He Calls Sons, Not Disciples

"For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings." (Hebrews 2: 10)

When God the Father sent His Son, He was not interested in creating disciples, but adopting His creation originally made in His image, to be adopted into Sonship:

"Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will," (Ephesians 1: 5)

Paul explains the Gospel in full form:

"But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ." (Galatians 4: 4-7)

Paul could not have made it any plainer. We are not called to be disciples, but sons and daughter.

What happens, then, if men and women insist on living under the law, under the Ten Commandments, in order to measure up to God's standard of righteousness?

Paul writes:

"Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. 9But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?" (Galatians 4: 8-9)

The law makes man sick and weak.

Why?

But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: 8How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? 9For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. 10For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. 11For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious." (2 Corinthians 3: 7-11)

The law is a ministry of condemnation, not a standard by which anyone is expected to live:

"Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." (Romans 3: 19-20)

and then

"Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 21That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 5: 20-21)

The law was not written as a guide for us to live righteous lives, but rather a testimony that no man can live a righteous life in himself. He needs life to begin with, and this life within him grants him the capacity to live above and beyond the demands of the Law.

Paul also writes:

"The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15: 56-57)

Law strengthens sin, but we see our need for a Savior, then we are taken from death to life in Christ, and the deadness of our flesh is crucified forever with Christ:

"Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. 20Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. 21Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. 22But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe." (Galatians 3: 19-22)

The law kept the Jewish people under guardianship, until Jesus arrived to deliver all of us, Jew and Gentile, from the sin and death to live in Christ through His righteousness and grace (Romans 5: 17)

We are called to be sons and daughters through Christ, not disciples.

In the next post, you will understand the importance of this new sonship in times of trouble.