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God...hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds;

Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the Word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Being made so much better than the angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent Name than they.

- Hebrews 1:2-4

Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

- Proverbs 20:9

For in many things we offend all.

- James 3:2a

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

- I John 1:8

For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

- I John 1:8

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

- Philippians 3:12-14

  • Contend - To struggle; fight

    • The following chart reveals seven differences between the sonship of God's people and that of Christ, His only begotten Son.


    JESUS' SONSHIP CONTRASTED WITH
    GOD'S PEOPLE'S SONSHIP
    The Sonship of
    Christ is:
    The Sonship of
    God's children is:

    1. From eternity

    1. Born in time

    2. Begotten (from the same divine essence)

    2. Adopted (of human essence only; not divine)

    3. By generation

    3. Be regeneration

    4. Natural

    4. Spiritual

    5. Received by right

    5. Received by grace

    6. The express image of God

    6. A resembling image of God

    7. Unique; revealed in only one Son

    7. Shared; revealed in all saved sons


    While all God's children are spiritually born again and share the same renewed image and sonship in essence, yet they differ widely in degree. All believers receive the same Holy Spirit, spiritual life, and saving faith in regeneration; but they differ considerably in the exercise, strength, growth, and assurance of these gifts in sanctification.

    While sanctification affects every part of man, and in this sense is perfect, it remains imperfect in degree. Believers must contend with sin as long as they live on earth. This is due to their old, sinful nature still remaining alive and active. This results in a continual spiritual warfare taking place in the hearts and lives of God' children until the day of their death.


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