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C-9. ARE ALL PEOPLE THE CHILDREN OF GOD?
Some Christians, including some Pastors believe and teach that ALL people are the children of God or God’s children. But is that sound Biblical teaching to say to the unsaved people that they are ALL the children of God?
The short answer is NO! And here is why I firmly believe that ALL people are NOT the children of God. I will list the sound Scriptural reasons by number as to why all people are not God’s children.
REASON #1. The phrase “children of God” is a New Testament term found only in the New Testament.
The phrase “children of God” is found 9 times in the New Testament. Let us begins this study in God’s word by reading Romans 9:8 which teaches us that the children of Ishmael are NOT the children of God.
Romans 9:8.
“That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are NOT the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.”
In other words, the gospel of salvation was ONLY given to the children of Israel FIRST and then God turned the gospel to the Gentiles around 3 1/2 years later. Also, notice that the children of Israel are COUNTED for the seed by the PROMISE of God. That means that the children of Israel must BELIEVE IN Jesus Christ to who the PROMISE was given to first. Please read the following proof from the Scriptures.
Galatians 3:26.
“For you are all the children of God BY FAITH IN Christ Jesus.”
Chapter three of the book of Galatians teaches us that BOTH the Jewish Christians AND the Gentile Christians are ALL the children of God BY FAITH IN Jesus Christ and NOT by the works of the Law of Moses under the Old Covenant. So then, both Romans 8:16 above and Galatians 3:26 clearly teach us that we BECOME the children of God by ADOPTION.
But in truth, even though we have the witness of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us that we are NOW the sons and daughters of God, we are still WAITING for the ADOPTION to become the ETERNAL children of God. This brings us to reason number two as to why ALL people are NOT the children of God.
REASON #2. Even we as true born-again Christians have not actually received our FULL ADOPTION to BECOME the sons of God.
Please read Romans 8:23.
“And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, WAITING FOR the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.”
So again, in truth, even we as Christians do not actually receive eternal life until the first resurrection at the coming of Jesus. In other words, when we were born-again we were endued with power from on high to BECOME the children of God. And we do not receive the END of our salvation to BECOME the ETERNAL sons of God until the coming of Jesus. For you see, Jesus was first the human son of God and he did not become the ETERNAL Son of God until after the cross. Please read the three part study “WHEN DID JESUS BECOME GOD'S ETERNAL SON? Part 1”
Please read John 1:11-13.
“He came unto his own, and his own received him not. (Again, the gospel was preached to the Jews FIRST and then to the Gentiles some 3 1/2 years later, after the Jews as a nation rejected Jesus as their Messiah)
12. 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:
13. Which were born, NOT of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
So then, in truth, we do not actually become the sons and daughters of God UNTIL the first resurrection. And thus, ONLY the children of the RESURRECTION become the sons of God or the children of God.
Please read Luke 20:34-36.
“And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:
35. But they which shall be ACCOUNTED WORTHY to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:
36. Neither can they die any more: (Speaking of actually being given eternal life AT the RESURRECTION) for they are equal unto the angels; and ARE the children of God, BEING the children of the RESURRECTION.”
So then, according to the Scriptures, even we as born-again Christians IN Jesus Christ do not yet actually receive our full adoption to become the ETERNAL sons of God until the FIRST RESURRECTION at the coming of Jesus to begin the world to come which is the 1000 year reign of Jesus.
Please read Mark 10:30.
“But he SHALL RECEIVE an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.”
So then, what about Adam being called the son of God in Luke 3:38? Does that not prove the ALL people are the children of God?
Luke 3:38.
“Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.”
This brings us to reason number three as to why ALL people are NOT the sons of God based solely on the reason that God CREATED all people to be his children.
REASON #3. There are TWO types of people, the SAVED people IN Jesus Christ and the LOST people who are the children of the Devil.
Now, while it is true that ALL people are BORN innocent before God, and thus, they are ALL the children of God until the age of ACCOUNTABILITY, that does not mean that they ALL REMAIN the children of God. For you see, when Adam sinned he was CAST OUT of the Garden of Eden. And BECAUSE OF the disobedience of the one man Adam, sin entered the world and death by sin for we ALL have SINNED.
Please read Romans 5:12.
“Wherefore, as by one man SIN entered into the world, and death BY sin; and so DEATH passed upon ALL men, FOR (Or BECAUSE) that ALL have SINNED:”
So what happens to the innocent children of God who are BORN innocent AFTER they have SINNED? They BECOME the CHILDREN OF the Devil, according to 1 John 3:10.
1 John 3:10.
“In this the children of God are manifest, (Or in this the children of God are made known) and the children of the devil: (Are made known) whosoever does NOT righteousness is NOT of God, neither he that loves NOT his brother.”
This teaches us that even true born-again Christians can be SEEN as being the children of the Devil by their WORKS of unrighteousness and even in the DISCORD with the BRETHREN.
Please read Romans 8:14.
“For as many as are LED by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”
Now, there is a huge difference in being LED by the Holy Spirit but DISOBEYING the leading of the Holy Spirit from being LED by the Spirit and OBEYING the leading of the Holy Spirit. So let us read Romans 8:14 again in its CONTEXT.
Please read Romans 8:13-23.
