God's Family Plan

The title of the sermon today is God's Family Plan. God's Family Plan. Have you ever asked yourself, what is the theme of the Bible? If not, if you've never asked yourself, ask yourself that right now. So I'm asking yet, what is the theme of the Bible in simplest terms? What is the theme of the Bible? It is simply this. God is bringing sons and daughters to glory in his family. This great theme can be equated with the plan and purpose of God. It's tantamount to saying, what is the great plan and purpose of God?

Well, the great plan and purpose of God, to a large degree, is summarized by his family plan. Let's notice now in 2 Corinthians chapter 6, where it says that he's bringing sons and daughters to glory, not in those exact words, but it captures the thought.

If we go to 2 Corinthians chapter 6 and verse 16, 2 Corinthians 6, 16, and what agreement hath the temple of God with idols, for you are the temple of God. We mentioned that in the announcements and the memory scripture of the day. You are the temple of God, of the living God. As God has said, I will dwell in them and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out of among them and be you separate, says the Eternal, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, and will be a father unto you.

You shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. God is bringing sons and daughters to glory in his family. I wonder if we really stop and think about how important it is to understand the plan and purpose of God. A thorough understanding of the plan and purpose of God answers virtually most of the thorny theological questions that theologians have grappled with over the centuries. So let us now consider what had to be considered in order to have born sons and daughters born in the family of God as spirit beings.

Human beings had to be given what we call free moral agency or free will, and be able to choose life over death in their lives, to be able to freely choose. Am I going to choose life, or am I going to choose death? Since they had free will, and since they were subject to sin and death, God knew that they were going to sin and that they would need a redeemer.

Now this is vitally important with regard to coming to understand the total plan and purpose of God. Some people want to argue and say that if he knew they were going to sin, then he is responsible for their sin. So we will be exploring that to some degree, not directly, but somewhat indirectly as we go along. So God and Christ once again knew they would sin and thus find themselves in need of a redeemer. Why would they need a redeemer? Because of Romans 6.23. If you turn back to there, Romans 6 and verse 23, why they need a redeemer? For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

So humans had to be redeemed and reconciled to God, so they would be viewed as sinless and thus receive the very essence of God, making the repentance center a begotten son or daughter of God. Now notice this in Romans chapter 5, back a page about the redeemer and what he does. All of this is building up and then we'll go back and recap some things as well. But in Romans 5 verse 6, for when we were enemies, I'm sorry, for when we were without strength in due time, Christ died for the ungodly.

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die, yet per venture for a good man some would even dare to die, but God commanded his love toward us, that while we were yet sinners, Christ died, much more now being justified by his blood. Justified. Can you explain justification? What does that mean? It means that there is a debt, a penalty, on our heads. We just read Romans 6.23, the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

So how is that debt going to be removed? It is removed through Jesus Christ. He justifies us. How? Because he went in our stead. He's our propituation. He died in our stead, so we would not have to die. Being the Son of God, he was counted worthy to die for the sins of the whole world. Being justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God. We were reconciled to God. We were viewed by God as sinless after that reconciliation.

So that God, after that reconciliation, would be able to, and in keeping with his law, beget us with his very essence, his spirit. Being reconciled by God by the death of his Son, much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom we have now received the reconciliation that we are counted as sinless upon that point, upon repentance and faith in the sacrifice of Christ. In baptism, we are now eligible to receive the laying on of hands and receiving the very essence of God.

In order for the plan of God and Christ to be fulfilled, each God being had to perfectly fulfill his role in the plan. Both the Father and the Son perfectly fulfill the roles that they had agreed to, and they continue to fulfill their roles to this very day. Jesus Christ is sitting now at the right hand of the Father, making intercession for us. It says in Hebrews 7 verse 25 that he is able to save us to the uttermost, seeing that he ever lives to make intercession for us. In carrying out such an awesome plan, a series of complex events have to be fulfilled. Some people just want to go tilt and say nothing or say something like the following.

All people have been discussing the nature of God and Christ for thousands of years and will continue to do so. And then they make some kind of summary statement that sort of dismisses everything and say, well, the Bible doesn't really make it clear. I believe the plan and purpose of God is very clear and that a teenager can understand it. The Bible makes the plan of God and Christ, that plan of bringing sons and daughters to glory in his family.

