SONS OF GOD
A great Christian teacher said “The Fatherhood of God compels us to accepth the brotherhood of man, and, spiritually, brotherhood is unity“* This is where we begin with this topic Sons of God. There is much confusion regarding who can be considered Sons of God but if we look to the words of Jesus, then it should become rather clear. Beginning with Jesus saying that “Is it not written in your law, I said , Ye are gods? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came , and the scripture cannot be broken“(John 10:34-35). Now since in Jesus’ words the scripture cannot be broken what can we say regarding the second part of that scripture which says “I have said , Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High” (Psalm 82:6).
Now we can say that He was talking only to the Jews but that would not be right unless we pinpoint all scripture to particular groups. If we can take out of scripture any thing for us as groups then be must be able to take all. How can we, as some church groups do, claim the blessings of Abraham as ours if we can’t claim the above reference that we are all children of the Most High? Let us not take the tact that only believers in Christ or people who the Christian would consider saved are the Children of God; the very book of scripture that it relied on to say this also says quite the opposite as in the reference above.
Jesus goes to great lengths to teach us about the Fatherhood of God. Here are some of His words”
-
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16).
-
“That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:45)
-
“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48)
-
“And when ye stand praying , forgive , if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive , neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.” (Mark 11:25-26)
-
“Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.” (Luke 6:36)
-
“And he said unto them, When ye pray , say , Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come . Thy will be done , as in heaven, so in earth.” (Luke 11:2)
-
“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32)
-
“But the hour cometh , and now is , when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.” (John 4:23)
-
“Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.” (John 20:17)
There should be no question of Jesus’ intent in any of the above; He is plainly establishing the Fatherhood of God and thereby the Son-ship of us all. Jesus places no criteria on saying or doing or believing in order to be Sons of God save that you do those things that He preached, most of which concern Love and this to show our Love of God the Father and our fellowman. Now the clarity of Jesus pronouncement concerning Son-ship varies from gospel to gospel; Matthew tells us convincingly, Mark and Luke more sparingly and in John there is much more reference to my Father and the Father than your Father but this should not detract any from our understanding of the reality of relationship between the Father and His children, the world of men.
Much of the New Testament, the epistles and the commentary by the gospel writers, has the objective of promoting Christianity and, from a Christian perspective, this has been a successful endeavor. But does it really bring to the world the reality that was intended by Christ? Aside from converting one to Christianity, and there is much dispute even as to what is “true Christianity”, have the Christian churches really done according to what Jesus spoke? Through the doctrine and the dogma that has become the Christian belief do all men really get that message that they are Sons of God and Children of the Most High?
Peter and Paul give some further insight into the reality of this:
Cornelius, a Roman centurion, a believer in God and a devout man according to Acts was asked by the Lord to bring Peter to him. Peter, having a vision, came to see that all men are “clean” according to the Lord and went to Cornelius. His words were this: “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said , Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” (Acts 10:34-35). Now the words that God is no respecter of persons are used frequently in Christian sermons and speaking but is it addressed properly according to the saying of Peter?
Paul, when speaking in Athens to non-believing Greeks, to Epicureans, and to Stoicks was called to the Aeropagus (an Athenian court) and speaking of God the Father he said that: “And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed , and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him , though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live , and move , and have our being ; as certain also of your own poets have said , For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.”(Acts 17:26-29)
If we are His offspring, are we not His children?
Note on the Quote of the Day
This daily blog also has a Quote of the Day which may not be in any way related to the essay. Many of these will be from the Bible and some just prayers or meditations that may have an influence on you and are in line with the subject matter of this blog. As the quote will change daily and will not store with the post, it is repeated in this section with the book reference and comment.
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”(Philippians 4:8). If we could all control our thought to this degree, what a wonderful world and life this would be. Happy 4th of July!
*Emmet Fox (from The Sermon on the Mount pg.127)
