The Fight of the Faith by T. Austin-Sparks - Chapter 3 - The Liberty of Sons
by John Mark on 02/17/24
The Fight of the Faith
by T. Austin-Sparks
Chapter 3 - The Liberty of Sons
Dear Saints,
This message originally posted in December 7, 2014.
My notes:
Sonship has everything to do with the coming of the Lord for His bride. She must be ready ("having made herself ready" Revelation 19:7) without spot (sin) or wrinkle (that 'old man') (Ephesians 5:27). Sonship is going to corporately be expressed in the manifestation of the sons of God (not the 'children' of God) of which the creation awaits eagerly (Romans 8:19). Sonship is us individually and corporately where Christ is fully formed in us (Galatians 4:19) and we are conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29), as we, the church, the body of Christ, "attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13). Sonship is when "the morning star arises in your hearts" (2 Peter 1:19).
But what is required for children of God to attain this sonship? A circumcised heart - coming into the reality of our death 2,000 years ago when we died in Christ as our representative. Jesus not only took the sin-filled humanity of Adam's race into death, He also took the very best Adam has to offer. It's only that which comes to life in resurrection that qualifies for sonship, the out-resurrection from among those who are dead (Philippians 3:11). Doug explains this in his introduction to Chapter 3, and later in the reading mentions that which will finally bring the church, actually only a remnant, to ultimate and final sonship, the day of visitation (1 Peter 2:12).
"Sonship, with all that God means by sonship, is what is in view, and over against it there is this breaking in continually of things religious, subtle, beautiful, with all the argument that God is in them; but, nevertheless, breaking in with one object, all hidden from sight, namely, to cut right across the path of the believer in his going right on to God's fullest thought in sonship; and it sets up a warfare."
Pertaining to what Brother Sparks addresses as the greatest enemy of sonship, Doug shares what his former pastor taught, "Religion is God's greatest enemy; religion is Satan's ace trump against the purpose and plan of God." Doug continues to expound on this: religion - not Satanism - is this greatest enemy. "Where do you find Satanism? In a church that's religious. Where does the Illuminati meet? It meets in the body of Christ. It doesn't have to meet in hidden placed, although it does. But when it does, who's there? Members of the body of Christ. Do you want to find where Satan is hidden? You'll find him hidden in the church."
You'll recall I recently re-published Doug's series on the Weaponization of the Body of Christ. That goes well with this chapter.
In the Discussion, Doug brings up Hebrews 13:13, "let us go out to Him outside the camp". "What is 'the camp' in Hebrews 13? It's the camp of established religion. In that day it was Judaism; today it's Christianity."
Doug takes on the false teaching of 'Calvinists' that don't understand the entire Book of Hebrews was written to Christians (i.e.: “brethren”). "And if you don't get that, it's because you don't understand the difference between salvation and the inheritance." After challenging the Calvinists, Doug takes on the Arminian false doctrine that teaches that those who are saved, those who have eternal life, can at some point lose their salvation. Doug was never shy about confronting false teaching (and false teachers).
"Where are we today? God's going to shake that which can be shaken. What is that? Christianity as it's known today... What do you think He's going to consume when He shakes the church? That which is of created things - created by man; that which is still anchored in the soul; that which hasn't transitioned experientially from Adam to Christ. It's coming. It's coming globally to the entire body of Christ."
In addition to Brother Sparks repeating the warning in Hebrews to Christians wanting to go back to the Torah and Jewish rituals and practice, Doug presses the point during the reading portion of the message and even more assertively in the Discussion. "People today saying we need to go back to the Torah; you're going to die if you believe that! You're going to fall into the hands of the living God and you're going to find out that the Torah was given for one purpose, Galatians Chapter 4, as a school-master to bring you to Christ."
There is so much in both the reading & commentary on Brother Sparks' message and the Discussion. It's one of many of the audio recordings we need to go back to from time to time to be able to digest what's there. I feel like apologizing for not being able to even closely provide adequate notes - but as you listen, I believe you'll know why.
Audio: https://dougriggs.s3.
Discussion: https://dougriggs.s3.
Recommended Resources:
Eric Ludy: The Koine Jesus
T. Austin-Sparks: The Gold of the Sanctuary
That Which Cannot be Shaken (Doug probably is referring to