Begettal and Birth

As we've already noted, today is the traditional day the church has observed the blessing of little children. Children are very precious to God, as we have seen from Matthew 18 and to Christ. They are all potential sons and daughters of God. In Psalm 127, the whole psalm is basically directed toward children. If you notice Psalm 127, let's read that. That children are a blessing from God. As we said earlier, they are potential sons and daughters of God. In Psalm 127, verse 1, Low children are in heritage of the Eternal, and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man, so are the children of the youth. Happy is the man that has his quiver full of them. They shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gates. In biblical times, a woman that was barren was viewed very dimly by virtually everyone. Of course, no one should feel guilty with regard to being barren. Some people are, for various reasons, barren. I've had ants that were barren desperately wanting children. They never had children, and we all know about that. Some of the most notable women in the Bible were barren for a long time before God opened their wounds. We can think of Sarah, an old age, before she had Isaac. Rachel, Jacob took Leo for wife and concubines and had children. Finally, Rachel gave birth to Joseph and Benjamin. We can think of Hannah, the mother of Samuel, being three of perhaps the most notable. Over the years, I've jokingly asked the question, What are the two best-obeyed commandments in the whole Bible? The answer is, number one, be fruitful, multiply, and replenish the earth. And number two, thou shall not eat pork. It seems that after people leave the church, most of them will not eat pork. But this really is not a joking matter. In what is called a postmodern world, the birth rate among some national, ethnic, and social groups have dramatically fallen. Books have been written warning that certain ethnic and national groups are on the way to self-induced suicide because of a decreasing birth rate. A few years ago, Pat Buchanan wrote a book titled, Suicide of the West, which basically says that the West is committing suicide with a declining birth rate. I saw within the past several hours the latest statistic with regard to birth rate, and it continues to decline, especially in the U.S. 63 births for every 1,000 women in the U.S. And that's women above teenage, so that's 20 and upwards. For teens, the birth rate has also dropped. That can be good and bad news because it is somewhat of an indication that there are fewer teens having children out of wedlock. And so for teens, it is 21 out of every 1,000 teens that are giving birth. God through Jesus Christ created all things. Humans were created in the image of God for a great transcendental purpose. God and Christ deeply desire to share their very being in a family setting. So my purpose and goal in this sermon is for us to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for God's great plan of salvation and bringing sons and daughters to glory in the kingdom of God and in his family. So we title the sermon, Begettle and Birth. Three simple words, Begettle and Birth. Back in 1994-95 when the doctrinal wars were raging, they claimed that we could never be on the God plane since we were created beings. I then wrote a paper, sent it to them, showing from Scripture that upon Begettle and birth, we are of the eternal essence of God. This understanding is very critical, and we will be discussing that as we go along today.

God created the angelic realm, whom he called sons of God, but they are not begotten and born sons of God. They are sons of God by creation. Now, if you would look at Hebrews 1 and 4, you could turn to places in the other places as well, but this one is easy to turn to. Hebrews 1, verse 4, You are my son, this day have I begotten you.

Now, the word ganao in the Greek is sometimes translated begotten, one place conceived. When used to the mother, ganao generally means to bring forth. When used to the father, ganao generally means to engender, to begat. There is a word in the Old Testament that is the mirror of that word, and we'll see that later, that word is yalad, y-a-l-a-d. And it's the same thing, when used to the mother, to bring forth, when used to the father, to begat.

So, under which of the angels said, He at any time, you are my son, this day have I begotten you, He never did. He never did. And again, I will be to Him a father, and He shall be to me a son. I will be to Him a father, and He shall be to me a son. Now, look at verse 13. But to which of the angels said He at any time, He never did. Yet angels recall sons of God, they are sons of God by creation, not by birth.

Sit you on my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.

