Title: Two Fathers and Two Sons
Contents
“And our physical fathers disciplined us, but we honored them; how much more should we not submit to the Father of all spirits and live?” (Hebrews 12:9)
What are two fathers? He is the Father of the flesh and the Father of the Spirit, and what are the two sons? Those who are born after the flesh and those who are born after the Spirit. Abram begat Ishmael according to the flesh, and Abraham begot Isaac according to the promise (the Holy Spirit).
The Bible says, “It is written, ‘Abraham had two sons, one by the slave girl and the other by the free woman. He also testified, “But just as at that time he who was born after the flesh persecuted him who was born after the Spirit, so it is now” (Galatians 4:29).
Abram and Abraham look like one person on the outside, but on the other hand they are two people. This is because Abram's hometown and Abraham's hometown are different. This is because the hometown of Abram, who was born of a physical father, was the earth, and the hometown of Abraham, who was born of the father of spirit, God was heaven. For this reason, the Bible says, “If we had thought about the country we came from, we would have had a chance to return. But now they long for a better homeland, which is in heaven. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God; has been prepared” (Hebrews 11:15-16).
Therefore, Abram is the father of the flesh, and Abraham is the father of faith. It is written, "Therefore, heirs are by faith in order to be of grace, so that the promise may be made to all their posterity, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. It is the father of man” (Romans 4:16).
Abraham had two sons, the first, Abram, by the handmaiden, Ishmael, and the other by Abraham, by the woman who was free according to the promise. These two sons are together and are fighting each other in this body, in this house of tabernacles.
Therefore, the Bible says, “Therefore, I understand a law, that as I desire to do good, evil is with me. In my inner man I delight in the law of God, but in my members another law is fighting against the law of my heart. I see myself being brought captive under the law of sin that is in my members! O wretched man I am, who will deliver me from this body of death” (Romans 7:21-24).
The law of the flesh and the law of the spirit become enemies and continue to fight until one of them is expelled. It is the same as the words of the testimony, as it is written, “The lust of the flesh is against the Spirit, and the lust of the Spirit is against the flesh, because these two oppose each other, so that you cannot do what you want” (Galatians 5:17).
But in the end, the desires of the flesh cannot overcome the desires of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit Himself helps those who are born after the Spirit. This is because Hagar is the maid, and Sarah is the free master. It is the same as it is written, “But what does the scriptures say? Cast out the slave girl and her son, for it is said that the son of the slave girl shall not inherit with the son of a free woman” (Galatians 4:30).
Because the heir son is the master of all things. It is written, “I say again that heirs are the masters of all things, but while young they are no different than slaves, and are under guardians and stewards until the appointed time of their fathers. When he was fulfilled, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law and to receive the sonship for us. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of the Son into our hearts. Therefore, you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if you are a son, then you are an heir through God” (Galatians 4:1-7).
For this reason, those who have two fathers and two sons, not after a physical father, but after a spiritual father, must inherit with Christ the kingdom of our Father in heaven in the only true God and in Christ Jesus whom he has sent.
The father of the body is the father of the dead, and the father of the spirit is the father of the living. For this reason, "Jesus said, "Why did you seek me? Did you not know that I had to be in my Father's house?..." (Luke 2:49) And also, "Another of his disciples said, "Lord, go to me first, and bury the dead, Jesus said, "Let the dead bury their dead, and follow me..." (Matthew 8:21-22) testified.
Therefore, He testified, “Do not call anyone on earth your father, for there is one Father, who is in heaven” (Matthew 23:9). Thank you Lord.
Last but not least, Kim Yoon-goo