Two Fathers and Two Sons
2007-05-05 20:08
"Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!" (Hebrews 12:9).
Who are two fathers? They are a human father and the Father of our spirits. Who are two sons? They are he who was born according to the flesh and he who was born according to the Spirit. Abram begot Ishmael according to the flesh, and Abraham begot Isacc through promise (the Spirit).
The Bible says, "For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise," (Galatians 4:22-23). And also, "But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now." (Galatians 4:29).
Abram and Abraham seem to be one man outwardly, but they are two men inwardly. Each of them has a different homeland. The homeland of Abram, who was born of a human father, is the country he had left, but the homeland of Abraham, who was born of God the Father of our spirits, is a heavenly country. So the Bible says, "If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country--a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them." (Hebrews 11:15-16).
Therefore, Abram is the father of the flesh, but Abraham is the father of faith. It is written, "Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring--not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all." (Romans 4:16).
Abraham had two sons, Ishmael by Abram and the slave woman according to the flesh and Isacc by Abraham and the free woman through promise. These two sons remain together and fight each other in the body--the tent of a household.
Therefore, the Bible says, "So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?" (Romans 7:21-24).
The law of the flesh and the law of the Spirit are enemies. They fight each other until one of them is driven out. It is written, "For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish." (Galatians 5:17).
However, the flesh cannot win the Spirit. The Spirit himself helps those who are born according to the Spirit. Hagar is a slave woman, but Sarah is her master, who is free. It is written, "But what does the Scripture say? 'Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman's son." (Galatians 4:30).
The son and heir is master of all. It is written, "What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, 'Abba , Father.' So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir." (Galatians 4:1-7).
Therefore, anyone who has two fathers and two sons does not follow the father of the flesh, but the Father of his spirit. And he will inherit the kingdom of our Father in heaven with Christ in the only true God and Christ Jesus, whom He sent.
The father of the flesh is the father of the dead, but the Father of our spirits is the Father of the living. The Bible says, "'Why were you searching for me?' he asked. 'Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?'" (Luke 2:49). And also, "Another disciple said to him, 'Lord, first let me go and bury my father.' But Jesus told him, 'Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.'" (Matthew 8:21-22).
Therefore, the Bible says, "And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven." (Matthew 23:9). Thank you, Lord.
Who are two fathers? They are a human father and the Father of our spirits. Who are two sons? They are he who was born according to the flesh and he who was born according to the Spirit. Abram begot Ishmael according to the flesh, and Abraham begot Isacc through promise (the Spirit).
The Bible says, "For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise," (Galatians 4:22-23). And also, "But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now." (Galatians 4:29).
Abram and Abraham seem to be one man outwardly, but they are two men inwardly. Each of them has a different homeland. The homeland of Abram, who was born of a human father, is the country he had left, but the homeland of Abraham, who was born of God the Father of our spirits, is a heavenly country. So the Bible says, "If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country--a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them." (Hebrews 11:15-16).
Therefore, Abram is the father of the flesh, but Abraham is the father of faith. It is written, "Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring--not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all." (Romans 4:16).
Abraham had two sons, Ishmael by Abram and the slave woman according to the flesh and Isacc by Abraham and the free woman through promise. These two sons remain together and fight each other in the body--the tent of a household.
Therefore, the Bible says, "So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?" (Romans 7:21-24).
The law of the flesh and the law of the Spirit are enemies. They fight each other until one of them is driven out. It is written, "For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish." (Galatians 5:17).
However, the flesh cannot win the Spirit. The Spirit himself helps those who are born according to the Spirit. Hagar is a slave woman, but Sarah is her master, who is free. It is written, "But what does the Scripture say? 'Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman's son." (Galatians 4:30).
The son and heir is master of all. It is written, "What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, 'Abba , Father.' So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir." (Galatians 4:1-7).
Therefore, anyone who has two fathers and two sons does not follow the father of the flesh, but the Father of his spirit. And he will inherit the kingdom of our Father in heaven with Christ in the only true God and Christ Jesus, whom He sent.
The father of the flesh is the father of the dead, but the Father of our spirits is the Father of the living. The Bible says, "'Why were you searching for me?' he asked. 'Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?'" (Luke 2:49). And also, "Another disciple said to him, 'Lord, first let me go and bury my father.' But Jesus told him, 'Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.'" (Matthew 8:21-22).
Therefore, the Bible says, "And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven." (Matthew 23:9). Thank you, Lord.
