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What Does It Mean To Be The Image of the Son of God

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Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (What does it mean to be conformed to the image of his son? Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Isaiah 64:8 “But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.” As we submit and seek Him He forms us by His Word and the power of His Spirit. It is supernatural. And it’s because of sin that we are not naturally in the image of His Son.)


The will of God is that we would be the image of the Son of God. So as we have seen, the will of God is that we would be like Jesus morally, spiritually. Only by the grace of God through Jesus can we do this. In order to be a son we must learn how to be a Son. The Lord Jesus said to take my yoke upon you and learn of Me. We must learn how to be spiritually minded, how to think like Jesus as a son and daughter of God. Today I’ll give practical advice on how to become a son or daughter of God. 


What an Honor and an amazing gift to be a son of God 1 John 3:1-3 1Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

Define Sonship 1. The state of being a son, or of having the relation of a son. 2. Filiation; the character of a son. 3. Sonship is the relationship between a father and a son.


We must learn to be sons and daughters. Jesus is the example of how to be a son of God.

1 Peter 2:21-22 21For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.  (Study Jesus and take on His Mind! Learn Him and put Him on! As a son of God your service to God has to be taken up in the spirit of sonship. Our relationship with our Father is everything! So we imitate the example. Imitate His prayer life and His ministry. Obeying God is our priority at all costs.)


Taking on the Mind of Christ as a son Philippians 2:5-15 5Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 14Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;


What does it mean to be a son? Genesis 5:3 3And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth.

To be a son or daughter of someone does not only mean they are physical descendants. But spiritually speaking, to be a son of someone means to be in their likeness. For example, Jesus was the son of David, son of Abraham. This was not only talking about Jesus being in the lineage as a physical descendant. But it was talking about being in their likeness, or following in their footsteps. Another example of this is when Jesus said, “If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham” and Paul when he said “O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?” So we see, spiritually speaking, whoever we are like is who’s son we are. Also in the jewish tradition, a son would carry on the work of their father. So if the father was a farmer, the son would be a farmer. Or in Jesus’s case, if the father was a carpenter the son would be a carpenter as well and this was part of carrying on his name. That’s why Jesus being the son of God said “wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?” So we too, being sons of God, should also be occupied with our Father’s Business continuing the work. Again, to be the sons and daughters of God means we take on His likeness as a holy and royal people, chosen and set apart for His work and purposes. In this our identity is solely found in who we are in relation to our God and Father. And if sons and daughters, then co-heirs and the spiritual siblings of Christ. ( Matthew 12:50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.)


We must take on the Spirit of Adoption Romans 8:12-19 12Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. (Under the Law of Moses the people were subject to fear but now through Christ we are liberated to be sons and daughters. We are free to be with God and serve Him in the Spirit.)


List of Facts about Sonship

-Obedience, righteousness, Godliness, and Holiness are the characteristics given in the Bible that describe a son of God. If you are not experiencing this victory, you are in the flesh and in danger of falling away. Remember, our relationship with God (Prayer) is the Ministry. Everything else has to be an overflow of that!

- Every true son of God is led by the Spirit of God. 

- Sons of God break free from the bondage of fear (fear of death) through the Spirit of adoption. -

- Sons of God have received the spirit of adoption to enforce and make a reality our sonship. 

- The Holy Spirit comforts us with the fact that we are truly sons and right with God.

- If we are children of God then we are automatically heirs. All Children of God are Heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. (Joint-heirs with Christ means we will inherit everything.)

- If we are sons we will suffer, and if we suffer with him we will reign with Him


Learning to be a son of God

A Son is obedient to His Father and Does His Will Matthew 21:28-32 28But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. 29He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. 30And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. 31Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. 32For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

You must learn to Honor and reverence the Father! Malachi 1:6-7 6A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? 7Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible. (These priest were dishonoring God through what they were saying and doing. God is always watching and He will not receive an offering at our hand. And if your offering is not accepted you are not accepted.)

1st Commandment with Promise Exodus 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.


Imitate your Father Ephesians 5:1-6 1Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. 3But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 4Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 5For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7Be not ye therefore partakers with them.


Sons have the Fruit of the Spirit Galatians 5:22-23 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.


A son of God bears fruit John 15:16 16Ye 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. 


12 Characteristics of a Daughter of God!

1. First, the females identity has to be a daughter of God. No matter what she can do or not do she must derive her identity as a daughter of God and who the bible says she is. 

2.  If she’s married and able she should be fruitful and multiply. She should be a teacher of babes raising up Godly seed unto the Lord. This is the main ministry of mothers. 

3. Keeper of the home. If the woman doesn’t have to work she should be a keeper of the home and be about her husbands business as his helper. Psalms 128:3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.

4. She is a servant and hospitable. 

5. Modest and humble

6. Fears God 

7. Submissive to her husband. Respects her husband/authority

8. A Good example to the other woman how to love her husband and children, and to be under subjection. She is the man’s first ministry and a reflection of His ministry. 

9. She is kind and thankful. 

10. Clean speech / Clean entertainment / No gossip, busybody

11. Walks in the fruit of the Spirit

12. Loves God with all her heart, soul, mind, and strength. 

 So even though daughters of God will also resemble their Christ. They have a different role than a son of God that they will be judged on. 


How do we become sons and daughters? Through the adoption!s

The adoption is finalized at the resurrection when we receive our new bodies Romans 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. (Like Jesus’s body, at the resurrection these mortal bodies will be changed/ transformed into glorious bodies. This is a living hope!

The Firstborn Son gets the inheritance 

Who is God’s Firstborn Exodus 4:22 Israel is God’s Firstborn Son And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn: (Israel is a type of Christ. Christ was the Firstborn of God and the Only Begotten Son.)

The Firstborn had certain rights

Two things given to the Firstborn: 

  1. The Birth right 

  2. The Blessing   

What is the difference between the birthright and the blessing?

The Birthright had to do with the physical inheritance. The oldest son would have a double portion of the inheritance. So if there were three children. The inheritance would be split up into fourths and the eldest would receive two portions. He would normally get the property and would be in charge of running everything and taking care of everyone once the father died.  The leader of the family was called the patriarch. 


Though not commonly done, a birthright could be given to another son. For example, "Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel-he was indeed the firstborn, but because he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph, the son of Israel, so that the genealogy is not listed according to the birthright; yet Judah prevailed over his brothers, and from him came a ruler, although the birthright was Joseph's" (I Chronicles 5:1-2). Because Reuben had sex with his father's concubine, Jacob took away his second portion and gave it to Joseph. He did this by making Joseph's own children count as his children. Since Joseph had two sons, those sons each got a portion of Jacob's estate; thus giving Joseph's family a double portion.


What about the Blessing? The family blessing was a way to designate who became the head of the extended family when the father died. Like the birthright, the blessing generally went to the firstborn son but not always. Again using Jacob's family, Reuben should have received the blessing, but because of his sin, he was skipped. Next in line was Simeon, but he and his brother Levi (third in line) had destroyed a town in anger over the rape of their sister. For that Jacob decided that they were not suitable to lead the family. Therefore, the blessing came to Judah. Thus, in Jacob's family, the person receiving the blessing and the person receiving the birthright (or double portion) were two different people.

The blessing in Abraham's descendants was particularly important because God stated to Abraham that from his descendants the Savior of the world would come. The blessing followed the path of those who were Jesus' ancestors. Jesus was a descendant of Judah, who had received Jacob's blessing (Hebrews 7:14). (LaVistachurchofchrist.org)

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