Sonship: Higher than Lordship
Puritan: Ralph Venning
Source: Learning in Christ’s School
Originally Delivered: 1674, England
The Lord’s Day: August 16, 2026
“And I, brothers, was not able to speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to fleshly men, as to babes in Christ.” – 1 Cor. 3:1
“I will not try to tell how many of these babes there are in our days, but I am afraid there are too many.
These poor babes are only a degree above carnal men; though they are not carnal, they are as carnal. They are far too often more taken with man than God, with man’s word than God’s. In 1 Cor. 1:12-13, these babes were so carnal that some would refuse to believe the truth unless it came from the mouth of Paul; others unless it came from Apollos. They embraced the truth for the man’s sake more than the man for the truth’s sake. The feet were more beautiful than the tidings. This or that man is their oracle; if he says it, it must be true. If he does not say it, especially if he denies it, it cannot be true.
But still remember that the power is of God and not of the earthen vessel. Hear your Apollos yet receive the word not as his but as God’s, or else it will not work effectually (1 Thess. 2:13). Believe the truth, whoever preaches it, Paul or Apollos, and do not pin your faith on any man’s sleeve, be it white or black.
The babes’ defectiveness is also seen in that they serve God more as slaves than as children. And while they are babes, they are in bondage under the elements, or rudiments of the world, which Paul calls beggarly (Gal. 3:9) and tells them that this is, though they desire it, to be in bondage, opposed to being a son (3:6).
There are irreligious and wicked people who do not know the Lord, as it is said of Eli’s sons (1 Sam. 2:12), nor do they know that Jesus Christ was sent of God. But the babes in Christ have this knowledge. They know the Lord; and much more do the little children (1 John 2:13).
Yet above babes, the little children’s excellence is their assurance of God’s love, having known Him as their Father. To know the Father, as it means in this text, is to know Him by intimate experience. Knowing God as one’s Father and knowing oneself to be his child denotes a state of assurance. Though not every child of God can say, “My Father” (babes cannot), the little children can say not only “Abba Father”, but “My Father”. Our Savior promised his babe-disciples that when the Spirit was poured out upon them, they would know their union with him, which was the same as with the Father (John 14:8-20).
In knowing the Father by communion and experience (1 John 1:3), they find a communication and imparting of His fatherly love. These have a knowledge of enjoyment. They find and feel His love shed abroad into their hearts. The light of His countenance is lifted up upon them, and they walk in the light and joy of His salvation (1 John 1:3-7). They hear the joyful sound of, “My son”, and “My daughter … My pleasant and beloved child in whom I am well pleased; your sins are forgiven you, and you are mine.” They find the Father embracing them in His arms and taking them into His bosom. And this indeed is their knowledge of the Father: knowing Him by intimate experience, in union and communion. They feast with the Father and on His love as the prodigal did after his father had sealed his love with a kiss. How sweet and pleasant was the entertainment and communion! They rejoiced.
The soul that has received this witness is filled with a great deal of joy. It is joy unspeakable and full of glory.
Children love the Father in keeping His commandments without regret or grief (1 John 5:1-3). Love desires not only to be beloved, but to be commanded; and it is so greatly inclined and obliged to do good and well, that it thinks itself either wronged or suspected if it is not put to the highest and most difficult services. When the Father gives out commands, love wings the soul, to fly to obedience with speed and pleasure.
It is the height of gospel glory to converse with, to enjoy, and to obey God as children do a father.
As I have mentioned before, the greater part of God’s children have not, I fear, yet attained to be children, to know and have assurance of the Father’s love. The fathers have; but how few are they? And the conquering young men have; but how few are they? The little children have; but how few are they? (1 John 2:12-14)
Let us then go on to perfection, from babes to little children, from little children to young men, from young men to fathers, till we all come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Eph. 4:13-14).”