Family Portrait - 1
Introduction
In most homes there is a picture that is invaluable. It hangs in a predominate place in the house. All that see it admires it. It has many stories and those stories are generally told with some embellishment. It is the family portrait
As believers we are considered in the same family - God's family. Look at Ephesians 3:15, "From whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name." Have you noticed how we call one another brother and sister? Note Acts 22:13 (NIV),"He stood beside me and said, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight!' And at that very moment I was able to see him." And, also Colossians 1:1 (NIV), "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother."
This means that all of us are one big family. Every believer is a part of God's family portrait. Now this portrait tells us about the people in it. It reveals several facts about being part of God's family.
I. Begotten By The Word God
John 3:3 (NIV), "In reply Jesus declared, 'I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.'"
It is absolutely impossible to go to heaven without being born into God's family.
We are children by nature, and not by culture. (WELL, 14, P. 54)
Now how is one born again? Or what must happen before we are born again?
Being born into God's family is much like being born - better not to have been born at all than never to have been born again. (zingers, p. 266)
When a man is born, several events have happened already. Likewise, when one is born again, several things must happen.
We read in 1 Peter 1:23 (NIV), "For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God."
NOTICE THE WORD "SEED."
A. PLANTING
(Rom 10:17 NIV) Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
B. PRODUCING
(Mat 13:8 NIV) Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop--a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.
It was DR. ANDREW JACKSON who wrote,
"God thought it
Christ bought it
The Bible taught it
The mind caught it
The soul sought it
The spirit wrought it
The devil fought it
But I"ve got it,
By the grace of God"
II. BROKEN BY THE LAW OF GOD
(Rom 3:10 NIV) As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one;
(Rom 3:11 NIV) there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.
(Rom 3:23 NIV) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
These verses tell me who I really am.
A. SENTENCED ME
In the courtroom of God we tried to see if there is any righteous in us.
SEARCH ME OH GOD
KNOW MY HEART
TRY ME AND KNOW MY THOUGHTS
AND SEE IF THERE BE ANY WICKED WAY IN ME
B. STRUCK BY GUILT
Many people leave the courtroom of God unchanged - they do not see themselves as guilty.
The greatest day of our lives is the day we sense the pangs of guilt over our unrighteousness.
Law condemns the best man, grace saves the worst man
zingers, p. 268
Here are the steps to break my heart,
The guilt of my sin brings to my heart despair
Despair brings to my heart brokeness
Broken hearts need to be mended
He is in the business of mending the broken hearts of sin
BEGOTTEN BY THE WORD OF GOD
BROKEN BY THE LAW OF GOD
III. BROUGHT BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD
(John 6:44 NIV) "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.
A. CONVICTS ME OF MY SIN
It takes the Holy Spirit to break through my understanding.
(Eph 4:18 NIV) They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.
It takes the Holy Spirit to break through my fleshly heart.
(Rom 8:7 NIV) the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so.
B. CONVINCE ME OF MY SAVIOR
(John 16:8 NIV) When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:
john wolford explains this by writing, "Far removed from a character building program, or merely an encouragement to live more righteously, the Holy Spirit reveals that it is necessary to believe in Christ to be saved."
I am brought to know that the only hope for me is that God would send his son to take my place for my sins.
2 Corinthinas 5:21, And He became sin for us, who knew no sin.
BEGOTTEN BY THE WORD OF GOD
BROKEN BY THE LAW OF GOD
BROUGHT BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD
IV. BELIEVING IN THE SON OF GOD
(Acts 16:31 NIV) They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household."
THE WORD BELIEVE
pisteuo, pist-yoo'-o; from G4102; to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e. credit; by impl. to entrust (espec. one's spiritual well-being to Christ):--believe (-r), commit (to trust), put in trust with.
THIS IS AN ACTION WORD THAT IMPLIES IN SCRIPTURE OTHER THINGS.
A. RECEIVING CHRIST
(John 1:12 NIV) Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--
B. REPENTANCE TOWARD GOD
(Acts 20:21 NIV) I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.
C. RESPONSE FROM OUR HEARTS
(Rom 10:13 NIV) for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
Every person in the family portrait has had the very same experience.
It is called the new birth.
Every person had,
An experience
A time and place
A life changing occurrence
IN THE PORTRAIT THERE IS
A DRUNKARD
A HARLOT
A LAWYER
A DOCTOR
A FIREMAN
A GROCERY MAN
A HOUSEWIFE
A TRAIN CONDUCTOR
A SECRETARY
A MINISTER
A JANITOR
I ASK YOU THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION OF YOUR LIFE: ARE YOU IN THE PICTURE?