Sons of God

“He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God,” John 1:11-13, KJV.

Where did some get the notion that everyone is a son or daughter of God? I think the confusion comes in with the fact that God has created us all. We are human beings carefully put together by the heavenly Father. Now that word, Father, used to identify God pertains to those who have accepted Him. Lucifer was created by God, but he defied God. Is God still his father? Absolutely not, God is still his creator, but no longer his father. He gave up that right. Just as God gives us, his creation, the free will to choose Him we must receive the gift that’s being offered.

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is,” 1 John 3:1-2, KJV. The central point in this passage is in becoming a son of God. This is not a birthright that we automatically receive. That was abolished when Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden. To become a son of God we must accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

I’ve heard so many people in the world say that we’re all sons of God. I’ve even heard a well-known televangelist state this. She incorrectly quoted a scripture. This is why it is so important to search God’s word for oneself. Don’t just take a person’s word for it when you are fully able to read for yourself. And even when people cannot read for themselves, I truly believe that God will provide guidance. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God,” Romans 8:14, KJV. It is impossible to be a son of God when you aren’t led by the Spirit of God.

Jesus even as He taught stated in Matthew 5:45, KJV, “That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven…” He was talking to a group of people who had accepted Him. As stated in Matthew 5:1-2, KJV, “And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying.” And later in the chapter, Jesus teaches them how to pray by saying, “…Our Father which art in heaven…” By saying “Our Father” signifies that one accepts Jesus Christ. This is the only way that we can become a son of God. There is no other way, regardless of what society says. Either you believe or you don’t. The decision is ours to make. But do know that it is not God’s will that any man should perish (Matthew 18:14).

Here's another post written back in November '09 that also spoke about sons of God: My Brother's Keeper

My Brother’s Keeper

“And Cain said to his brother, [a]Let us go out to the field. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.(A) And the Lord said to Cain, Where is Abel your brother? And he said, I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper? And [the Lord] said, What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to Me from the ground,” Genesis 4:8-10, AMP.

One of the most familiar stories in the Bible is of Cain and Abel, the first two children of Adam and Eve. Due to God’s acceptance of Abel’s offering and rejection of Cain’s, jealousy rose up in Cain against his brother. Jealousy so callously rooted, it incited him to murder. How often does that still happen today?

Crimes are committed, but yet many say that we’re ALL God’s children. Where did that come from that we’re all God’s children? “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name,” John 1:12, KJV. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God,” Romans 8:14, KJV. “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world,” Philippians 2:15, KJV. Notice the last scripture quoted, only the sons of God can shine as lights in the world. How can someone who rejects Him shine any kind of light? There is no light in him, only darkness. “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not,” 1 John 3:1, KJV. So, anyone of the world does not know God, therefore, impossible to be His son.

Understanding that we’re not all God’s children, we who are His children hold an obligation of being one another’s keeper. When we see another doing well, we should not envy them. This is an opportunity to encourage. Notice what God said to Cain, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to Me from the ground.” God knows all. When He asked Cain what he had done, He wasn’t asking because He didn’t know, He was asking because He wanted Cain to own up to what he had done. We are called to be honest about our actions. How can God forgive us if we never admit what we’ve done?

As humans, we are far from perfect, but love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). This means that once we begin loving one another, putting away covetousness, we can experience being perfected in love. Not that we will be become perfect, but that we are perfected. So, when someone needs a helping hand, don’t slap their hands away when you have it to give (Proverbs 3:28). Is that love? We must be willing to do His will. If God were to ask me, “Are you your brother’s keeper?” I want to answer with a pure heart, “Yes, yes I am.”