1. “Children of God”
Galatians 3:23-29

2. Galatians 3:23-29
“23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise:
Children Of God

3. Introduction Paul outlines how the Galatians became children of God
Not according to the Law of Moses
Law was a schoolmaster to bring them to Christ for justification by faith
They had to believe the prophecies concerning Christ
Taught the need of repentance and obedience
Christ brought an end to the law - Luke 24:44; Matthew 5:14
Galatians 2:16; Acts 13:38-39
“…ye are all children of God by faith in Christ Jesus” - vs. 26
Romans 10:17
Vs. 27 “For (gar-GK), as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ”
gar - “a primary particle; properly, assigning a reason…” - Strong.
LK. 24:44 - And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
Matt. 5:14 - Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Gal. 2:16 - Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Acts 13: Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Antioch of Pisidia, vs 14).
Rom. 10:17 - So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Children Of God

4. Many claim to be children of God
Not all who make this claim are
One is not a child of God by their own wishes
All who claim to be doctors are not doctors
Many and varied beliefs in the religious world
We must follow the teaching of Scripture
God’s word tells us who is a child of God
And who is not!
A “Child of the Devil” - Acts 13:10
We will go to the Bible for the answer!
Acts 13:10 - And 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? – said of Elymas, by Paul.
Children Of God

5. Children of God… Do Not Persist in Sin!
“Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin” - John 8:34
1 John 1, 2, 3 written to refute the error of “Gnosticism”
The false idea that sins of the body did not interfere with the spirit’s relationship with God - Ezekiel 18:4, 20
One who sins, lies and does not the truth
1 John 1:6-10
This error continues today
“Continuous Cleansing” - teaches that children of God can habitually practice every sin except full rebellion and be in fellowship with God.
Adultery, liberal activities (instrumental music, supporting human institutions and using church funds for a “good work”) - Matt. 7:21-23
Must repent & pray when we sin
Acts 8:22; James 5:16; 1 John 2:1.
Ezk. 18:4 - Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die. 20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.
1 Jn. 1: If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Matt. 7: Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Acts 8:22 - Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
Jas. 5:16 - Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
1 Jn. 2:1-2 - My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Children Of God

6. Children of God… Hear God’s Word!
“He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God” - John 8:47
A child of God vs. a child of the devil
One can see the difference by their actions - 1 John 4:6
Children of the devil reject the truth - John 8:44-45; 1 John 3:9-10
Children of God genuinely love the truth
2 Thessalonians 1:10-12
They search the scriptures for truth - Acts 17:11
They believe and know the truth
1 Timothy 4:1-5
They obey the truth
Romans 6:17, 18
1 Jn. 4:6 - We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
Jn. 8: Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.
1 Jn. 3: Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 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.
2 Thess. 1:10-12 – READ
Acts 17:11 - These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
1 Tim. 4:1-5 – READ
Rom. 6:17 - But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
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7. Children of God… Love Christ! Must love Christ to love God – vs. 42
“Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me” - John 8:42
Must love Christ to love God – vs. 42
John 14:6
Many claim to love God but deny Christ!
Jews
Muslims
Jehovah’s Witnesses
Unbelievers and antichrists
To love Christ, we must keep His commandments!
John 14:15, 21, 23; 15:10, 14; 1 John 5:3
Jn. 14:6 - Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Jn. 14:15 - If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Jn. 14:21 - He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Jn. 15:10 - If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
1 Jn. 5:3 - For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
1 Jn. 2:18 - Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
2 Jn. 1:6-7 - And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. 7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
Children Of God

8. Children of God… Believe Christ!
“I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” - John 8:24
Belief in Christ is essential for salvation & being a child of God
The following are revealed in John 8 concerning Christ:
He was sent from the Father - 8:23
He was before Abraham, declaring His eternal nature - 8:56-58
He never sinned - 8:46
That belief in Him would free the believer from sin - 8:21, 24
Belief in Him would prevent spiritual death - 8:51
Those who do not believe Christ cannot be a child of God!
Jn. 8:23 - And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
Jn. 8: Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. 57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
Jn. 8:46 - Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?
Jn. 8:21, 24 - Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come. 24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
Jn. 8:51 - Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
Children Of God

9. Children of God… Abide in Christ’s Word!
“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed” - John 8:31
Just to believe in Jesus alone does not make one a child of God
Some who believed, did not love Christ - John 8:30-31, 42-44
Called children of the devil - 8:44-45; 1 John 3:10
“Abiding in Jesus” involves:
Perseverance in obedience…
Doing works of Abraham – John 8:39; Romans 4:12
Is not momentary involvement - Luke 8:11-14
Requires endurance to the end - Matthew 24:12-13
Respecting the bounds of Divine authority
Does not go beyond or transgress - 2 John 9
No involvement in unauthorized practices – Colossians 3:17; 2:18-23
Are content to abide in His word without question
John 15:4
Jn. 8: As he spake these words, many believed on him. 31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Jn. 8: Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. 44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.
1 Jn. 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.
Jn. 8:39 - They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
Rom. 4:12 - And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.
Lk. 8: READ
Matt. 24: And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
2 Jn. 9 - Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
Col. 3:17 - And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. \
Col. 2: READ
Jn. 15:4 - Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
Children Of God

10. Conclusion Are you a child of God? You must… Not Persist in Sin!
Hear Christ’s Words!
Love Christ!
Believe in Christ!
Abide in His Word!
“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” - 1 John 3:10
Children Of God