I believe it makes it very clear. In the world of nominal Christendom, the whole plan of salvation has been reduced to confess Christ and accept Him as your personal Savior, and you'll be saved. You don't have to worry about any of the past history of how it came to be. Just what is right now. Accept Him, believe, confess Him, you'll be saved regardless as to what you do, you'll be saved. If you notice the great sermons in the Bible and especially the summary chapters, if you take Psalm 78, you take Acts chapter 2, Acts chapter 7, Acts 2 being Peter's great sermon on Pentecost, Acts 7 being Stephen's great sermon when brought before the council and just before he was stoned to death.

You take Paul's great sermon in Acts 13, you will know that they lay a background. They talk about how things progress to the point of Jesus Christ coming on the scene. And that's not the only places in the Bible where that takes place. Theologians and preachers of the land will talk about a believer being a son of God, but they don't really understand how a person becomes a son or daughter of God, a begotten son or daughter of God. They don't teach what you will be doing in the family of God, in the kingdom of God. The believers told that he or she will go to heaven and live a life of bliss forevermore.

How much bliss can you take? I'm pretty sure you're going to get bored. But God has a future plan for us. One of the members of the club today said, my favorite scripture is 1 Corinthians 2.9, "'Here hath not heard, I have not seen, neither has it entered in the heart of man what God has prepared for those who love him.' But the believers told, he or she will go to heaven and live a life of bliss, whereas the Bible states that the resurrected saints will be made kings and priests, and they shall reign on the earth." Let's look at Revelation 5 and verse 10.

Revelation chapter 5 and verse 10, a wonderful scripture there. How is this in the Bible?

People don't really look at it and accept it and understand it. Revelation 5 and verse 10. Let's read 9 for context. And they sung a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof, speaking of the Lamb.

For you were slain and have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation, and have made us unto our God kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth. Now you look at Revelation 1 and verse 4. Verse 5 especially, we'll zero in on Revelation 1 and verse 4. John to the seven churches which are in Asia, Grace be unto you in peace from him which is, which was, and which is to come, and, and from the seven spirits which are before his throne, and, and, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness and the prototico, the first born, as translated in the New King James, the first born of the dead and the prince of the kings of the earth, unto him that loved us and washed us from sins, from our sins and his own blood. So we see clearly here that we are made kings and priests and that we shall reign on the earth. If one truly understands the process of what has to happen to enact the plan of salvation, then so many of the questions of the ages concerning origins and relationships between God, the Father, and the Son are clearly seen and under, are clearly seen and answered. The devil, on the other hand, has deceived and blinded the minds of people with regard to God and Christ's great plan of bringing sons and daughters for glory in the family of God. So we need to go back in time. The reason this understanding is not there, it is because human beings begin to philosophize and speculate that, to the point that the picture is clouded, the water is muddied, so to speak. It seems obvious that Satan has muddied the process of the plan of God. 99% of the people on earth today don't really understand why they were born. Oh, they may go to church. They may be very faithful in their church, but do they really understand the origins and relationships that have gone before and what is necessary to be a member of the family of God?

In one sense, the plan is very simple. As the human life cycle of marriage between male and female parallels that plan and purpose and life cycle. Through this process, that is the life cycle process of male-female marriage, God ordained the reproductive process with male and female contributing to the process with the female contributing in ovum, the male sperm, and they come together and engender a new life. Of course, in the spiritual sense, God the Father begets us with His Spirit, and then our minds serve as the ovum.

And there is a, of course, we're speaking spiritually, and it says in Romans 8 that His Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the sons of God. So this process has been set in motion of male-female marriage coming together, reproducing, having children, sons and daughters. The challenge before God and Christ way back in eternity, in eternity past, way back, centered on how can they produce the Godkind in a family relationship. Now some people talk about being adopted. You can be adopted into a family, and you can receive the legal privileges of being a son or daughter of the family that adopts you. In fact, you may be the only heir to their estate when they die.

But you did not come out of, if you are adopted, and being adopted doesn't make you less important than anybody else. Being male or female doesn't make you more important than anybody else.

We all have the same God-ordained potential.

But in adoption, you do not come out of the loins of the parent.

You do not have the DNA from the mother and father within you. But if you, with your natural parent, you have the DNA of the mother and father within you.

When we are begotten of God's Spirit, we have His very essence, and also the essence of Christ in us.

It says very clearly in John 14, verse 23, that both the Father and the Son will abide in us upon our conversion. So the challenge before God and Christ, once again in eternity, centered on how can they produce the Godkind in a family relationship? They could and did create the angelic realm, but they were not begotten and born of the same essence as God and Christ.

