The covenant of sonship.

 

Again we reiterate the fact that Adam never fell from Grace but from sonship realm into a carnal man, and so the word says “…Adam, which WAS the son of God” (Luke 3:38) But Christ IS the son of God (Math.16:16) .

 

To the Galatians Church Paul said “1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?..This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? .Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” (Gal.3:1-3).

 

This is falling from Grace, when you move from faith of the simplicity that is in Christ into legalism in your worship, you have falling from Grace.

When God gave Abraham the law to circumcised every male child “that is eight days old” (Gen17:12, Luke 2:21), that was the covenant of sonship. And it was ever understood as a consecration of the person to God.

 

Now the Jews have what is called an adoption ceremony, this is not picking someone who is not part of your family to join you. That is the western sense of adoption but for the Jews, adoption is the placement of a mature son into position of authority before the elders in a city that henceforth, the young man can as from this hour be able to stand to transact business on my behalf. He can sign my signature, he is matured enough to manage my estate so you people should honour him if he does so when am not around.

 

So when we read of “And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” .( Math 3:17) at the time of Jesus Baptism in River Jordan by John the Baptist, that was an adoption ceremony. And in scripture, this adoption of Jesus took place three times, you began to wonder why?

 

Firstly, in Math. 3, account, he was adopted as a Prophet, everybody saw and believed John to be a prophet, and now the father was turning their attention from John to Jesus as the ordained prophet that has just risen for the people of Israel by God Himself.

In Math . 17:5. We have his adoption as a priest, and in Heb.1:5-8.we have his adoption as a king. Therefore we have Jesus functioned as a Prophet, Priest and king.

Now we are going to be more concerned with his priestly adoption as it relates to our walk in and with God as the father intends to bring many sons to glory in Christ. “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”. . Heb 2:10 (KJV)

 

Jesus transfiguration.

We read in Math. 17: 1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

In other words, he was transfigured before them on the eight day. In fact Luke’s account says. “..eight days”. “And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.

And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.”( Luke 9:28-29)

 

So why the difference?. The answer is found in the Book of Leviticus, in relation to the consecration into priesthood of the sons of Aaron.

Lev.8: 33 And ye shall not go out of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation in seven days, until the days of your consecration be at an end: for seven days shall he consecrate you.

34 As he hath done this day, so the LORD hath commanded to do, to make atonement for you.

35 Therefore shall ye abide at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation day and night seven days, and keep the charge of the LORD, that ye die not: for so I am commanded.

36 So Aaron and his sons did all things which the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.

 

So we can see that, the sons to be consecrated were not to leave the tabernacle until seven days, which is their consecration period and then on the eight day the glory will appear. (Lev.9:1-23)..So the eight day is the glorification period.

Therefore, Luke’s account gives us the glorification period while Mathew’s account speaks of the consecration period, it’s just one and the same ceremony taking place.

So could it be we are in the consecration period in God’s agenda to be gloried in the revealing of our true sonship as priest to rule and reign on the Earth (Rev.5:10)?

 

Now why do you think Moses and Elijah have to appear to him at this moment ..

Luke 9: 30 “And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:31 Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem”.

They appeared to strengthen him to be able to go to the cross for if Jesus should fail to go to the cross, then that makes the testimonies of the law and the prophet to fail, they will be made liars.

Here then is the trial of our sonship, the ability to endure, remain focused and to finish up with that which the father has given to us as true sons in the making.

To be continued…

(c) 2016 – Dr. David O. Ogaga