Of course, that's a quote from Psalm 110 verses 1 and 2. Then verse 14, regarding angels. Are they not all ministering servants sent forth to minister to them who shall be heirs of salvation? So that is the purpose of angels. Angels were given free will and thus could choose whether they would remain faithful to the mission for which they were called, ministering servants to the heirs of salvation. But one-third of them, led by Lucifer, one of the archangels rebelled against God and their assignment. They left their first estate, and as it says in Isaiah 14, tried to take over the throne of God. God probably shared with Lucifer his great plan of salvation for bringing sons and daughters to glory in his family, begat all in birth. According to Revelation 12, one-third of the angels followed Satan in his rebellion. After God created humans, male and female, he ordained the institution of marriage. I have often said that the greatest institution on the face of the earth is the Church of God, and the second akin to it, the family. The institution, the family. Humans were created, but with the potential of being begotten and born into the family of God. Humans were created. Adam and Eve were created. But they had a great potential far beyond the angels. Now, we want to look at John 1.12, which will confirm what we just said. I hope you will at least write these scriptures down and pursue them, because this is a very critical study, in my view, and a critical understanding. In John 1.12, But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become, as many as received him, that is Jesus Christ, as many as received him gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name, which were born not of blood, nor the will of the flesh, nor the will of men, but of God. Born of God, a spiritual birth into the family of God. God and the one who became Jesus Christ created within humans the biological means through which humans could bear children through a process of beghetto and birth. The father engendering and the mother bringing forth with male and female jointly participating in the process for bearing children.

The male, the father, was given the role of engendering, begueting, and the mother, the females, were given the role of bringing the embryo, fetus, infant to birth. While still in the womb called embryo, and then after three months of fetus, and then newborns are called infants. The role of each, that is father and mother, male, female, the role of each is essential to the success of this plan. And the two God beings that have existed in eternity and continue to exist in eternity and will always exist in eternity, whom we know now as God the Father and the Son. Both are absolutely essential to the plan of salvation. After creating humans, He commanded them to be fruitful, multiply, and replenish the earth. The world's institutions have gone through various cycles, with each so-called revolution, the structure of families and the birth rates are affected. So-called advances in healthcare and the economy have especially affected the birth rate. The world's institutions, having gone through these cycles, call revolutions, affects the structure of the family, as well as the birth rate. People of means procreate fewer children than those who have less. Now, there are exceptions to the rule. What I'm quoting here are the probabilities, what the statistics show. People of means have fewer children than those who have less. And that has become more and more the case as time has gone by. And once again, these are generalizations from the statistics, and there are, of course, exceptions. With the advent of the Industrial Revolution came urbanization, meaning people moving into the cities, leaving the farms, moving into the cities. And then, on the heels of this, the Industrial Revolution, in recent times, we have seen a technological revolution that pales into insignificance. Some of the revolutions of the past that affected the economy, the demographics. The demographics means how the people are spread across the face of the Earth. The demographics involve many factors.

And with technology and the continued urbanization, we have seen the standard of living for a lot of people greatly increased. But each of these movements, and that has been coupled with social movements, feminism, sexual equality, same-sex marriage, abortion, licentiousness, and a host of other social issues, have resulted in God's family structure being under tremendous stress. And each movement has led to more and more stress on the family.

More difficult with regard to bringing up children in the nurture and fear of the Eternal. The roles of husband, the roles of wife, the roles of father, the roles of mother, and the roles of children have been turned upside down. You know, we could quote from Isaiah 3. It says, The world has been turned upside down in so many ways, especially with regard to the God-ordained structure of the family. However, God has not changed what he originally ordained regarding the structure of marriage and the God-ordained roles of men and women. If you would look at 1 Corinthians 11, in 1 Corinthians 11, the Apostle Paul, under inspiration, gives the God-ordained structure of family. In fact, this is the God-ordained structure of the, I guess you would call, universal authority.

