L1 Lesson 3: Your New Family in Christ

Review action point on lesson 2: Ano ang na-observe mong changes na ginawa sa iyo ni Lord this week through the Holy Spirit and His Word? 

INTRODUCTION

    Ang Dios ang creator of all mankind kaya pwedeng sabihin na lahat tayo ay from God. Pero sa Bible ay mapapansin ang pag-separate ng Dios kung sino ang para sa Kanya at kung sino ang hindi. Ito ang ilan sa examples: 

1. Children of light vs. children of darkness (cf. Eph 5:8). 

2. Children of God vs. children of the devil (cf. 1Jn 3:10). 

3. Sheep vs. goat (cf. Matt 25:32-33).

    Ang truth na ito from the Bible ay kontra sa popular view na lahat ng tao ay children of God. The truth is, out of God's sovereignty, ay bumubuo Siya ng isang community or family na dedicated para sa Kanya. Sa Old Testament, ito ay ang Israel at sa New Testament, ito ay ang Kanyang church (composed of Jews and non-Jews).

I. GOD AS OUR FATHER

    May condition ang Dios bago Niya bigyan ng privilege ang isang tao na maging anak Niya;

"But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." (John 1:12)  

    Do you see? Ang privilege na maging anak ng Dios ay para sa mga tumanggap at nanalig "in his name." Ang name na tinutukoy dito ay ang name ni Jesus Christ, the Son of God! 

    Ano ang mayroon sa name ni Jesus? To make it plain and simple, ang name ni Jesus ay ang identity Niya bilang Savior and King. Si Jesus ang promised Messiah na hinihintay ng mga Jews according to the Scripture.* 

    Pero sadly, even His own people ay hindi naniwala sa Kanya. That's why sa gospel ni John ay isinulat niya ito: 

"He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.  (12)  But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,  (13)  who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:11-13)

    So, kung totoong in-accept mo si Jesus at naniwala sa Kanya bilang Savior and King na tinutukoy ng Scripture, then ang Dios ay true to His Word. Binigyan ka Niya ng privilege to become His child. Therefore, you can now call Him Father! 

"The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God." (Romans 8:16)

"...you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” (Romans 8:15)

    Alam mo ba ang ibig sabihin nito? Sineparate ka ng Dios para sa Kanya. Ibinilang ka ng Dios sa Kanyang spiritual family--sa Kanyang church. At may part ka sa inheritance ng Dios bilang isa sa Kanyang mga anak.

"...if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ...." (Romans 8:17)   

😏 Reflection: May times ba na iniisip mong hindi ka privileged dahil sa lack of material blessings? Ano ang tamang perspective na tinuturo sa atin ngayon ni Lord since tinanggap na Niya tayo bilang mga anak? 

II. THE CHURCH AS OUR SPIRITUAL FAMILY

    No one is able to make himself or hersrlff a member of God's church or family. Only God can do that! At ang Dios ang nagbigay sa iyo ng privilege na ito dahil in-accept mo si Jesus at nanalig ka sa Kanya bilang Savior and King. So, welcome to the family of God!

a. In God's family/church, we value the Great Commandment.

Mark 12:30 (ESV) And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another." (John 13:34)

Galatians 6:10 (ESV) So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Hebrews 10:25 (ESV) not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

1 Peter 4:8 (ESV) Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.

✅ Application: Maging actively involved sa isang small group of believers para i-exercise ang love of God. 

b. In God's family/church, we value the Great Commission. 

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations....” (Matthew 28:19)

Acts 1:8 (ESV) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”  

🔐 How to participate in the church mission of making disciples? 

1. Be compassionate to the lost. 
2. Proclaim Christ to others and depend on the power of the Holy Spirit.
3. Lead a discipleship group (D-Group of 1 to 3 people).
4. Do the mission together with God's family in God's church. Co-operate!

Closing

Prayer request/closing prayer.

See you sa Lesson 4.

Note:

*Explanation in case someone would ask kung ano ang sinasabi ng Scripture sa pagdating ng Messiah (The Savior-King).

    To give us an example, may binasa si Jesus sa synagogue sa book of Isaiah isang araw ng Sabbath:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,  (19)  to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” (Luke 4:18-19) 

    Ito ay prophecy ni Isaiah sa chapter 61:1-2 tungkol sa darating na Messiah. After reading ay ito ang sinabi ni Jesus:  

"Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:21) 

    Wow! Did you notice that? Sinabi ni Jesus na na-fulfill na ang prophecy sa Scripture. Why? Dahil Siya na yung Savior and King na tinutukoy ni Isaiah at ngayon ay nakikita nila ng harapan at naririnig!