NOT MANY FATHERS


 


NOT MANY FATHERS

 

 

Like so many things in the Bible, we have taken something simple and made it complex. In the quest for our place in the of the Kingdom of God, we take a scripture describing function and purpose, filter it through what we have known, and then build according to that familiar pattern.

It bears a presence… but not the Spirit of Liberty

It brings a form of godliness… but denies the power. (2Tim3:5)

 

We take a scripture like 1Cor4:15-16, “For though you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you have not many fathers”…

…and build a doctrine… calling guys our “spiritual sons” or “spiritual fathers.”

 

But consider this:

If I introduce you as “my spiritual son” …what does that do to you in their eyes?

How do they perceive you… your spiritual maturity… your ability to bear the presence of God?

Conversely… how do they perceive me?

 

Yes… Paul calls Timothy and Titus his beloved sons (1Cor4:17;1Tim1:2,18;Titus1:4)

                  “sons” is the word “teknon”, meaning: “one as produced by a seed”

 

In Mtt13 Jesus tells a parable about a sower sowing seed.

That word “seed” is from the Greek word “sperma” …

…and Mk4:14 blatantly states what that “seed” is: THE WORD OF GOD

 

Paul goes on to say in 1Cor4:14-15: “…my beloved sons …in Christ I have begotten you through the Gospel…”

                  “IN CHRIST” being the mode of production

                  “THE GOSPEL” being the operative seed

 

So… What “seed” produces that “son”?

                                    …NOT YOURS!

 

Have the heart of the Father without being their Father. 

 

 

Paul pointedly introduced and affirmed Timothy as:

"fellow worker" (Rom16:21);

"our brother" (2Cor1:1,Col1:1);

"bond-servant of Christ" (Phil1:1);

"brother, minister of God, and fellow-laborer" (1Thess3:2);

"likeminded" (Phil2:20);

AS WELL AS... Phil2:22 "…as a son with the father, he has served with me in the gospel."

 

He clearly states in 1Cor3:1,4-9: “BRETHREN,

I could not speak to you as to spiritual people… but carnal… babes in Christ.

For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?

Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed…

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.

So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters,

but God who gives the increase...

…For we are God’s fellow workers;

you are God’s field; you are God’s building”

 

Paul understood Christ was the “FIRSTBORN AMONG MANY BRETHREN” (Rom8:29)

 

 

JESUS CHRIST IS OUR EXAMPLE.

 

In Matt23:1-25 He rebukes religious leaders calling them blind and hypocrites, telling the people not to call anyone “father” or “teacher”, saying, 

“ALL OF YOU ARE BROTHERS!”

 

Not to one of His disciples did Christ ever say, “LUKE, I AM YOUR FATHER!”

 

Instead, He said, “I SHOW YOU THE FATHER” (Jn14:8,9; 16:15,25)




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