1 Corinthians 11, verse 2, The head of every man is Christ, the head of the woman is the man, and the head of Christ is God. So, if you look at it in a hierarchical structure, it is God, Christ, man, woman, children. And that is the way that God ordained it. And the children, of course, are to be in subjection to the parents and the mother in subjection to the husband. The husband in subjection to Christ, and Christ is always in subjection to the Father. So, God's plan of salvation has not changed from its inception to the present time, either. The plan of salvation is ancient.

It is even, I guess, more than ancient. Let's look at the 1 Timothy, no, 2 Timothy. 2 Timothy chapter 1. In 2 Timothy chapter 1, we shall see how old... Really, we won't see exactly how old, but we'll get an idea that it was planned out before time began.

And as you read in Genesis chapter 1, that various heavenly bodies were set there to mark times and seasons. In 2 Timothy 1, we'll start in 6. 2 Timothy 1 verse 6, Wherefore I put you in remembrance, that you stir up the gift of God, which is in you by the putting on of my hands, the Holy Spirit within, the laying on of hands, you receive that begat-al from God's... And also upon ordination we lay hands on and ordain a person to set them apart for service in the church of God. For God had not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Now, verse 8, Be not you therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord. Timothy was apparently becoming a bit afraid, ashamed. Paul was in prison. This is one of the prison epistles. People were beginning to say all kinds of things about Paul, and or of me, his prisoner. But be you partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God, who have saved us and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose, according to his own purpose, and grace, divine favor, which was given us in Christ Jesus before, before the world began. Now, there are three Greek words that are translated world in the New Testament. One is Aeon, meaning age. One is cosmos, meaning the order of the universe. And one is Chronos, which is the case here, which means time. Before time began, which is purposed in Christ Jesus before time began.

We should also note Revelation 13.8. We see from this that the plan of salvation goes back before the physical universe was created or anything else.

Revelation 13.8, And all that dwell upon the air shall worship him, that is, the beast. So great will be the deception that if it were possible, the very elect would be deceived. That's what Jesus says in Matthew 24.

Whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb, slain from the foundation of the world. Now you quickly look at 1 Peter, chapter 1. You'll see this somewhat repeated. Of course, 1 Peter was written before Revelation 13.8. In 1 Peter, chapter 1, we're talking about now the plan of salvation. It goes way back into eternity.

In 1 Peter, chapter 1, verse 18, For as much as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conduct, received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ as of a Lamb, without blemish, without spot, who verily was foreordained. The word for ordained is in the Greek progonosco, p-r-o-g-o-n-o-s-k-o, I think, progonosco, which means to know beforehand, who barely was known before the foundation of the world, but was manifested these last times for you, who by him believed in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory that your faith and hope might be in God.

We shall see that raised up from the dead is equated with birth. It is through the resurrection that we are born into the family of God. Seeing you have purified your souls and obeying the truth through the Spirit, unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that you love one another with a pure heart, fervently being born again, or begotten again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible by the Word of God, which lives and abides forever. Then it talks about how short human life is. God and Christ had prophesied and determined that the plan of salvation would be brought to fruition, and is brought to fruition largely through Jesus Christ.

You look at Acts 2. In Acts 2, we have the account of Peter's inspired sermon on the day of Pentecost, 31 A.D., when the New Testament Church, New Covenant Church, the Israel of God, the Church of God began in Acts 2. Acts 2 and verse 22. You men of Israel, hear these words, Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as you yourselves also know, him being delivered by the determinant counsel and foreknowledge of God.

Of course, he slain from the foundation of the world. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world. You have taken in by wicked hands have crucified and slain, whom God had raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. As you can readily see from Scripture, vital steps in the plan of salvation hinge on begettle and birth. Begettle and birth. We will see that God's plan closely parallels that of human reproduction with God, the Father, and the One who became Jesus Christ, fulfilling their respective roles.

As in the God-ordained family structure, husband, father, wife, mother are supposed to fulfill their respective roles. Perhaps it is more accurate to say that the physical family structure closely follows what God is doing in bringing sons and daughters to glory in his family. So once again, the purpose here today is for us to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of God's great plan of salvation in bringing sons and daughters to glory, how awesome it is, how intricate it is, how well planned it is.

