By John Thiel

2 Corinthians 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

This Scripture is perhaps one of the most endearing expressions giving to the human race.  To come out from among people we love, the things of the world we have become accustomed to, is not something so good.  It seems like a hard experience.  God the creator of the universe wants to receive us. It is time for us to appreciate the Fathers love.  When he God, offers to be a Father unto us, the question is asked, do I really want to be his child? Do I really want to be his Son and daughter?  Because the image of the Father is marred in everyone of our experiences it is important to understand from Scripture the true image of the Father in heaven.  By Gods grace we seek to do that this day.  This is a very valuable subject to meditate on.  We are all affected by the Father figure.  We need to know the truth of the Father figure. When the human race was established.  It was categorised together with Adam.

Genesis 5:1 This [is] the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; 2 Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.

What were they called?  Adam.  The human race was called Adam.  Here are the generations in Luke from Jesus back to Adam.

Luke 3:38. Which was the son of Enos, son of Seth, son of Adam, Son of God.

The whole interconnection of the genealogy leaves us with one clear indication we are all originally sons of God.  We know so well after the fall, Adam delivered the human race into the hands of Lucifer.  He came became as Jesus says the prince of this world.  When Jesus was being tempted by Lucifer, remember what Lucifer said to him.  All this and he showed him the panorama of the world, all this is given to me, I can give it to whomever I’ll give it.  I am the lawful Father of this world.  It’s been delivered to me.  Adam delivered it to him.  So this human race fell under the rulership the fatherhood of Lucifer.  Through transgression the sons of man became subjects of Satan.  Through that mans sin we have all been made subject to sin and the Father of sin.

Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

A description of sinners is found here. Whatever background we are from, the language is applicable to both parties;

Romans 3:9 What then? are we better [than they]? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;

Notice the description of being under sin?  The whole human race including those who profess, are all in a state of sin.  To such people Jesus spoke to;

John 8:44 Ye are of [your] Father the devil, and the lusts of your Father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the Father of it.

He was a Father of lies.  Can any of us look back and say I have never lied?  Everything that we do is because we are following in the footsteps of our father Lucifer, to such a people God is speaking;

Isaiah 30:1 Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin: 9 That this [is] a rebellious people, lying children, children [that] will not hear the law of the LORD:

What do people do?  They take counsel but they don’t take counsel of God.  It’s obvious he’s talking to Israel. Of course they heard the Law and its passed onto them through the generations.  The reality is that if you heard Gods law and his ways and don’t submit to it from the heart, you’re not hearing.  It’s like a dog I had in New Zealand, he wouldn’t obey.  The moment you called on him to obey he wouldn’t but would run and put his ears back.  He heard alright, but he didn’t hear.

Although God had been robbed of his children through this terrible infringement of Lucifer we discover that God does not give up so easily.  What does God do with rebellious children, does he stop loving them? We’re looking for a Father image here.  When there is rebellion, does God stop loving?  Rebellious children will develop to destruction to the end.  The end result is abject misery and destruction.  God in his love is not going to let them go in their destructive love and he’s going to try and stop them. Here you see an interesting dialogue between the Israelites and God which is an illustration of every human being towards God.

Ezekiel 18:29 Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal? 30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn [yourselves] from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.

Isn’t this the way of a rebellious child talking to his Father?  I don’t agree with you.  Can you see an argument developing here?  They are defying the leadership, the Fatherhood.  They defy him and say you’re not right God, you’re not dealing with us in a fair way.  He turns to them and says are not your ways unfair?

God Loves a Rebellious Person

God loves a rebellious person. He doesn’t say on your way, go and destroy yourself; he contends with them.  If a Father wouldn’t love his son, he wouldn’t stop there to argue with him.  If the son wants to argue with the father and the father doesn’t love him, the father would say I don’t care anymore.  If the father loves him he will be there again and again and again.  He asks him, Repent, turn!

