Scripture:
Luke 20:35-38:
35 But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given to marriage:
36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
37 Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
38 For He is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto Him.
Theme:
Being God’s Child
Introduction:
- The Gospel according to St. Luke from which our text comes was written by the one called by Paul, “the beloved physician”, and often traveled with Paul on his journeys. Luke’s focus in writing the Gospel was to tell of Jesus’ life as the Human-Divine One as opposed to The Gospel according to St. John which tells Jesus’ life as the Divine-Human One.
- The 20th chapter of Luke occurs within the section of this Gospel which focuses on Jesus being offered as the King of Isreal and His rejection because of it.
- The background scripture for our text finds Jesus being faced with opposition once again. The Sadducees asked Jesus a hypothetical question concerning the Mosaic law and resurrection. Who is a woman married to in the resurrection when she has been married to seven different brothers with no children from any of the marriages?
- The Sadducees were out to trick Jesus because they did not believe in a resurrection in the first place.
- Jesus’ answer:
- Marriage is of this world and at the resurrection there will be no marriage
- WHY
- They are equal to the angels
- They are the CHILDREN OF GOD
What is a child?
- One of Webster’s definitions is “a son or daughter”.
- Doesn’t matter who the parents are.
- Doesn’t matter how old you are.
Body:
Being Mama and Daddy’s child
- Resources
- Food
- Shelter
- Clothes
- Medicine
- Education
- Care
- Direction – Proverbs says, “Spare the rod and spoil the child”…rod of direction
- Correction — Proverbs 29:15, “The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.”
- Protection — Exodus 22:22-24, “Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry; And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.”
Being God’s Child
are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
- “Children of God”
- Requirement — “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Romans 8:14)
- Confirmation – “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God” (Romans 8:17)
- “Children of the resurrection” – Saved, redeemed, made capable of enjoying the fruits of the resurrection
- Process
- Repent – Romans 3:23, Romans 10:10
- Believe in Jesus Christ — the born, lived, suffered, hung, bled, died, buried, and rose again for the remission of sins – Romans 10:9
- Be baptized – Acts 2:38
- Receive the Holy Ghost – John 14:26
- Benchmarks
- Admit – I am a sinner
- Submit – I submit all my sinful self to God
- Commit – I commit my life to His Will for me
- Transmit – Tell someone else of what God has done for me
Resources
- Food – He prepares a table before me in the presence of mine enemy
- Shelter – He is a shelter in the time of a storm
- Clothes – He clothes us with peace in the midst of our storm
- Medicine – He is our Balm in Gilead…the panacea or cure-all
- Education – He responded accordingly when the disciples asked, “Lord, teach us to pray”
Care
- Correction – Timothy wrote how the scripture is profitable for correction.
- Direction – He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His names’ sake
- Protection – The Lord is my refuge and my strength. A very present help in the time of trouble.
Conclusion:
It’s required to be as a child!
Matthew 19:14, “But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”
The comparison:
Being Mama’s Child gets me pain, suffering, confusion, … Death.
Being God’s Child gets me love, joy, peace, … Salvation.
BE GOD’S CHILD!!!
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