And you could go on and on. How it defies human ability for all of these parts to fall into place. It has to be of God. So let's start with two beings that are most essential to the plan of salvation. The two beings, God and the Word, exist in eternity. God and the Word exist in eternity. How far back? In eternity. How far future? In eternity. There is no beginning and there is no end. You look at Hebrews 7, specifically applied in this case to Melchizedek, but what is applied to Melchizedek obviously is true of the Father.

We'll have more to say, but let's read this, which shows this no beginning and no end. Melchizedek is the priest of the Most High God, to whom Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils. That's in Genesis 14. It's also here. In Hebrews 7, for this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham, returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being by interpretation king of righteousness, and after that also being king of Salem, which is king of peace.

Of course, there are people who try to make Melchizedek into a human being, but you would have to compromise all kinds of scripture for that to be true. There's no human who is king of righteousness. There is no human who is king of peace. And there is no human whose priesthood continues forever. And there is no human who has not had a beginning and an end. You could go on with that. Verse 3, Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like unto the Son of God abides a priest continually.

So God and the Word, the Word, the One who became Jesus Christ, we could quote John 1-1, in the beginning was the Word, indicating existence. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, indicating relationship with God, the saying, He was with God, and He was God's identity. So God and the One, the Word, the One who became Jesus Christ, are co-eternal.

They've existed in eternity. They are co-essential. And the word essential here is taken from essence, which means they are of the same essence. They are spirit, the Holy Spirit. At some point in eternity past, and we have read those scriptures from 2 Timothy 1-9, before time began, we read Revelation 13.8, which says, slain from the foundation of the world. We read 1 Peter 1, verse 22, somewhere along in there, that He was foreknown from the fower before the foundation of the world.

At some point in eternity past, they agreed upon this awesome plan, the great plan of salvation, and that plan was launched. That plan is still in existence today. They could create anything they wish to create. They had that power. But creation is not the same as begettle and birth. The great question centered then on how could they procreate beings which could be born of the same essence as they are and thus create a family relationship. They could create angels, which they did, and call them sons of God, which they are called sons of God.

But they were not begotten and born. The goal being a family of spirit, begotten and born, sons and daughters, the God family. Just think about it. How are you going to do this? This plan was settled upon, as we have noted, before time began, meaning before the creation of the physical world. The God being called the Word in John 1.1 agreed to be the first begotten and first born among many brethren.

The awesomeness of this is unimaginable in one sense, incalculable, I'll leave it on something like that, in another sense. Look at Hebrews 12. Hebrews 12, this one became the forerunner, the captain of our salvation. What he gave up, how he humbled himself, we'll read the verses in a few minutes, can only be...we attempt to describe it, but it's very difficult to do.

Hebrews 12.1, wherefore seeing also that we're compasses about, was so great a cloud of witnesses, as described in Chapter 11, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so that it does easily beset us, and let us run with patience and race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him, what was that joy?

We've mentioned this two or three times in sermons in the past several weeks. That joy of seeing sons and daughters in the family of God. And his role, how critical his role would be for that. Who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest you be wearied and faint in your mind. Of course, the battle is to a large degree in the mind. So, as we have already noted, slain from the foundation of the world, foreknown before the foundation of the world, so the sure genius and awesomeness of this plan defies human intelligence and creativity. The plan meant that one of these God beings would have to give up his glory, as we've noted, and take on the form of a man and give his life for the sins of the world. So we look at Philippians 2 now, which describes that. Philippians 2. Philippians is a prison epistle, and it is a treatise to a large degree on humility.

It is also a treatise to some degree on servant leadership. There is no greater example of servant leadership than this. And so, Philippians 2.5, they often quoted Philippians 2.5 and continuing, "...let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus." What mind was that? Who, being in the form of God, Morphe, M-O-R-P-H-E, form of God, thought it not, or pagmos, which means a thing to be seized.

