30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 16 19-31 Released from self cetredness 18 Children of God
📖 Luke 16:19-31
21May2020 - *Children of God* - _Luke 16:19-31_ - Bible reading: _Romans 9:6-8_
_Luke 16:24 “Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.'_
We have said that the rich man was claiming a father-son relationship with Abraham, which Abraham also acknowledged, nevertheless he was in torment in Hades. What then constitutes our being children of God? We have already said that for the Jews, being children of Abraham was what made them be children of God, through Abraham.
_Romans 4:3 For what does the Scripture say? "ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS ACCOUNTED TO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS."_ Faith/belief/trust in God was the basis of Abraham’s righteousness. Was belief in God an intellectual exercise alone? It was not. Belief in God required Abraham to be totally cast upon God and be an instrument in God’s hands to exercise his life for God’s purpose and God’s will.
God established a covenant with Abraham, a covenant of promise, which would be fulfilled through Isaac, who would be born through Sarah. Isaac was, therefore, the child of promise and not the child of the flesh (Ishmael). Circumcision was instituted by God as a sign of the covenant of promise that God had with Abraham _(Please read Genesis 17 to get a full understanding)_
_Romans 4:11-12 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, (12) and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised._
Abraham and Sarah were past the age of having a child but God gave them a child, who was not of the flesh but of promise and Abraham believed that God is a promise-keeping God. This was Abraham’s faith and so all who are of faith in God are children of Abraham and children of God.
God tested Abraham to ensure that Abraham’s eyes were on Him and not on Isaac, by asking Abraham to offer Isaac as a burnt offering. _(Genesis 22)_ Abraham passed the test and continued on in faith in God and in His promises. _Hebrews 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,_
In offering up Isaac, Abraham established his faith in God. _James 2:20-21 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? (21) Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?_
This faith that Abraham had in God resulted in him becoming a blessing to all the nations of the earth. _Genesis 22:18 In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice."_
All of us, whether we be Jew or Gentile, are children of Abraham and children of God, when we live out a life of faith in God and in His promises, which will result in us being a blessing to others. This was what Jesus was affirming with the Jews. _John 8:39 They answered and said to Him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham._
We then can see that not all are Israel, who are of Israel. Not all are children of God, who claim to be children of God. _Romans 9:6-8 But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, (7) nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, "IN ISAAC YOUR SEED SHALL BE CALLED." (8) That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed._
Those who operate in the flesh or out of the self are not the children of God. It is only those who are living their life by faith in God and in His promises, which will result in them being a blessing to others, who are the children of God.
This life of faith in God is not out of the flesh but by the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of promise _(Ephesians 1:13)_. We are now called to live in total dependence on the Holy Spirit who lives and operates in and through us, to please God. By the flesh, no man can please God but they that are led by the Spirit of God, they are the children of God. _Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God._ If we are not operating in the Holy Spirit, we do not belong to God. _(Romans 8:9)_
Let us not be like the rich man, who called out, “Father Abraham” but was not a child of God.
*Thought to ponder*
```Are you operating in the Spirit of promise or are you trying to please God by your flesh?```