If you’re going to argue with me, you’re going to die one day whether you like it or not.  Why do you want to die?  I love you.  I have no pleasure in him that dieth.  That’s what God does with rebellious children.  See the father figure?  Love.  We’re here to contemplate the Fathers love.  How does a rebellious child respond to such kindness?  If a rebellious child defies the father and the father appeals with tears and yearning, the rebellious nature does what?  Does it become touched?  Not at all.  Kindness is met with mockery and ridicule. Is this not what the world has done?  They have mocked him, they have ridiculed God in spite of all he has done.

Isaiah 1:2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. 3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: [but] Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. 4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. 5 Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.

I have nourished and brought up children.  My love and care for them have been as such that I have brought them up.  The animals are more responsive than human beings.  I’ll never forget the words of a man, I’d rather have my dog he’s always faithful to me.  Human beings aren’t faithful after a while.

Why should you be stricken anymore?  The whole head is sick, the whole heart faint.  If I was to strike them anymore, they would revolt all the more.  The more I do, the worse it gets.  How many people are saying, don’t punish your children like that, they’ll only respond more and more that way.  My kindness they will turn into ridicule, my correction and punishment, they will act more violently.  What is left for me to do?  The whole head is sick and the whole heart faint.  Does he give up?  Does his stop?

The Love of the Father

The divine Teacher bears with the erring through all their perversity. His love does not grow cold; His efforts to win them do not cease. With outstretched arms He waits to welcome again and again the erring, the rebellious, and even the apostate. His heart is touched with the helplessness of the little child subject to rough usage. The cry of human suffering never reaches His ear in vain. Though all are precious in His sight, the rough, sullen, stubborn dispositions draw most heavily upon His sympathy and love; for He traces from cause to effect. The one who is most easily tempted, and is most inclined to err, is the special object of His solicitude.  {Ed 294.2}

Do people who are rebellious feel that?  The love of the Father, how does he feel?  The stubborn dispositions draw more heavily upon his sympathy.  God wanted to be a Father to them.  Can you see a Father in trouble here?  What is left for God to do?  He can’t correct, appeal or do anything and he loves them still.

2 Peter 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day [is] with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

What is the Father saying?  Alright, I’ve got time, I live forever. These rebellious children only live seventy years.  I’m patient, more patient than the rebellious children.  The Father who in his wisdom and knowledge reasons from cause to effect. One day I will be able to help them.  He leaves them to their own devices and yearns for them.  He is not slack.  Just because he leaves the children of men to do what they want to do, he’s not slack, he’s waiting for the right moment.  He doesn’t want any to perish, this is the love of the Father.  What can he do?

Psalms 103:1 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. ²Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: ³Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; ⁴Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; ⁵Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s. ⁶The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed. ⁷He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel. ⁸The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. ⁹He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. ¹⁰He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. ¹³Like as a Father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. ¹⁴For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

Chide means correction.  He knows the reaction of dust.  In pity and patience he continues.  After all has been attempted, he does one more thing.  He loves so much but he can’t get it across to the rebellious that his correction and chiding is to help them.  How does he do it?

There is but one power that can break the hold of evil from the hearts of men, and that is the power of God in Jesus Christ.  {CCh 322.8}

Jesus

Our fallen nature will always argue with the Father but there is something that the Father decided to do for these people who are so prone to go against him.  He presents Jesus before them. Only Jesus can help them to subdue themselves.  Satan is so determined that men will not see the love of God. How shall we set before the world, how can we get across the love of God when Satan is trying to obliterate?

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

There is something in Jesus that will have an effect on rebellious humanity because the rebellion is inside of us, the natural tendencies in us that cannot be subdued.  Discover the love of God in Jesus Christ.  The display of his action upon his son.  In heaven there is the Godhead – the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit.  God is trying to help these rebellious people;

Psalms 2:7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou [art] my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

They won’t listen to him seeing they are not his children by choice, therefore he is going to do something.  He is going to bring down another Son.  You are going to become my Son. I am going to treat you like my son.  These other sons of mine can’t understand my love so I’m going to put you down there if you will agree.  Of course he agreed.  He came down and became a begotten, a Son.  Now God can do something with Jesus that hopefully they will receive him.  Hopefully they will see my love upon rebellious children.  Maybe, this is the one chance.  He comes up before God as every human being does.