Old King James Robbery is not a good translation. Thought it not a thing to be seized, to be equal with God. They were on the same plane, equal with God. They are uncreated, without father, without mother, without descent, without beginning or end of days. They are of the same essence. There is one Spirit. The same Spirit that is in God the Father is in Jesus Christ the Son is in us.

Ephesians 4 makes it very clear that there is one Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12.13 says, "...by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body." "...who being in the form of God, thought it not a thing to be seized, to be equal with God, equal ISIS, and with equality in this word." When it comes to equality, there is quantity and quality. He was equal until he agreed to do this in the sense that he agreed to be submissive. When we are baptized and enter into the covenant of sacrifice, we agree to be submissive.

To the will, to the plan, to the purpose of God. "...but made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men." So on the one hand he was in the form of God. Then he took on the form of a servant made in the likeness of men. Now we could interject here right now of John 1.14, which says, "...and the word was made flesh and dwelt among us.

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the stake." Now in view of that, oftentimes we leave off reading here in verse 8. See, there's been no greater sacrifice or humbling of oneself than this. There has been, there will be again. And in view of this, you note what this means with regard to his position. "...wherefore God has also highly exalted him, given him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in heaven, things in earth, things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence..." Once again, he was in prison. "...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." Of course, God wants us. God knows what we are when nobody is watching. He knows what we're thinking when no one knows what we're thinking. And of course, you can extrapolate from that many other things. "...for it is God who works in you, both to will and to do his good pleasure." God is in us through the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is in us through the Holy Spirit. This was accomplished through a begettle and birth process. The one who would die for the sins of the world so humans might gain access to the tree of life was introduced in the Garden of Eden. In Genesis 3, verse 15, we see this, the first Messianic prophecy. Genesis 3, verse 15, after Adam and Eve had sinned, Eve being deceived by Satan the Devil, Adam willingly going along with his wife, they disobeyed, and hence they are to be cast out of the garden. But even there, there is this Messianic prophecy, a promise that a Redeemer would come on the scene. Genesis 3, verse 15, I will put enmity between you and the woman, between your seed and her seed. It shall bruise your head. Jesus Christ is going to put Satan away. And you shall bruise his heel. Satan inspired the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Perhaps the best known prophecy in the Messianic sense is that of Isaiah 9. Let's go there. Isaiah 9, verse 6. Part of this has been set to music with Handel's Messiah. And it's very often referred to at various times in Isaiah 9, verse 6. For unto us a child is born, and to us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace, there shall be no end. Upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom, to order it and to establish it with judgment and with justice, from henceforth even for ever, the zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this. This prophecy is not conditional. It was determined before the world began, before time began, as we have read. Perhaps the most descriptive prophecy concerning the mission of the Messiah is given in Isaiah 53, and we generally read this at Passover time. In Isaiah 53, the first few verses talk about him growing up. Verse 3, Isaiah 53. He is despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief, and we hid as it were our faces from him. He was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he had borne our griefs and carried our sorrows, yet we did esteem him, stricken, smitten of God, afflicted. He was wounded. Why did he have to die? Because of Romans 6.23, dating all the way back to the Garden of Eden. In the day that you eat thereof, you shall surely die. When you disobey God, you sin, and the wages of sin is death. But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Verse 5, But now, but he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our lawlessness, the chastisement of our peace was upon him. With his stripes we are healed.

All of us like sheep have gone astray. We have turned everyone to his own way, and the Lord has laid upon him the lawlessness of us all. So as we shall see, he paid that price. Perhaps the best description, or the most comprehensive description of the suffering, that Jesus Christ endured on the stake be found in Psalm 22. Let's just read a verse or two there from Psalm 22, because it graphically describes what Jesus Christ went through in Psalm 22.

We're breaking in on the thought here in verse 14. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. None of his bones were broken.

