THE CHRISTIAN BIRTHRIGHT

2 PETER 1:4

A. THERE ARE TWO CLASSES OF PEOPLE IN THE WORLD
  1. Those who place all value upon the spiritual:
    1. The merchantman of our Lord's parable - Matt. 13:45, 46
    2. The apostle Paul - Phil. 3:7, 8
  2. And there are those who live for the material things in this world:
    1. Esau is a typical example - Gen. 25:30-34
    2. The rich farmer in another parable of Christ - Luke 12:16-20
  3. We can think of two groups of people whose life's interest is opposite to each other:
    1. One of these groups, well dressed, sits around magnificent tables in a modern office, working over plans to produce more, increase their income; aim: more wealth in gold or other material values - Jas. 4:13, 14
    2. We can think of the other group, much smaller, sitting around tables, working feverishly to find ways and means to carry the gospel to all men - Matt. 28:18-20. We cannot belong to this latter group and be Esau! Heb. 12:16, 17
B. THE CHRISTIAN BIRTHRIGHT
  1. Our birthright brings to us special honors and blessings:
    1. We have been made kings and priests in the household of faith - 1 Pet. 2:9-11; Rev. 5:10
    2. We are, in Christ, fellow heirs to the exceeding great promises of God, all inclusive - 2 Pet. 1:4; Eph. 3:6
  2. This birthright brings, however, special obligations to the heirs:
    1. Ministry through the royal priesthood - 1 Pet. 2:9- 11
    2. The first-born in Israel became the priest of the family in case the head of the house passed away.
  3. Esau despised his birthright and its obligations:
    1. He cared nothing for altars, sacrifices, faith or prayer.
    2. We have no record of him believing in God or even mentioning God in a reverent manner -- "he was a profane person."
    3. He was too busy with hunting to think about spiritual values.
C. THE BIRTHRIGHT OF SEVENTH DAY ADVENTISTS
  1. It is no exaggeration on my part, when I state in humility, that God bestowed a double portion of the Christian birthright upon his remnant people:
    1. We have been honored to live in the closing days of earth's history.
    2. We have been blessed with prophetic light as no other people experienced.
    3. Think of the prophetic chain of fulfilled Bible prophecy - Dan. 2; 7; 8; 10; Rev. 12:1-17; 14:6-12; 18:1-4; 20:1-11
  2. But this heirship of the Christian birthright brings with it solemn obligations:
    1. Christian dignity - 2 Pet. 3:11-14
    2. Upholding the high standard of Present Truth - 1 Pet. 2:9-11
    3. These obligations are increased or heightened by the fact that the coming of the Lord is nigh at hand - 2 Pet. 3:11-14
    4. Many among the remnant people will live to be translated without seeing death; that being true, they must be free from sin and its stain - 1 John 3:1-3
  3. How shall we relate ourselves to the Christian birthright, its blessings and its solemn obligations?
    1. "Walk worthy, honestly, in the light of Present Truth" - Eph. 4:1; Col. 1:10; 1 Thess. 4:12; 1 John 1:7
    2. Cast off all works of darkness and put on all the armor of light, making no provision for the flesh - Rom. 13:11-14


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