THE WAY OF SONS #3

“If they kept my word,” Jesus said, “they will keep yours (ours) also.” And, “the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness of me, and you will bear witness also.” The nature of a son is the nature of his Father; if one is a true son and the father is a true father. Jesus bears the nature of truth, light, grace, mercy and life. It is exactly this nature that is to be ours.

We are sons because we share God’s Spirit. Jesus participated in John’s water baptism to fully relate to the human condition. It expressed his humanity. But John said, “He Himself will baptize you with (in, or into) the Holy Spirit and fire.” The Holy Spirit has been given to give us the Spirit of the Father. All Holy Spirit gifts that are listed (Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4; 2 Peter 1; Colossians 3) are given so sons can do and be like the Father. None are for personal identity or consumption, but to display as sons what our Father is like. All factors of the Holy Spirit are to make us sons like Jesus so we can know Father as He does. Jesus knew the Father through His own perfect realizing of the sonship in himself that is now possible for all of humanity who will in faith believe in Jesus Christ.

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” Jesus