You remember when the soldier came through to break the bones of the ones on the cross? When it came to Jesus, he did not break his bones because he was already dead. Of course, you break the bones, then the weight, the body weight, caused asphyxiation. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax. It is melted in the midst of my bowels. My strength is dried up like a poch heard, and my tongue cleaves to my jaws. You brought me into the dust of death. For dogs have accomplished me. The assembly of the wicked have enclosed me. They pierce my hands and my feet. I may tell of all my bones. They look and stare upon me.

They part my garments among them and cast lots for my vesture. I do not know if you have ever had a joint out of place.

I have had shoulders separated and knocked out of its sock. When you say separated, that means the collarbone is loosed from the acromion process. Then the separation means the humerus, the big bone in the arm, is dropped down out of its socket. It hurts mightily.

One of the ugliest sights I have ever seen in athletics is the dislocated elbows, where the ulna is driven back and the elbow is sticking out about 4 inches behind where it bends. It is so painful.

We often overlook the dual necessity of the sacrifice of Christ. He had to die for the sins of the world, as we have already noted from Romans 6.23. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. As we know from Romans 3.23, let's turn there.

Now we are going to get into some very interesting scriptures here. We need to follow very closely. In Romans 3.23, remember, in Romans Paul takes the Gentiles to task in chapter 1. The Jews to task in chapter 2. He begins to summarize in chapter 3. Here is one of his summary statements in Romans 3.23. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Jew, Gentile, male, female, bond, free, all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Therefore, a Redeemer had to come, and that's verses 24 and 25, being justified freely by His grace, that is, His divine favor through the redemption, that means buying back power. The death of a God-being is worth all the lives of humanity. He bought us back from sin and death the buying back power that is in Christ Jesus, whom God has set forth to be a propituation. Propituation means to go in our stead. That He went in our stead through faith in His blood. Life is in the blood, so He shed His blood, He gave His life for our sins to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are passed through the forbearance of God. The only way that sins can be forgiven is through the sacrifice of Christ. You could begin to perfectly obey today, but that would not pay for sins of the past.

So the question is then asked in verse 29, Is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the Gentiles, the ethnos, the nations? Yes, of the Gentiles also, seeing it as one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith and uncircumcision through faith. So then do we make void the law through faith? God forbid, yea, we establish the law. How? Because if the law were not in effect, there would be no need for Jesus Christ to come on the scene. It would be a farcical tragedy to die for that which is done away with, as some would claim.

So after repentance, faith, and the sacrifice of Christ and baptism, we are viewed by God the Father as sinless. So this makes it possible for God and Christ to live in us, because we are now redeemed. We are bought back. We are no longer enemies. We have been reconciled to God. Continuing in chapter 5 of Romans, let's start with verse 6. We'll see what I've just said. In Romans 5 and 6, For when we were without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. He died for every person, male, female, young, old, rich, poor, regardless of socioeconomic or any other variable that you could name. He died for all. For scarcely for a righteous man one will die, yet for a good man some would even dare to die. But what about a dirty rotten sinner?

But God commended his love toward us, and while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us much more than being now justified by his blood. We shall be saved from wrath through him. For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, we shall be saved by his life. So the resurrection and the birth of Jesus Christ.

So he died for our sins, and we were reconciled to God. And after that, we can receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. After faith, repentance, baptism, laying on of hands, we can receive that precious gift of the Holy Spirit with God and Christ living in us. Now look at John.

We'll look at 16, then we'll look at 14, a couple verses in each chapter. In John 16, the Father is the one that begets us, but somehow Christ plays a role in it, as in the sending of the Holy Spirit.

John 16, verse 7, Nevertheless, I tell you the truth, it is expedient for you that I go away. If I go not away, the competitor, the paracletos, will not come unto you. But if I depart, I will send him unto you. Usually we say, yet, here the translators are merely following the rules of Greek grammar. Comforter is masculine, therefore the pronouns are masculine, but it doesn't make the comforter into a person. Hold your place and look there quickly at John 14, verse 26. But the comforter is the Holy Spirit. The comforter is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the essence of God.

