SUBJ: The identification of Christ with His children and their redemption unto the desired relationship with each other and with Him and the Father.

AIM: That we might rise to the level of the divine design in seeing ourselves as the children of God in Christ our Lord.

INTR: There exists much confusion and error as to what constitutes salvation and even more as to how it is obtained.
1. The passage before us provides a concise but complete statement as to the aim of the Lord in salvation and how He has brought it be realized.
2. When all is considered the words of Jonah still say it all: “Salvation is of the Lord.”
3. We will note here that His children are identified with Him apart from any and all the human suppositions as to how they are brought or how they come – it must be received by faith!

THESIS: Salvation does not come about as a matter of doing or not doing; it is a work of grace wrought in the heart by the Holy Spirit bringing us into a living and vital relationship with Christ our Lord who first identified with us in the death of the cross and the resurrection unto life.

I. The aim of God declared (vv. 10-11a)
1. First identified as the God unto whom is all things: For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. Romans 11:36.
2. That many sons are to be brought to glory.
3. That their salvation would have to be accomplished by another – The Captain of their salvation who would take them with Him through all the sufferings required – It became Him to do so.
4. It required full identity with the objects of redemption:
1) He that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified must be of the same nature and
2) So, it was that He took their nature for the work and gave them His nature as the result.
3) It required adoption and regeneration: 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13.

II. To an endearing relationship (vv. 11-13)
(We note three scripture quotes)
1. I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. Psalms 22:22
1) Christ knew He would have a congregation (church) and does
2) That they would be brethren to each other and to Him.
3) That He would declare the Father unto them and
4) That He would sing praise unto the Father with them: And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. Matthew 26:30. And we see further: The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. Zephaniah 3:17.
2. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. Psalms 18:2.
1) The psalm addressed a time of trouble for David but is seen as a type of Christ in that it is claimed of Him through the Spirit here.
2) It no doubt looked to the suffering of Christ and the ordeal of the cross and the fact that Jesus voluntarily submitted to infinite punishment and death knowing that He would take His life again.
3. Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion. Isaiah 8:18.
1) What an endearing term is here used in declaring His identity with those whom the Father has given Him.
2) We are reminded of Jacob introducing his family to Esau as “The children which God hath graciously given thy servant.” Or, Joseph to Jacob, “These are my sons whom God hath given me in this place.”
3) This is not merely seeing the children – rather “Behold I and the children” Christ their redeemer, the Captain of their salvation appearing with them as one with them!

III. Through the Incarnation and beyond (vv. 14-18)
(And we note what happened and continues)
1. The devil destroyed by partaking of flesh and blood with them and then for them meeting the devil and stripping him of his power over them.
2. The extraction has been accomplished they are delivered from cruel bondage; He took on Him their seed and went to where they were and brought them out.
3. Mercy is administered through one with full knowledge of all that is required so that He might be merciful to His subjects and faithful to His Father and reconciliation might be made and
4. Has experienced it all that He might be fully qualified to aid them that are tempted.