Spiritual journey of the Race: From a condemned sinner to a new creation in Christ
It seems that in every generation there are a few theological issues that capture the imagination of the church. As new translations of the scripture appear, there are often issues which arise because of some aspect of the translation. In recent years there have appeared translations using neuter pronouns or even feminine ones for God. As might be imagined, this has brought down the theological the wrath of some on others. Here I will join this process and present an argument which has been slowly developing in my spirit.
I am going to take a gender specific position for all believers in this brief presentation. I believe the scriptures present a very special transformed or redeemed category for the believer. Each one is considered a “son of God”. This means that in conversion or the birth of faith through the Holy Spirit, something actually happens to the believer which brings into being a “new creation”. Christ is born in us, and the believer is seen in scriptural terms as a “son of God”, without concern for the physical gender of the person as a human being.
In our theological thinking we often take the most narrow view possible of scripture if it is to confirm a belief or a doctrine. Because of our fight to defend the scriptures we are sometimes prone to follow the letter of the word, rather than the spirit. Paul pointed out that to do this may push us into problems. He was quite definitive as he said the letter KILLS, while the SPIRIT makes alive. “He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” 2 Cor. 3:6.
One may say that I am guilty of this attitude, but my primary interest here is to follow to a logical conclusion the idea that as redeemed persons we have been transformed into ‘sons of God’ by the operation of the Holy Spirit. Therefore the Bible is ‘gender specific’. The new creation is the transformation of a condemned human sinner into a recognized and redeemed ‘son of God’ through the pro-creation by the Holy Spirit of a new being. This new being is now an eternal being, according to the plan of God to redeem the sinner through the miracle at
The salvation experience, confirmed by the Holy Spirit in each believing heart, changes our entire being. Jesus says it is to be re-born, born again, born from above, born of the spirit. This activity of the Spirit of God in us ignores to a large degree our human gender. This becomes very important in our understanding of ministry in the church and the place of men and women in the work of the kingdom.
There are human norms, and old established mores, which we will probably continue to follow for many years. They are not necessarily bad, nor should they all be changed during a long weekend. The Gospel is as practical as it is Divine. Yet we are dealing here with what God is doing in Jesus to bring us into that perfect state of ‘manhood’ or maturity in Christ.
In the Beginning God (Gen. 1:1).
God Created perfect beings; Male and Female, and it was good. “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day. (Gen. 1:31).
Sin entered to alter the Spirit of Man (Devil). “ Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"
The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.' "
"You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Gen. 3:1-5).
After our first ancestors were involved in disobedience and sin a curse was placed on them by God himself. To the woman he said,
"I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing;
with pain you will give birth to children.
Your desire will be for your husband,
and he will rule over you."
To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it,'
"Cursed is the ground because of you;
through painful toil you will eat of it
all the days of your life.
It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
and you will eat the plants of the field.
By the sweat of your brow
you will eat your food
until you return to the ground,
since from it you were taken;
for dust you are
and to dust you will return." (Gen. 3:16-19
Satan became a DNA altering influence, a very bad mutation occurred with disobedience, which affected the whole creation. “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves” (Gen. 3:6-7).
In discussing this metaphor of a DNA alteration, Dr. Eric Vance, an investigative medical researcher gave this explanation: “As for your discussion of the origins of sin, and drawing parallels with a DNA mutation, I would say a more accurate metaphor would be like a virus that was created by Satan and injected into the human DNA. You see, viruses are infectious sacks of viral DNA that attach to healthy cells, and then inject their own DNA into the cell, and the viral DNA becomes incorporated or hidden among the healthy human DNA to wreak its havoc at various times, such as when the body is weakened, stressed, or whatever. You might see the parallels between the way such viral DNA and sin works”.
Spiritual DNA was altered by sin and therefore carried forward by all descendents of Adam. “Adam lay with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, "With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man." Later she gave birth to his brother Abel.
Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."
Now Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. (Gen. 4:1-8)
But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. (Gal. 3:22).
Disobedience and rebellion (Spirit and Mind) brought God’s curse on all of creation. This included man and animals and all nature. It seems that everything in the creation fell in some way under the sway of the curse of sin and the condemnation to death. At least everything we know that lives must pass through the door of decay and death. “The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God” (Rom. 8:19-21)
“All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law (Gal. 3:10)
“Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will live by them." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." (Gal. 3:12-13)
No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. Rev. 22:3).