And through the Holy Spirit, he does works of power. But the comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, it shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you. How does it do that? Through you reading and studying the Word of God and the Word of God written on your inward parts. John 6, 63, the words I speak, they are spirit and they are life. Now you look in John 15, 26, But when the comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, talnuma, which is neuter, which proceeds from the Father, it shall testify of me. Now you look at chapter 14, verse 23, back to 14, 23.

You begin to see how beautiful the Word of God is woven together like a wonderful tapestry when you put it together. In John 14, 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. Now back to John 16, verse 7 again. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth. It is expedient for you that I go away, for if I go not away, the comforter will not come unto you. But if I depart, I will send it, not a person, but we talked about the rules of grammar, unto you. And when it is come, it will reprove. That word, Elancho, means convict, the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment.

It is the Father who begets us with Christ playing a role in it. We look at James 1.17. We have several scriptures here to go through in the next several minutes, hopefully quitting on time, if 4.28 is the time.

In James 1, verse 17, Begettle and birth.

James 1.17, Every good gift, every perfect gift, is from above and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variable in me the shadow of turning of his own will. Beget he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creation.

We have just read that both the Father and the Son dwell in us. Now, look at Titus. Somehow, and I don't know of anybody that can explain this in the absolute sense, that Christ also plays a role. He says, If I do not depart, it will not come. But if I depart, I will send the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, to you. John 14.26 says the Comforter is the Holy Spirit. First, well, I'm in Timothy. I've got to be in Titus.

In Titus, chapter 3, verse 5, Not by works of righteousness, which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior. See, if it were not for what Jesus Christ did in reconciling us to the Father, we would not even be able to receive the Holy Spirit, because we have to be reconciled to God and be viewed as sinless with our sins removed as far from the east as it is from the west. Now look at Galatians 4.26. Galatians 4.26 So it is the Father who begets us with Christ playing a role, and the church figuratively is called our mother. In Galatians 4 and verse 26 we see this, But Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written, Rejoice, you barren, that bear not, break forth, and cry, you that travail not, for the desolate hath many more children than she which has an husband. Now, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. So we are nourished in the womb of our mother, the church of God. Other figurative names for the church. Look at Hebrews chapter 12. Hebrews chapter 12. We'll be singing about this in the closing hymn today. What we are going to cover is one of the most exciting, in the next few minutes, one of the most exciting things in the whole Bible to me. In Hebrews chapter 12, Hebrews compares and contrasts elements of the Old Covenant with elements of the New Covenant. In Hebrews chapter 12, Paul refers to Mount Sinai in contrast to Mount Zion.

We pick it up in verse 22. Hebrews 12, 22. But you have come unto Mount Zion, unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, we just read, the mother of us all, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the first-born protonicos, which are written in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of the New Covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.

God is our Father. Jesus Christ is our Brother. And sometimes various people will give opening, closing prayers, and they talk about our elder brother. Now, the biblical basis for him being our brother, we'll read that now in Hebrews chapter 2. Hebrews chapter 2, verse 8, You put all things and subjection under his feet, for in that he put all things and subjection under him. He left nothing that is not put under him, but now we see not yet all things put under him. It will be in the dispensation of the age to come, as in Ephesians 1.10. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor, that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, and bringing many sons unto glory to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifies, and they who are sanctified, are all of one, for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, I will declare your name unto my brethren. In the midst of the church will I sing praise unto you. Now, notice quickly in Romans 8 and verse 17, Romans 8-17. We are heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. Romans 8-17. What are we talking about? Jesus Christ and God the Father and their roles. In Romans 8-17, if children then heirs, heirs of God will be on the same plane of existence. And joint heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be glorified together.

Joint heirs with Jesus Christ. Now continuing in Romans 8. Look at this. Verse 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.

