The Key to Freedom
The benefits of sonship are not limited to our future inheritance. Even now, on this planet, in this lifetime, recognizing and understanding our sonship gives us spiritual freedom – freedom from religious authorities who improperly demand our obedience and servitude. In his letter to the Galatians, the Apostle Paul aptly described how sonship is the key to freedom. He wrote:
“What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world. But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his 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 God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.”
– Galatians 4:1-7
Prior to the coming of Jesus, the Jews were enslaved to their priests – the supervisors and stewards – and burdened by laws and elementary doctrines. But when Jesus arrived, he revealed to them that they were not slaves, but that they were sons, free sons and heirs of the Father.
He explained that there was no longer a need for priests or clergy that would have to intervene on their behalf, nor for the burdensome rituals and high ceremonies associated with them. (Matthew 23:2-7) Instead of there being clergy and laity, all would be brothers and all would answer personally and individually on their own behalf directly to Christ and the Father:
“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
– Matthew 23:8-12
This is the freedom of sons!
The faith sons of God show proper respect for men of all sorts (1 Peter 2:17), but they do not allow men to be the masters over their faith. Neither do the faith sons need to be micro-managed with a multitude of do’s and don’ts. They believe what Jesus said that if they follow the two greatest commandments – to love God with their whole being and their neighbor as themselves – they have fulfilled all religious laws and rules. (Matthew 22:37-40)
Of course, the faith sons understand that there must be some type of administrative order in their religious associations, but they do not allow those ‘human rules’ to become their doctrines. (Matthew 15:9) Our leader is one, the Christ and our only religious Father is the heavenly one.
We believe if more men and women understood and accepted their sonship with God, religious manipulation, oppression and abuse would come to an end, sectarian religious wars would cease and mankind would be on its way to the longed for peace and good will for all men. Sonship with God is the power position and the foundation stone for the next religious frontier.