It has been well established that the male determines the offspring’s gender because of the difference between the X and Y chromosomes. Dr. Eric Vance suggests “In looking again at the logic you are following to make sense of the idea that "religious conversion" for Christians means that the Holy Spirit has come into one's heart and soul, and we become sons of God, as Jesus was the One son of God after the Holy spirit came into Mary. And in terms of the biology, you could assert that as Mary donates only “X” chromosome, the Holy Spirit must've donated the “Y” chromosome which made Jesus' gender on earth male.”
According to the established science, this transfer occurs at conception, and the determination of gender is fixed from the beginning of life.
The DNA of every person is established at the beginning of life with only minor differences from the parents, and not greatly different from the race. This has been accepted as evidence that the human race today is one universal race. If there were other races of humanoids, they have disappeared. It is interesting that our DNA is not greatly different from the earthworm or the great apes. We share 99% of our DNA with the chimpanzee! Some DNA scientist say that our race was reduced to only a few persons at some time in the past (as few as 200), indicating that all races today have common parents. That is particularly interesting in the light of the Bible story of the flood and the family of Noah (Noah, and only 7 others).
“Then God said to Noah, "Come out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and their wives. Bring out every kind of living creature that is with you—the birds, the animals, and all the creatures that move along the ground—so they can multiply on the earth and be fruitful and increase in number upon it."
So Noah came out, together with his sons and his wife and his sons' wives. All the animals and all the creatures that move along the ground and all the birds—everything that moves on the earth—came out of the ark, one kind after another.
Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: "Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though] every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.
"As long as the earth endures,
seedtime and harvest,
cold and heat,
summer and winter,
day and night
will never cease." Gen. 8:15-22).
Because of Sin the race is polluted and the perfect DNA which God gave in the beginning has been altered and mutated by sin and continues to be damaged until the Holy Spirit begins the new creation and we are seen by God as perfect in Christ Jesus.
“Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.
The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says:
"This is the covenant I will make with them
after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds." Then he adds:
"Their sins and lawless acts
I will remember no more. (Heb. 10:13-17)
The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.
These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.” (Heb. 11:38-40)
But you have come to
In the fullness of time God decided to heal the Spirit of Man and start a process by which perfection could eventually be restored to his creation. All of the religion of the past and the sacrifices did not change the “heart of man”. By “faith” through the miracle of the Holy Spirit in us, because of the work of Jesus in his death and resurrection, the Divine determined to correct the mutated DNA of his choice creation. What about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, 'I am God's Son'? Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father." (John 3:16-18)
… God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:19)
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree. (Gal. 3:13).
Jesus comes into the world as the great restorer They came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—well, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him."
To this John replied, "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.' The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less.
"The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. The man who has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." (John 3:26-36).
Through Him the curse of Genesis would be lifted for ALL believers and eventually all of nature, which groans for redemption. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. (
.Dr. Vance adds; “Further, one might therefore conclude that the Holy Spirit in all cases of "lifting the curse," or conversion, injects a "spiritual Y chromosome" causing all converts to become males or "sons" of God, even females. And you could further speculate that such sons of God, whether male or female in flesh, constitute the "genderless" future beings, like the angels of heaven, referenced by Christ to the Sadducees.”
Mary (Woman) carried the Human DNA , Therefore Jesus is a human. But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law,(Gal.4:4)
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross! (Phil. 2:6-8)
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David. (
According to the word of the angel Gabriel, The Holy Spirit would come upon Mary and in some miraculous way the human procreation was sparked by Divinity, therefore He is absolutely God’s Son. In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.(Luke 1:26-31)
Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:14-17).
The Holy Spirit brought into action the ‘Divine Gender’ of Jesus; The unique Son of God I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God."(John 1:33-34)
Then Nathanael declared, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of
Jesus said, "You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that." He then added, "I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of
For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him (Col.1:13-19).
It was possible for Jesus to live without sin, though he was tempted as are we. He did not yield to temptation, therefore he was high priest who did not need ceremonial cleansing in order to make the supreme sacrifice for sin. He became the high priest as well as the blood sacrifice for sin.
He was totally obedient to the Divine impulse and the right. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Heb. 4:14-16)
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross! ( Phil. 2:6-8).