And so, the firstborn among many brethren. How did he become the firstborn among many brethren? Of course, it's resurrection from the dead. We've already read two or three places today where God the Father raised him from the dead. Now we want to look at Revelation 1 and verse 5. Revelation 1 and verse 5.

Brethren, how beautiful is the plan of salvation. How intricate on the one hand. How simple and plain on the other hand. And what the world has done to it.

Revelation 1 and verse 5. And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the firstborn of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth unto him, that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood. The firstborn from the dead.

Being raised from the dead is acquainted with birth. Now we look at Romans 8-11. Romans 8-11, which is the scripture of the day, notes this carefully. It should be memorized by every member of the body of Christ.

Notice the scripture, how it summarizes so much of what we have talked about here today. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, God the Father begot Jesus Christ, the Word in the womb of Mary. The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus Christ raised him. God the Father raised Jesus Christ from the dead. So he brought him forth. Thus God the Father is in the role of begetting and bringing to birth. He begot Jesus Christ, and he brought Jesus Christ to birth, the firstborn among many brethren. Now continue Romans 8-11.

But if the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead, who raised Jesus up from the dead, God the Father. If the spirit of God the Father be in you, he that raised up Jesus from the dead, who raised up Jesus from the dead, God the Father. God the Father, he that raised up Jesus from the dead shall also make alive, quicken, your mortal bodies by his spirit that dwells in you.

Could that be any clearer? Could that be any plainer?

Now look at Psalm 2. In Psalm 2, verse 2, we see that a Messianic notation here, this word, anointed, is used many times in the Bible. In Psalm 2, verse 2, we're going to read 1. Why did the nations rage and the people imagine a vain thing? Why did they do that? Why are the nations in such an uproar? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together against the eternal and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder and cast away their cords from us. Verse 7, well, verse 6, Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion, I will declare the decree, The Lord has sent it to me. You art my son. This day have I allowed you, have I brought you to birth. Now, look at Acts 13, and you'll see once again the beauty of the beautiful tapestry of the Bible. The Apostle Paul, in his inspired sermon, as we shall see, quotes this verse 7 that I just read, This day have I brought you to birth. I have begotten you, you lied, which can be translated birth or begat. We'll start in verse 29. Acts 13, 29. And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, all that was written, they took him down from the tree, laid him in a sepulchre. But God raised him from the dead, and he was seen many days of them which came up from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses under the people. And we declare unto you glad tidings how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God has fulfilled that same unto us, their children, in that he has raised up Jesus again, as it is also written in the second psalm which we just read. You art my son, this day have I, can now owe you what it is to do, he raised him from the dead. It was his birth as a glorious radiant spirit being, the first born from the dead. And concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now to no more return to corruption. He said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David. Romans 8, 11 again, If the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead, dwelling you, he that raised up Jesus from the dead, through his spirit, raise you up quick in your mortal bodies. How glorious and wonderful is the plan of salvation? Begettle and begotten. One final scripture, Psalm 87, which we shall sing in just a moment, and hopefully every time you sing this in the future, the chills will go up and down your spine, the hair on the nape of your neck will stand up, and you will realize what you're actually singing about. Psalm 87, His foundation is in the holy mountains. The Lord loves the gates of Zion. Remember? You have come to the Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the general assembly of the church of the firstborn. The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things of thee are spoken. I will make mention of Rahab Babylon to them that knew me, that know me, behold, Philistine and Tyre with Ethiopia. This man was born there. Where in Zion?

See, when Christ comes again and the dead are resurrected, people from all over the world, some have been burned to death. Ashes have been scattered in different places. Some have drowned at sea.

But yet, this man was born there. Where in Zion?

And of Zion it shall be said, this and that man was born in her, and the highest himself shall establish her. The eternal shall count when he writes up the people. The eternal shall count when he writes up the people. That this man was born there. Where in Zion?

As well as the singers, as the players on instruments shall be there, all my springs are in you. God's spirit represented by water. Begettle and birth.