Article: WHO IS YOUR FATHER?

Friday, October 18, 2002 - 09:35 PM

WHO IS YOUR FATHER?
By Patrick D. Andrews

We are experiencing the passing of another year and the celebration of another special day--Father's Day. Families will gather together in every imaginable type of assembly--some structured and planned while others will be very happen-stance. Regardless of the day's events (planned or not), the most important aspect will be the honor given to each family's patriarch and special regard for his contribution to the family.

Therefore, as we pause to give thought to family life, the family's head of household, leaders of the clan and other such considerations, we must also consider our spirituality--collectively and individually.

Who is your Father? I do not probe for an answer to your earthly lineage or parentage, but rather seek some to cause some serious thought about your own spirituality. Are you a child of the King of Kings--Jehovah God--saved by the blood of the sacrificed Lamb on Calvary's cross? Any answer to this question has serious implications. It's not a casual question--either you are or you are not a child of God!

If the answer is yes, you have been blood-bought by the Christ who died each of us. Although you were born in absolute innocence, it was an innocence that was relatively short lived. The growth process took you through your young and tender years with a love for all that God is and has made, with a reality and feeling of faultlessness before Almighty God. However, as was the case in Eden's Garden, so it was in your life--the tempter came, the enticements were made, and the fall occurred. James 1:14-15 but each man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then the lust, when it hath conceived, beareth sin: and the sin, when it is fullgrown, bringeth forth death. (ASV)

Sin is always successful as it drives its separating wedge between us and God. Isaiah 59:1-2 Behold, Jehovah's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2 but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, so that he will not hear. (ASV) It's our own fault. We considered the temptation and willfully followed a course of action which we knew to be wrong--we sinned.

Since God is a just God, sin must be punished. God's Law contains all of the circumstances--the enjoyable blessings and privileges that comes from obedience and the unthinkable punishment for sins against His will. Genesis 2:16-17 And Jehovah God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. (ASV)

With full knowledge of His law and the formerly stated punishment, Eve proceeded to sin against God. Then, with open minded forethought, Adam joined in. We might think they were incredibly foolish due to the choices they made. However, we find ourselves faced with equally bad choices. To our discredit, we know their situation and we still make our bad decisions. The punishment is known before the fact, but we choose to commit the sin anyway. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ASV)

Contained in that verse is both the punishment and blessing of God's will. Once we come to our senses, we can correct the wrong. God has given His Own Son for our redemption. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life. (ASV) As then, so it is now, sin is still a problem and salvation is still according to God's grace--His grace--His stipulation--our response. Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that so there may come seasons of refreshing from the presence of the Lord; (ASV)

It's a very sad situation; some are preaching another gospel. Regardless, false doctrine will not save anyone's soul. Galatians 1:6-9 I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from him that called you in the grace of Christ unto a different gospel; 7 which is not another gospel only there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema. 9 As we have said before, so say I now again, if any man preacheth unto you any gospel other than that which ye received, let him be anathema. (ASV)

Those taught by false teachers suppose that they have heard and responded to the truth--they presume themselves to be saved by another gospel which they do not realize is another. Matthew 23:15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he is become so, ye make him twofold more a son of hell than yourselves. (ASV)

Jesus died on the Cross to save sinners from their sins, but it's according to His will--He is preeminent. Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (ASV) He didn't die to save those who believe a perverted gospel or advocate baptism to the exclusion of repentance. He died for the ungodly. 1 John 3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. (ASV)