The Apostle Paul makes this very clear. Look at Hebrews chapter 1. Hebrews chapter 1, and we'll look at verses 5 and 13. We're not going to read all of it, but it answers the question quickly. In Hebrews chapter 1, verse 5, under which of the angels said he at any time, you are my son, this day have I begotten you?

Which and when? Never. He never said to any angel, you are my son, this day have I begotten you.

You are my son, this day have I begotten you. He never said that to any angel, and again I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son.

Now the angels are sons of God by creation. We, every human being, is a son of God by creation and human birth. We'll read just a minute from the Gospel of John. But everyone is not begotten by the Spirit of God. In verse 13, the purpose is of angels, and it repeats that, but which of the angels said he at any time, set you on my right hand until I make your enemies your foot still? He never did. They are created beings. For what purpose? What purpose were they created? The next verse, are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister to them who shall be heirs of salvation?

Those who will be inheritors in God's family plan.

Now if you look at the Gospel of John, you'll see what I just said about being begotten or born, that everyone is a son of God, including the angelic realm, by creation. But everyone is not a son of God by begatling birth.

The angels will never be sons of God by begatling birth. In John chapter 1, verse 12, But as many as received him to them 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 flesh, nor the will of man, but of God.

So there is a son of God by creation. There is a son of God through begatling birth and the spirit of God. Look at Ezekiel 28 now. You'll see that angels are created being. The devil himself is being spoken of here. The angels, like humans were, were created with free moral agency, the ability to choose. Satan, in his deceit, was able to draw a third part of the angels and deceive them into following him in rebellion against God and try to take over the throne of God. In Ezekiel 28, verse 15, you'll see the state that the angels were created to.

You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created. So the angels are created beings.

They will never be begotten and born sons and daughters of God. Now, one of the great reasons for the gross misunderstanding stemmed from the fact that people will not accept the simple truths regarding the origin of God and Christ and the relationship between these two eternal beings. To understand this great plan, we have to go back in eternity. We go back to the time before time began, as we know the marking of time. This takes us back before anything existed except those two eternal beings. Can you expand your mind or whichever one it is to focus to the point you're only these two beings existing in eternity?

Look at 2 Timothy 1 and verse 9. 2 Timothy 1 and verse 9, we'll see here that there was a point in time. Here I go using that word, point in time. In 2 Timothy 1 and verse 9, who has saved us, called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. Now the word world here, there are three Greek words that are translated world in the New Testament, eion, which means age, and cosmos, which means the order of the universe. And the one here is chronos, which means time. It's the word from which we get chronology.

Before time as we know it began, time as we know it began after the physical creation whereby you were able to mark the movement of the heavenly bodies. It says in Genesis 1 that he appointed the sun, the moon, and stars to mark time and seasons. Now we look at 1 Peter chapter 1.

In verse 20 we see something similar in 1 Peter chapter 1.

And verse 20 with regard to how far back does this go, that is, the plan and purpose of God.

We saw from 2 Timothy 1.9 that it was before time began, which he purpose in Christ Jesus before time began. In 1 Peter chapter 1 and verse 20 we read something similar.

Who verily was foreordained.

It means to know beforehand. Proganosko in the Greek, who verily was known beforehand before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory that your faith and hope might be in God. And it says in Revelation 13, 8, Jesus Christ slain from the foundation of the world. So the plan and purpose of God was planned out before time began, before the foundation of the world.

These verses tell us that one of the most important aspects of the plan was settled before anything was created. We must also examine from the scriptures what we know about the origin of the ones who became the Father and the one who became the Son.

So let's look at Hebrews chapter 7. We know from Hebrews chapter 7 that the Son is uncreated and has always existed, and thus we'll see by deduction the same applies to the Father. Hebrews 7 verse 1. In Hebrews 7 verse 1, 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, and you can read about that in Genesis chapter 14, to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being by interpretation king of righteousness, and after that also king of Salem. Salem means which is king of peace. See, no human being would ascribe that to himself, even if he did, we would know that he was a liar because no human being is king of righteousness, and no human being is king of peace. There are a lot of people, some who have raised the doors of the Church of God, who try to claim that Melchizedek was just another human being.

That's not what the Bible says. 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. Now consider how great this man was, and to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of his foils. So it talks about how that Melchizedek has an everlasting priesthood that continues ever. So from this we can deduct that this fact that existing in eternity applies to the Father. The two beings are uncreated.