Therefore, he was also Declared the Son of God. Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father (Phil. 2:9-11)
And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. (Matt. 3:17)
While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!"(Matt. 17:5)
For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." (2 Pet. 1:17).
Yet he was in human body and pre-disposed to death. Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross! (Phil. 2:6-8).
Through the Death and Resurrection of Jesus a miracle occurred. Through this occurrence, it became possible for the Race to Re-unite in Spirit with God through what we call “Faith”. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."[ (Gal. 3:13)
Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation (Gal. 6:15) If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. (Rom. 6:5)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. (2 Cor. 5:17-19).
Dr. Vance makes this contribution to the concept of change because of faith. “As to measurable changes with conversion, what I can say with confidence from a scientific/brain perspective, is that it has long been observed in the helping professions, such as psychology, psychiatry, even native healing ceremonies, that in order for healing to occur, a profound emotional outpouring must occur in the "patient." Researchers have noted the same phenomena in psychotherapy, religious conversion, native healing ceremonies, and even in so-called brain-washing accomplished by means of torture! In all of these events, the emotional experience seems to put a measurable, and somewhat indelible "mark" on certain parts of the brain (Amygdale, Hippocampus, other parts of the emotional processing function of the brain). After that point, if it "takes", there will follow changes in the autonomic nervous system (blood pressure, heart rate, fight or flight responses, etc). Also it has been shown through research that frequent prayer, worship , or meditation on compassion, love, or even peaceful relaxation can cause brain changes that lower blood pressure, enhance immune system and healing, and protect against destructive emotions like anger, anxiety, etc. So the short answer to your question about measurable changes with religious conversion is YES!
Though it is a spiritual transaction, a change of heart is a recognized reality for all believers. Through this process, the curse of
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree. (Gal:3:13)
He went to the “tree” for us, and changed all reality. Along with the altered spiritual DNA, came the knowledge of sin and guilt. This has plagued the race until the present. At last in the new creation that burden is also lifted. We are free in Christ of the eternal condemnation of sin and spiritual death. God has declared us innocent because of what happened at the cross. Our spirits and minds can now live in gratitude and rejoicing and eternal hope.
When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, (Col.2:13)
You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. Gal. 3:26-29).
Interestingly, outside the Christian faith, in the western world, we have lifted the curse for women. However, in the church of the redeeming Lord, who has declared that we shall one day participate in ruling the universe, we keep telling the girls and women (Spiritual Sons of God) there are places of service in the ministry of the Lord of Life where they may not go. We tend to see women as dangerous on occasion.
“I find more bitter than death
the woman who is a snare,
whose heart is a trap
and whose hands are chains.
The man who pleases God will escape her,
but the sinner she will ensnare (Ecl.7:26)
When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner." (Luke 7:37-39)
But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. (II Cor.11:3)
In some churches or denominations, even stronger than the general cultural or social mores of the place of men and women, the authority of His Church prohibits certain positions to “female sons of God”. How He must wonder about the reasoning powers of his ‘sons’. Somehow in some religious circles, we have managed without exception, to keep woman under the “curse” of painful child bearing in our churches. Dr. Vance points out that “Most obviously, we live in a male dominated society, culture, and to a large extent the whole of humanity is, for better or for worse (probably for worse.) As I know from first hand experience, even though Freud tried to blame it all on mothers, in fact it is men who wreak much of the pain and suffering in this world. If you look at the perpetrators of violence, from the home to the battlefields, it is by FAR men who are responsible. If you look at adultery, criminality, just about any of the sins, it is much more prevalent in men than women! So while men certainly seem to NEED the church and its teachings more than women, they probably shouldn't be trusted to run it and dominate it.
Eve is not permitted freedom in calling nor in service in the kingdom as are the old Adams who have been made ‘Sons of God’ by Jesus blood. Somehow ‘she’ was not included in the whole of the redemptive process?!
“women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says (I Cor. 14:34) . For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety (1 Tim. 2:13-15)
They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, (2 Tim. 3:6)
In some “male” dominated Christian churches, members of comities and deacons are instructed to keep secrets from their own wives. What does this say about the perfect union, one flesh, mutual submission and the marriage being like the union of Christ and the church?
In Christ a new conception occurs in our spirit. A new being is conceived, unlike the old cursed body. A new DNA is given. The cancer is removed. The virus is healed. Something actually happens in our spirit and mind and body. A transformation (metamorphosis) takes place because of a renewed mind.