Isaiah 53:2 For he shall grow up before as a tender plant and as a root out of a dry ground.  He has no form or comeliness, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

In other words he is going to be a son like every other son on earth.  Every human being will look at him and see an ordinary human being.  What’s so special about this one?  The Pharisees didn’t recognise him when he was born.  As he grew up there was something different about him but he was still just a human being.  He would grow up as every human being after the fall and receive the correction and education of a loving Father over his tempted children.  When Jesus was born and in the days of his flesh he grew up, how did he grow up?  What did the Father do with him as his son?  The very thing he wants to do with every son but the rebellious sons don’t want to submit to that.

Hebrews 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; 8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

Did you catch that?  He the word of God became a son of God, so that he would demonstrate in which a child can be saved.  He cried unto him that was Father.  He said Father help me.  He learnt obedience.  How?  By the Father giving him a nice time?  By the Father making it easy for him?  By the Father making it pleasant for his senses?  No.  He learnt by the things that he suffered, he learnt obedience.

Obedience

What is Gods method to train a son in a world of sin?  None of this cushy indulgent thing at all.  The world wants to be treated softly, gently, don’t ruffle feathers and don’t upset feelings, that is the worldly way.  Jesus came to demonstrate the Fathers love.  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.  What did he do for his son?  What did he do to his own prodigy?  His own person?  He brought him down to earth and he taught him by the things which he suffered.

Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

When Jesus came down to this earth, he was born with the flesh of a human being which is capable of experiencing the very negatives of the human race.  There he laid upon him the iniquity of us all and dealt with him as a Father deals with a Father deals with a son needing correction.

What do we think about Jesus when we see him in our natural human mind?  We do not esteem him.  Look at him, he’s going through a hard time, he’s going through misery.  What did God do to him?  God smote him.  We thought, he deserved that, that’s what the Jews thought.  When you see that the stripes you are meant to receive for the sins that you have done in disobedience to God the Father, when you see those stripes whipped upon Jesus, you will say yes Lord, give me the punishment due to me. Thankyou that Jesus taught me that I must submit myself to the scourgings of my Father.  By his stripes, you are healed.  The sin sick mind will no longer regard God like that because it has seen God like that upon his son.

In that thick darkness God’s presence was hidden. He makes darkness His pavilion, and conceals His glory from human eyes. God and His holy angels were beside the cross. The Father was with His Son. Yet His presence was not revealed. Had His glory flashed forth from the cloud, every human beholder would have been destroyed. And in that dreadful hour Christ was not to be comforted with the Father’s presence. He trod the wine press alone, and of the people there was none with Him.  {DA 753.4}

The wrath of the Father was what Jesus felt just like the wrath of the Father would come upon a rebellious child.  Does anyone like the wrath Father?  We say you shouldn’t punish me in wrath.  When a Father loves he is so cut up, he needs to correct that child.  As the heart beats with anguish for that soul, the sinfulness of that soul causes his wrath to happen whether you like it or not.  The Father had poured his wrath on his son.  The Father smote his son.

The blood of Christ is the eternal antidote for sin.  {FLB 97.2}

Is a rebellious child willing to bear the penalty?  No way.  Here was one who was willing to bear who’s penalty?  The one due to me.  As I look at the Father punishing Jesus in the place of me, what happens to me?  Is there anything better that could happen as I look at that detail?  God can’t stop punishing the wicked, he has to do it.  Because it’s the only way the wickedness will stop.  Because he loves the rebellious child, he does not do it to the rebellious child when the child doesn’t want him to.  He does it to one who is submissive which was Jesus who was willing to submit to the punishment of God.  We will look at that and say, okay God I give in, punish me as much as you can to correct me.  If Jesus had to do that, what about me?  The only way I’m going to learn is to suffer.

Romans 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

Will he not help us?  He didn’t spare him the punishment.  He gave it to him and severely.  Jesus was our elder brother, the first begotten.  Below we see that the same action that he did to Jesus he will do to every human being who learns to submit to the love of the Father.

Hebrews 2:10 For it became him, for whom [are] all things, and by whom [are] all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

2:11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified [are] all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

2:12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

2:13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.

He is the captain of our salvation.

Amen.