Our Walk Of Faith I

"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord." James 1:2-7 (KJV)

There are three steps to Adoption in Christ: Stewardship, Discipleship and Sonship. This article is not about giving an exhaustive look at these steps, but rather an overview to use in the following articles that will do just that, explain each step completely. First we must grasp that are time here on this planet is about just that, developing and then living in a dynamic relationship with God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

Stewardship

The first step is not about Adoption at all, though it is a required step in this progression back to God and the relationship man was intended to have with Him since the Garden of Eden. Stewardship speaks to the living the truths of God, the rightful use of the things of God and the benefits of our Stewardship over the property of God. I must make an interjection here, most people think of 'property' as a physical thing; homes, cars, money, etc. But property here means 'anything' that belongs to God, inclusive of ALL physical, mental, emotional and spiritual things.

As we can see, we have a big list to work with.

As followers of Christ Jesus, we have an obligation to be good stewards of all that is of God. We see this in the following scripture: "Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful." 1 Corinthians 4:1&2 (KJV). This has no preamble of Sonship, Discipleship or Adoption. This is simply being a good steward of the things of God, and being faithful in their care.

Again we see: 

"As each of you has received a gift (a particular spiritual talent, a gracious divine endowment), employ it for one another as [befits] good trustees of God's many-sided grace [faithful stewards of the ^[a]extremely diverse powers and gifts granted to Christians by unmerited favor]." 1 Peter 4:10 (Amplified). 

Now we see a deeper meaning of Stewardship and why we are required to perform such when we walk in faith. So now let's go back to the previous verse in the Amplified.

"SO THEN, let us [apostles] be looked upon as ministering servants of Christ and stewards (trustees) of the mysteries (the secret purposes) of God. Moreover, it is [essentially] required of stewards that a man should be found faithful [proving himself worthy of trust]." 1 Corinthians 4:1&2 (Amplified). 

Here we see that it is required of Apostles of God (Definition: an important early Christian teacher or pioneering missionary. OR a vigorous and pioneering advocate or supporter of a particular policy, idea, or cause). It also tells us that we are required to be "ministering servants" and be faithful or "worthy of trust".

So we find that Stewardship has many definitions all linked and tied to faithfulness. So our first step to establishing a relationship to God through Christ is to be faithful. The previous verses tell us how.

Discipleship

Here we find a deeper relationship with God through a deliberate Discipleship in Christ. And it is Jesus Christ Himself who tells us how to walk with Him. 

"And He said to all, If any person wills to come after Me, let him deny himself [disown himself, forget, lose sight of himself and his own interests, refuse and give up himself] and take up his cross daily and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also]." Luke 9:3 (Amplified)

There is an interesting point here, about following even unto death. How many of us really take in to consdieration what is being said here? Many would like to consider this passage, uttered by Christ Jesus, as a metaphorical definition. It is not. We are to be consdered "sheep for the slaughter" as Paul reminds us in Romans 8 and elsewhere. It is not only a death of self, the mortal entity, but a real sacrifice of the physical as well. This includes a real, physical death, if called upon to sacrifice in this way.

Western Christianity is all about allegories, examples and weak concepts, that do not require the actual physical meaning of the thing discussed. We are rich (spiritually, but be poor and enrich your church/clergy), or faithful (in theological things of import, but live as the world does, with carnal interests) and servile/subservient (and of no account except to God marginally, but eschew the laws of life and never be beholden to man). How weak a discipleship, and definitely not a Walk Of Faith!

We are to be rich (in any district GOD chooses, i.e., physically, mentally, emotionally, and/or spiritually), we are to be faithful (even unto the aforementioned sacrifice of tangible and a very real death) and servile/subservient (unto God, each other of faith, and the common man). These are things that those in third world countries know well and of which we can learn so much. Our western faith is truly "no faith at all". Millions die across the globe because of their unwavering faith in God. They serve with their very lives each and every day. 

We should do no less IF we claim a heavenly reward, a living relationship with our maker.

Sonship (also Daughtership) 

Here we come to our final goal. The previous steps were put in place that we may achieve an eternal relationship with God and lay our claim to His riches and treasures He has awaiting those that love Him enough to follow His commandments. And what are those commandments?

"And He replied to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (intellect). This is the great (most important, principal) and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself. These two commandments sum up and upon them depend all the Law and the Prophets." Matthew 22:37-40 (Amplified) So then in Romans 8:17 it is rightfully said, "And if we are [His] children, then we are [His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His inheritance with Him]; only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory." (Amplified)

It is that love for God that makes us follow Christ in Discipleship, hold the things of God in faithful Stewardship and the suffering for this (real suffering, and the suffering that comes in denying the mortal self sway in our lives) that finally assures us the relationship we have been seeking. We are looking for Adoption to our Father, because we had lost that inheritance and sonship in the fall with Adam. We must again acquire it through the steps described above. The world has fallen from Grace and the Edenic Estate and so have we. Perdition tries to rule the world, with deception and wanton enticements, but Christ Jesus rules all.

John 16:33 states, "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]"  (Amplified). And note this is the full measure of our Sonship in Christ "that we overcome the world!"

In the coming weeks I will be looking at more closely this area of relationship that we are admonished to acquire through Christ with God. It is the expected conclusion of our Walk Of Faith and has many components to it. But here today we see the general frame upon which Eternity is hung and the final reward of overcoming the world (our Prodigal Son journey).