,
But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father (Gal. 4:4-6)
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.(Rom.12:2).
We are fully human, but as in Mary, a divine conception takes place in each believer. Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2 Cor. 5:17).
Through Faith, believing, Grace comes into the life of the believer. Not only do we become sons by adoption, “He predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will (Eph.1:5) Something new is born in each person who believes.
“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:14-17)
Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation (Gal. 6:15).
Not only are we ‘born of water’ or flesh (John 3:6), but re-born spiritually as ‘babes’ in Christ. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' (John 3:6-7)
'In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy. (Acts 2:17-18)
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: (1 Peter 1:1-2)
Grace and peace be yours in abundance. -Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 1 Peter 2:2).
We become new creations in Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. We are born from above as a part of the family of God. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. (Eph. 2:17-18).
The Holy Spirit begins a new conception, a new person is evolving. and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Eph. 4:24).
At times the church preaches as if the convicting and redeeming power of the Holy Spirit is weak. We often preach to the redeemed as if they were not, rather than proclaim the blessing and power of the redeemed. The saved live under and through the power of the healing, transforming Spirit of God, which has brought to life that new creation in each one.
I sometimes hear people say something to the effect that the teacher or preacher should make them feel guilty during the sermon. The classical expression is “step on toes”. I fear that guilt induced by the words of a man, who indicates my wrong doing, will have little effect on life changes if the very power and majesty of the living God, who indwells the redeemed, cannot bring about the needed change.
The new ‘conception’ will not be fully mature until this mortal is laid aside, and we are totally transformed into his likeness. The new creature has the ‘father’s ‘gender, children born not of natural descent nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth’. (John 1:13-14).
We are therefore born as legitimate “Children” of God, not as human sons or daughters into the kingdom.
Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. (Col.3:9-11).
If the Biblical term is used ‘sons of God’, then all believers are ‘sons’ in the divine vocabulary. If the curse has been truly lifted, it is lifted for all human genders. You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise (Gal. 3:26-28).
The New Testament never says Brothers and Sisters when referring to believers. It is always Brothers or Saints. ‘Brothers’ is used 331 times in the New Testament (Matt. 23:8, 25:40, Gal. 4:28-31, Col.1:2, I Thes.4:1,13, 5:1,12,,25, Rom.12.1,Heb. 2:10-12).
The church becomes in some way our spiritual mother; as she is the Bride of Christ. The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. (John 3:29)
The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. (Rev. 22:17)
And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every (Eph. 1:22-23)
We may flirt with the ‘spirit’ from time to time, outside the church, but we usually confirm our relationship in the (assembly) church by baptism. He says,
"I will declare your name to my brothers;
in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises (Heb. 2:12) We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.(Rom. 6:4)
“having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead (Col. 2:12)
“and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ”, (1 Peter 3:21).
While on earth and in the church we appear to be human only. The world sees us as just another human being, never supposing that there is a new creation in the universe. Because they could not bear what was commanded: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned." The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, "I am trembling with fear."
But you have come to
Our new ‘creation’ is conceived by the Holy Spirit, not by the will of man, and develops through spiritual gestation periods. All are to grow to the full measure of ‘manhood’ in Christ. “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will (Rom. 12:2)
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. (Eph. 4:11-15).
Remember, in the natural human world the male determines the gender of the offspring.
This new birth process is a Spiritual Transference, sexless in essence, but it is gender specific in the scripture. We are now SONS of GOD. ”because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God (Rom. 8:14)
The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. (Rom. 8:19)
”even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles? As he says in Hosea:
"I will call them 'my people' who are not my people;
and I will call her 'my loved one' who is not my loved one," and,
"It will happen that in the very place where it was said to them,
'You are not my people,'
they will be called 'sons of the living God’. (
“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Gal. 3:26-29)
“Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father (Gal 4:6).
The Holy Spirit becomes the determining factor (father) for our new ‘gender’.
Paul says we are no longer seen as male and female in spirit, but as ONE in Christ
“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:26-28)
“Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."
Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?"
Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. (John 14:19-23).
