Becoming a Child, Not a Christian

Understanding what "Abba Father" actually means

You, and I, both know people, and you, and I, may actually be guilty of this at some point ourselves, who, in a pursuit to be Faithful, they try to Will themselves into embracing habits, routines, and disciplines, they believe will cause them to be a "better Christian".

The Church teaches us what Sin is. The Ten are the most obvious,

Have No God before God
Do not commit Idolatry
Do not take the name of the Lord in Vain
Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy.
Honor your Father and Mother
Thou shalt not kill.
Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Thou shalt not steal.
Thou shalt not bear false witness
Thou shalt not covet

Then they get into other things. Don't have sex before Marriage. Don't Drink. Don't Smoke. Don't listen to this or that type of Music. Don't watch this or that type of Movie or TV Show. Don't dress this or that way. DO dress this or that way. Shave. Don't shave. ETC.

Then, even with the original Ten, they create elaborate systems of obedience. Laws. What if I am found guilty of lying? This happens. What if I Smoke? That happens. What if little Susie is showing a bit too much cleavage? "She better go home and change because she is not being a tool of the Devil, to tempt young men into Sinful thoughts. After all, Jesus said, 'That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.' IF she can not dress appropriately, she will be ban from coming to Church at all." Although this seems like the right thing to do and seems to be pretty normal in Church Culture, is it all we are teaching? Especially our Children?

Lets start off by looking at the Fruit...

Galatians 5:

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

This is who we are. This is what we do. Then Paul tells us that....

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

This is who we become. A little bit earlier, Paul explains,,, "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would." Paul is clearly teaching us that Sin is a product of Godlessness, and the Fruit of the Spirit, is Godliness. Flesh minus Christ, Sin. Life plus Christ, Salvation and goodness.

We take this and say, "If you want to be more like Christ, do this." Instead, we should say, "If you want to be more like Christ, allow Him to work through you." Godliness conduct is always the result of an inward Faith working itself out. Not the other way around. You can not "work" your way to Godliness. You can not become "holy" by being "Legally Sound". Religion in of itself, is NOT Salvation.

Galatians 6:

3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

5 For every man shall bear his own burden.

6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.

7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

We must understand that, we shall do the Work of God, because we are His Children. Not to become His Children. We are no longer the person we were before the Adoption.

Colossians 3:

1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

In other words, do not go to Church and sing hymns to feel more "holy," and to feel "closer to God," But go to Church and sing Hymns BECAUSE you are His Child. BECAUSE of what He did for YOU. Sing and Praise God, because He has become you Daddy. Not just Lord. You have become his Child. Not just His Servant.

Jesus total us this would happen to many people. That they would spend there lives thinking that they were Saved, and turn out to be a total stranger to Jesus and God Himself.

Matthew 7:

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

The key here is this. "Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them." The key here is "For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother."{Matthew 12:50} Jesus also told us this. "Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. " {John 15:15-16}

This is why there are so many division in the "Christian Church." They have made their "Religion" their Religion. They have made there Man-Made Traditions their Faith. They all are expecting Christ to obey them, God to approve them, in whatever ways they so chose. In too many cases though, they have "made the commandment of God of none effect by {their} tradition." {Matthew 15:6}

Another aspect of this, is trust and faith. We will discuss this next time. Once you become a Child of God, God wants you to Trust in Him and have Faith in Him. Without doubt. Without fear. Without even so much as thought. That is next time.

You must be careful. Jesus Himself warned us of False Prophets, and phony Religions. He told us that we need to "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.Ye shall know them by their fruits." {Matthew 7:13-16}

We must become Children of God. Not Christians. The only way to do this, is through the Adoption of the Holy Spirit. By recognizing and accepting Jesus for what He told you He is. "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." {John 14:6} "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." {John 10:9-11} Without Him, without Jesus, you are heading straight towards that wide gate.

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray..

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." {Romans 10:9} You need to find a Church that God leads you to, and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A new Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." {Colossians 3:10}

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. {2 Corinthians 13}