They're not created. They are co-eternal. They have always existed. They are co-essential that is they are of the same essence. They are spirit. John 4, 24 says, God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.

Scripture clearly tells us that God the Father and the one who became Jesus Christ have always existed. Now we'll see this hopefully more clearly in John 1.1.

They have been together in eternity. There is no actual beginning point, per se, and some misunderstand this verse. In the beginning was the Word. It's the point of revelation. In the beginning was the Word. Now that Word was is the equivalent of the English to be. In the Greek it's e-e-n-n. It means to exist.

In the beginning existed the Word, and the Word was with God, showing relationship. Where was the Word? With God. And the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God, and all things were made through Jesus Christ. God made all things through Christ. Now let's look at Philippians and see how this is explained. This is one of the main explanations in all of the Bible with regard to this relationship between the Father and the one who became the Son. In Philippians 2, Philippians is a book about humility to a large degree. It is a prison epistle.

Paul was in prison when this epistle was pinned and sent to the brethren.

And in Philippians 2 verse 5, let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.

Then there begins a description of that mind, this mind that is about to be described, who being in the form of God, notice that word being, being means existing.

It was existing in the form, morphe, of God, thought it not robbery or pachmos, which means a thing to be seized. He didn't have to seize it. He didn't have to steal it.

It was already there, thought it not robbery to be equal, ISIS, with God. That's just the way it was. God the Father and the word existing in eternity.

And here is, you know, we get down to the nitty-gritty of how are you going to, how are you going to pull this thing off of begetting human beings made of the dust through the ground, begetting them with your spirit, and then bringing them to birth and resurrection.

Who being in the form of God, brought it not a thing to be seized, to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the stake.

See, all of this was necessary to take human beings made of the dust of the ground, who were subject to sin and death, and who would sin, that a Redeemer would come on the scene, and through repentance and faith in that Redeemer, God could view the Repentance Center as sinless, and thus, beget him of his very essence with the Holy Spirit. Now, with regard to the hierarchical structure, you look back at 1 Corinthians 11, and you see there the order of authority that God established with regard to the family plant. It's clear as it can be in 1 Corinthians 11, verse 2. Now, I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the ordinances as I deliver them to you. But I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of the woman is the man, and the head of Christ is God. I did not write it. It states it clearly in the Bible.

Well, why is it? Because in order for God to carry out his great plan, there has to be an ordered structure with everyone doing their part. Does it mean that anyone is inferior to the other with regard to ultimate potential? You know, Jesus Christ is the firstborn among many brethren, but Jesus Christ has been exalted above anything that any being can ever be except the Father himself. Now, let's go back to Philippians and notice that. Brethren, what we are talking about here today is so wonderful. It is so important to grasp. If you master these things, it will never slip from you. So in view, we left off with verse 8 in Philippians 2, where Jesus Christ humbled himself, took on the form of a man, died on the stake for the sins of the world, so we could be reconciled to God, receive his very essence within us. Wherefore, in view of all that, God has also exalted him and given him a name which is above every name. There's no one can exalt you any higher than God. God is the ultimate exalter, and he has exalted Christ above every name, except one.

That at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow of things in heaven and things in earth and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. I mean, it's so wonderful. It all fits together. It is perfect. And human beings come along and mess it up with their philosophizing and not being willing to accept the plain words of Scripture. Now look at 1 Corinthians 15. 1 Corinthians 15.

The Corinthians were divided on about every issue that you could possibly name. You, one, would wonder, well, how could they possibly be in the Church of God? You even had people in Corinth claiming that there was no resurrection from the dead. So in response to that, you have chapter 15. We're going to break in on the thought beginning about verse 20.

But now has Christ risen from the dead and become the firstfruits of them that slept?

See, the firstborn from the dead. We read Revelation 1.5.

For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order Christ the firstfruits, afterward they that are Christ at his coming.

Then comes the end when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God.

Now some people think that the he here is Christ, no.

Then comes the end when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father. When he shall have put down all rule and authority and power, for he Christ must reign till he had put all enemies under his feet, the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

For he that puts all things under his feet, for he has put all things under his feet.

But when he says all things are put under his feet, it is manifested that he is accepted, which did put all things under his feet.

And of course, God the Father is the head of Christ. Christ is the head of man.

Man is the head of woman. And of course, children are in subjection to their parents.

