Son-ship

A person can enjoy many wonderful privileges as a born again believer but too many Christians do not understand their birthright and therefore never experience the freedom of their true heritage. Like Esau, they show contempt for their birthright and end up exchanging their due inheritance for sod pottage (see Genesis 25:29). In earnestly seeking to satisfy their fleshly appetites they ruin every spiritual privilege that has already been provided for them through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. 

One such privilege is son-ship. Son-ship includes the right to be called a son of God, not by our own admission but by God, the Father. He conveys this title, with its undeniably great rewards, upon every believer who chooses to “cast out the bondwoman and her son” (see Galatians 4:30) in order that the son of the promised inheritance may be established. Please understand that, in this regard, “son” has no bearing on gender. As Apostle Paul explains in Galatians 3:28 (MSG), “In Christ’s family there can be no division into…male and female…”

True authentic sons are born not by flesh but are born again from above by the powerful work within of the Holy Spirit of God. It is a spiritual rebirth which occurs when first, you believe that Jesus Christ is who He claimed to be and would do what He said He would (John 1:12; Galatians 3:26), then you allow the Holy Spirit to lead you out of a life of bondage and into the joyous liberty of son-ship. 

“All who follow the leading of God’s Spirit are God’s own sons.” (Romans 8:14 Phillips)

Scripture makes it clear that apart from the Holy Spirit, there’s no son-ship. He alone empowers every believer to become a son of God by adoption, and so a fellow heir with Christ Jesus. He alone bears witness with your own spirit to your son-ship and makes known to you who you really are – heir to an unbelievable inheritance as a child of the Living God (Romans 8:15-17).

“…God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, Abba, Father.” (Galatians 4:6 NLT)

Outward forms of expression can neither produce sons of God nor secure the blessings that son-ship affords, it’s entirely an internal process where you must die to self and sin, arise into a new life, and become a member of God’s family. 

“For you have become a part of Him, and so you died with Him, so to speak, when He died; and now you share His new life and shall rise as He did.” (Romans 6:5 TLB)

Through this process of divine renewal your spirit grows full with that sense of son-ship, where you recognize Christ as your older brother, God your Abba, Father and Spirit your teacher, guide and counsellor. You are a son, well provided for, with complete access to an incomparable inheritance – the very best of everything that God your Father has for you in this life and the life hereafter. 

Son-ship is your journey into freedom – free to be your authentic self, unbound by the burden of sin and shame, free to experience your rightful heritage and to confidently claim your birthright. 

Amen†

Son-ship    Shelley Johnson 06-Sep-16