Family Ministry: Parenting in the Promises
Introduction – The world is
rudderless and our sociologists have no foundation and so we wander in the
darkness from one ‘new idea’ to another when it comes to raising kids. The ‘new idea’, though, is the power of the
gospel, the promises of God for His people, and His purposes for a godly
marriage “He seeks godly offspring” (Mal 3:15). The ‘new idea’ is the promise of the New
Covenant.
An Odd Place to Start? (Isaiah 65:17-25) – If we have established that marriage is God’s design, and that he desires godly offspring as the fruit of that covenantal union, we begin to understand that God has particular, historical intentions for this world He has created.
New Heavens and
A New Earth (v17) –When is this taking place? People are being born and dying, sinners are
still there, but the righteous are reigning and there is peace and
prosperity. This is not the final
consummation, this is not heaven. This
is the result of the cross where “all things have become new” (2 Cor
5:17).
Descendants of
the Blessed (v23) – One of the results of the work of the
cross will be that His people will bring forth faithful children. This is the promise of God. This is the work of the Redeemer in God’s
covenant (Is 59:20-21).
The Everlasting Covenant (Gen 17:1-8) –
The terms of this everlasting covenant with Abraham and his people are
described. We must remember that we are
children of Abraham (Gal 3:7), and that Canaan was only a down payment (Rom
4:13). God always had the world in
view, which is why Jesus tells his disciples to go and disciple the nations.
Promises in the
Commandments (Deut 5:8, 7:9) – The effects of iniquity
certainly have their affects on future generations. But because of the merciful promises of God, the flow of blessing
is to a thousand generations. Notice
carefully that the reason this is so is because of God’s faithfulness to His
covenant.
The Work of God
(John 6:28-29) – But I don’t keep His commandments. No, not in your flesh, not in your works, but by faith. Faith looks at the faithfulness of God and
His promises and says “Amen”, yes, it is so.
The Foundation of Godly Parenting: Covenant Keeping – As in all of the
Christian walk, it is not to be done by works, but by faith. Trusting in works is how you break the
covenant. Trusting in God is how you
keep covenant (Eph 2:8-10, Rom 1:16-17).
The Promises
are Everywhere – throughout the Old and New Testament.
Ezek 37:24-26
– “…they, their children, and their children’s children, forever…an
everlasting covenant…”
Psalm
102:25-28, 103:15-18 – The creation and the works of man are
both contrasted to the everlasting mercy of God and His covenant to
generations.
Mary quotes
this as the work of God in Christ (Luke 1:48-50).
Peter applies
these covenant promises at Pentecost (Acts 2:37-39).
Paul applies
these covenant promises to Gentile believers and their children
(Eph 2:11-13, 6:1-3).
Automatic? – Of course not. That is the warning all along. Presumption is not faith and is
condemned. “God is able to raise up
children to Abraham from these stones” (Matt 3:9). But it is important to notice, that while
that is true, God intends to make sons of Abraham from sons of Abraham. “I will be your God and you will be my
people”. He speaks to families, to
nations, and not simply to individuals.
And He requires you to believe Him.
Too Late?
– There is a time when it is too late to believe the promises of God. He has warned us that ‘a man reaps what
he sows’. If your child has grown
up in rebellion and is now in rebellion himself, God may still show grace and
mercy (many of us are here today simply because of that truth). Praying for His mercy is a good thing for He
delights in mercy. But this is not the
same as pleading the covenant promises as you train up your children. God loves to receive the prodigal – the
prodigal son and the prodigal parent.
“Why Is This So
Important?” – Covenant-keeping, that is, believing the
promises of God for your children is the foundation for true godly
parenting. All other foundations, even
if they imitate methods well, are fundamentally idolatrous.
Goal is not
well-behaved pagans – We will be discussing training and
discipline, encouragement and rebuke, but not with the goal of behavior
modification. We are not social
engineers. We are Christians.
But the
salvation of our children cannot be based on our works
–When thinking about parenting, we must not rush to a works-orientation. We must learn to rest in faith. Only then can we rightly apply the
principles and ‘works’ of child-rearing.
Sovereignty and
Election – This doctrine of the covenant does not
contradict God’s teaching on election.
He has ordained the ends and the means.
And one primary means is the faith of covenant-keeping parents.
“I Need Faith”
– “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom
10:17). Hear the word of God. And do not trust in your faith, but in the
faithfulness of God. In the name of
Jesus Christ, in Him, you keep the covenant.