You look at Psalm 110. This was prophesied way back in Psalm 110. Jesus Christ quotes Psalm 110 when some of the detractors of the day were claiming that he was not the Son of God.

In Psalm 110 in verse 1.

Psalm 110 verse 1.

The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit you on my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.

Who is sitting on the right hand of God the Father? Jesus Christ. He is doing what? He is making intercessions for us. Therefore, he is able to save them to the other most. The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit you on my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool. And we just read that he does make the enemies of Christ his footstool. The Lord shall send the rod of your strength out of Zion, rule you in the midst of your enemies. The people shall be willing in the day of your power, in the beauties of holiness, from the womb of the morning, you have the dew of your youth.

So, after the Father, the one who became the Father, and the one who became the Son, agreed on the plan of bringing sons and daughters to glory as spirit beings, the Son has always been fulfilling his role.

He's always been fulfilling his role. The Father's always been fulfilling his role.

The Bible clearly identifies in the physical family the role of father, husband, clearly identifies the role of mother, wife.

And so there is very much a parallel. You can understand very much of what's going on in the spiritual realm by understanding what God ordained in the physical realm for marriage and family.

Husband, wife, father, mother, children. So why did God initiate this great plan? I mean, there's no other plan like this, and there's no other truth in the universe that really tries to explain it. In most Christian circles, it's just believe on Jesus Christ, and you'll be saved, and you'll be a child of God, and when you die, you'll go to heaven, not really understanding God's family plan.

God's family plan is the most awesome, ingenious plans that has ever been conceived in all the annals and ages of history. It is a perfect plan, and we are privileged to understand that plan. You know, it even talks about in Scripture. Let's go there. I think my eye can fall on it. In 1 Peter chapter 1, it may not be exactly where I'm thinking about.

Let's try 2 Peter chapter 1.

My eye doesn't fall immediately on what I want, but the angels even desire to look into this plan, to understand it. It has been revealed to us. We sit here, partakers of that plan, and do we take that plan for granted? Do we really understand if we master this?

Yes. That is going from before time began and the initiation of this plan, the planning out of it and the initiation of it, and coming all the way through the ages to the present time.

That this is the understanding that so many people have desired so deeply to understand.

God and Christ, before time began, wanted to share who they are and what they are in a family relationship. The Scripture says God is love. Christ also is love. God is love. Perhaps the greatest expression of love is outgoing concern for others, wanting to share what you have with others. God and Christ wanted to share their very being with others and bring sons and daughters to glory in the family. Look at Hebrews chapter 1. No, I want Hebrews chapter 12.

Hebrews chapter 12. Hebrews chapter 12.

Jesus Christ is the forerunner. He was the first to go through this process. That's another mind-boggling thing, as it were. He went through a process of begat and birth into the family of God. A new order of beings really came into existence at that point.

Wherefore, seeing we also are accomplished about with so great a cloud of witnesses that are cataloged there in chapter 11, let us lay aside every weight and sin which does so easily beset us and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. See, he has gone through it all. 3. Who for the joy that was set before him endured the state, despising the shame, and is set 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 minds.

You have not yet resisted unto blood striving against sin. And so Jesus Christ has already gone through that, the forerunner of our salvation. And God wants us to share whatever we have and give it to others this awesome plan of God. Go you therefore into all the world and preach the gospel. How shall they hear without a preacher? How shall they preach unless he be sent? How beautiful are those that bring glad tidings of peace.

Faith comes by hearing, hearing by the Word of God. Through God's great family plan, God and Christ are sharing their very life essence with us. Look at Romans 8 and verse 14.

Romans 8 and verse 14. If we can keep these things in mind and just really focus on how things have come to be in our journey toward the kingdom, it would be very difficult for anyone to trip us up. Romans 8 and verse 14. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

For you have not received the Spirit of bondage again to fear, but you have received the Spirit of sonship. A great word there is we, Othea, it literally means sonship. We talked about being of the same essence. Whereby we cry, Abba, Father, the Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.

And if children then heirs, heirs of God, heirs of God, joint heirs with Jesus Christ, the firstborn among many brethren. And as it says in Hebrews 2.11, that he is not ashamed to call us brethren.

We have received the Spirit of sonship whereby we cry, Abba, Father, the Spirit bears witness with our spirit. We are the children of God. And if children then heirs, heirs of God, joint heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. So brethren, let's meditate on these things. Always praise God and Christ for their great mercy and love. The great mercy and love they've extended to us, and they have made us a part of their family plan.