John says that all who believe become the ‘Sons of God’. Therefore we are now equipped to inherit the Kingdom as SONS of GOD. All are now seen as ‘sons’ apt for kingdom service. Does the holy Spirit only speak to males? “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:26-27)
Because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8:16-17)
We are to reign with Jesus, with authority and even to judge the angels, “but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. (Heb. 1:2-3)
, “Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! (1 Cor. 6:3)
The human race has lived so long under the curse of God that we have made the curse universal. Everywhere the female of the species bears the greater guilt and therefore relegated to a somewhat lesser position, regardless of the vocabulary we may use to mask our belief. “I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety(I Tim. 2:9-15).
Outside the influence of the Christian west, where the curse reigns supreme she is little more than a slave and without rights or privileges. That practice has been so wide spread in the race through the centuries, that we have forgotten that Jesus lifted the curse for every believer.
I certainly understand customs and mores of society, and the necessity for the division of labor in order for things to function well. There is certainly no reason to forget about men’s work and women’s work. These are necessary for structure and order and for a multitude of reasons. Men have a very hard time delivering children into this world. There are tasks which must be performed which most women could not fulfill or would want to. The nurturing and caring ability of women is certainly unmatched by the male. Their ability to multitask usually leaves the male of the species far behind. The very nature of our social structure demands some radical differences in the place of men and women en general. This is in no way the issue.
Even though throughout history there have been some notable exceptions from the norm, we tend to refuse to permit even these. When a Joan of Arc appears, and dares to cross the line, we still tend to burn her at the stake, even if she is a member of the kingdom, simply because of her human gender. Today, the vast majority of our kingdom leaders would not follow a Debora into battle against the enemy, especially if a woman was to receive the glory “Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading
Barak said to her, "If you go with me, I will go; but if you don't go with me, I won't go."
"Very well," Deborah said, "I will go with you. But because of the way you are going about this, the honor will not be yours, for the LORD will hand Sisera over to a woman." So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh, where he summoned Zebulun and Naphtali. Ten thousand men followed him, and Deborah also went with him. (Judges 4:4-10).
It is interesting that God has made most of the changes in the world of revelation by breaking the barrier of the ‘accepted’ or approved process.
Abraham was born to a pagan worshiper. “This is the account of Terah.
Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor and
Joshua said to all the people, "This is what the LORD, the God of
Moses was born of a slave. “Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you." So the woman took the baby and nursed him. When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh's daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, "I drew him out of the water." One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to where his own people were and watched them at their hard labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. (Exodus 2:10-11).
Amos was an uneducated shepherd from Tekoah. “Amos answered Amaziah, "I was neither a prophet nor a prophet's son, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees. But the LORD took me from tending the flock and said to me, 'Go, prophesy to my people
" 'Do not prophesy against
and stop preaching against the house of Isaac.'
"Therefore this is what the LORD says:
" 'Your wife will become a prostitute in the city,
and your sons and daughters will fall by the sword.
Your land will be measured and divided up,
and you yourself will die in a pagan country.
And
away from their native land.' " (Amos 7:14-17).
Rahab the harlot was a grandmother in David’s lineage. “Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. "Go, look over the land," he said, "especially
One prophet was ordered to marry a prostitute. “When the LORD began to speak through Hosea, the LORD said to him, "Go, take to yourself an adulterous wife and children of unfaithfulness, because the land is guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the LORD (Hosea 1:2).
Solomon was born of an adulterous relationship. Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and lay with her. She gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. The LORD loved him;” (2Sam. 12:24) .
Both Isaac and John were born to women past the child bearing years. Jesus was conceived by an unwed mother. ”This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us."
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.(Matt. 1:18-24)
Go figure. All of the women mentioned in the list of Jesus ancestors were women of questionable reputation (Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, Mary). He has used both evil and good people to bring about his plans. He sometimes follows our rules. On occasion He has put his choice saints in terrible circumstances, jail, shipwreck or death. If he has decided that we are ‘sons of God’, when the new creation begins, who am I to argue with my progenitor? May we respect every ‘son of God’ as a special creation of God by the Holy Spirit through the work of grace as seen in Jesus’ death on the cross through the door of faith. We do not need to argue with another ‘son of god’ about his or her place of service in the kingdom of the Father and the First Born of many brothers. May we free each other as transformed sons of God in the freedom of Jesus our King.
God has declared us redeemed human beings as the greatest trophies of his Grace.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. Eph.1:3-6
All scripture references in italics are from the New International Version of the Bible
Archie V. Jones
