke or “Shaming.”
James 1:2-5 (NIV2011) 2 Consider it
pure joy, my brothers and sisters,
whenever you face trials of many kinds,
3 because you know that the testing of
your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let
perseverance finish its work so that you
may be mature and complete, not
lacking anything.
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20. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you
should ask God, who gives generously
to all without finding fault, and it will
be given to you.
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21. V. We Have Been Made Heirs of
God Through Jesus Christ.
A. By God’s Mercy and Grace We Have
Inherited the Hope of Eternal Life.
Titus 3:5-7 (NIV2011) 5 he saved us,
not because of righteous things we had
done, but because of his mercy. He
saved us through the washing of
rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
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22. 6 whom he poured out on us
generously through Jesus Christ our
Savior, 7 so that, having been justified
by his grace, we might become heirs
having the hope of eternal life.
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23. B. By God’s Mercy and Grace the
Inheritance is Irrevocable.
Hebrews 6:17-19 (NIV2011) 17 Because
God wanted to make the unchanging
nature of his purpose very clear to the
heirs of what was promised, he
confirmed it with an oath. 18 God did
this so that, by two unchangeable
things in which it is impossible for God
to lie, we who have fled to take hold of
the hope set before us may be greatly
encouraged.
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24. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for
the soul, firm and secure. It enters the
inner sanctuary behind the curtain.
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25. VI. We Have Been Made Partners in
God’s Family Business.
1 Peter 2:9 (NIV2011) 9 But you are a
chosen people, a royal priesthood, a
holy nation, God’s special possession,
that you may declare the praises of him
who called you out of darkness into his
wonderful light.
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26. Six reasons to be glad that you are a part
of the Family of God!
1. We have been made children of God by
His Grace.
2. We have been made children of God to
reflect His glory.
3. We have been made children of God
that we would no longer be slaves to
sin.
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27. 4. We have been made children of God
that we might receive the benefit of
His Counsel.
5. We have been made heirs of God
through Jesus Christ.
6. We have been made partners with God
in the Family business.
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