“For if you live AFTER the flesh, you shall DIE: but IF you THROUGH the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live. (So then, we as true born-again Christians have been given the POWER through the Holy Spirit to OBEY the commandments of God under the New Covenant written in the New Testament, which are not grievous or hard to bear. In other words, we must be ACCOUNTED WORTHY in order to BECOME the sons of God at the RESURRECTION to be given eternal life to be like Jesus, for we shall see him as he is, according to 1 John 3:1)
14. For as many as are LED by the Spirit of God, THEY are the sons of God. (And ALL people will NOT be saved to have the Holy Spirit dwell in them)
15. For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have RECEIVED the Spirit of ADOPTION, whereby WE cry, Abba, Father.
16. The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that WE are the children of God:
17. And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; IF SO BE that we suffer with him, THAT we may be also glorified together. (In other words, Jesus SUFFERED temptations to sin but yet he overcame those temptations and did NOT sin. This verse of Scripture clearly teaches us that our RECEIVING eternal life in the world to come is CONDITIONAL. And the condition is our OBEYING the leading of the Holy Spirit THAT we may also be GLORIFIED with Jesus at his coming)
18. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
19. For the earnest expectation of the creature WAITS for the MANIFESTATION of the sons of God.
20. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who has subjected the same in hope, (In other words, according to Galatians 3:22 and Romans 11:32, God CONCLUDED all people to be under sin SO THAT God can show us His mercy and grace to become His workmanship to save us through FAITH IN His Messiah, Jesus)
21. Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
22. For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until NOW. (Speaking of the time that a person BELIEVES IN Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior)
23. And not only they, but ourselves also, which HAVE the firstfruits of the Spirit, even WE ourselves groan within ourselves, WAITING for the ADOPTION, to wit, the redemption of our body.”
NOW, speaking of AFTER a person truly BELIEVES in the true gospel of Jesus Christ we have peace KNOWING that God truly loves us and has ADOPTED us to become the children of God. We are GIVEN the GIFT of eternal life the very moment we first BELIEVE but the gift of eternal life is given as a PROMISE that we will receive eternal life in the world to come IF SO BE that we SUFFER with Jesus to overcome the world. This brings us to reason number four as to why ALL people are NOT the children of God.
REASON #4. Our WALK with God will determine IF we will be accounted worthy to BECOME the ETERNAL sons of God in the world to come.
In other words, SOME Christians may LOSE their salvation by returning to a lifestyle of living in sin to become once again the children of Satan, the Devil. Let us read 1 John 3:8 again in its CONTEXT.
John 3:1-15.
“Behold, what manner of love the Father has BESTOWED upon us, that WE should be called the sons of God: therefore, the world knows us not, because it knew him not. (Or the world does not understand us because the unsaved people do not understand God and His so great a salvation IN His Son, Jesus)
2. Beloved, NOW are we the sons of God, (Speaking of AFTER a person BELIEVES IN Jesus as their Lord and Savior for God’s love to be BESTOWED on them that they should be CALLED the sons of God) and it does 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.
3. And every man that has this HOPE (Speaking of the hope of receiving eternal life in the world to come) in him purifies himself, even as he is pure.
4. Whosoever commits sin transgresses ALSO the law: for SIN is the transgression of the law. (And so is not obeying the TWO commandments of Jesus under the New Covenant also SIN)
5. And you know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. (Meaning that IF we REMAIN in Jesus to endure unto the END we shall be saved)
6. Whosoever abides in him sins not: whosoever sins has not seen him, neither known him. (Keep in mind that John is speaking to the brethren IN Jesus Christ. And thus, Christians who ABIDE or REMAIN IN Jesus are the Christians who chose to OBEY the leading of the Holy Spirit to NOT give into the temptations to sin. And thus, the Christians who do not understand the true gospel of Jesus Christ do not truly know Jesus because they remain living is SIN)
7. Little children, let no man DECIEVE you: he that does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8. He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the WORKS of the devil.
9. Whosoever is BORN of God does NOT commit sin; for his seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is BORN of God. (Or BORN-AGAIN by FAITH IN Jesus to become ADOPTED children of God)
10. In this (Speaking of the WORKS) the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever does NOT righteousness is NOT of God, neither he that loves NOT his brother. (In other words, ALL of the unsaved people are the children of Satan the Devil. And neither are SOME of the Christians who are born-again of God BECAUSE they choose to not obey the leading of the Holy Spirit. But rather, they obey their FLESH and they return to being the children of the Devil. And thus, they need to REPENT and CONFESS their sin to receive forgiveness for all their unrighteousness to be made PERFECT once again in the eyes of Almighty God)
11. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
12. Not as Cain, who was of that WICKED ONE, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own WORKS were evil, and his brother's righteous.
13. Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hates you.
14. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we LOVE the brethren. He that loves not his brother abides in death. (Until they repent, confess their sins, and WALK in LOVE to do works of RIGHTEOUSNESS. Jesus said that we will know them BY their FRUITS or their works. So do they have the fruits of the Spirit? Or do they have the fruits of Satan, the Devil?)
15. Whosoever hates his brother is a murderer: and you know that no murderer has eternal life ABIDING IN him.”
So if you have HATE abiding in your heart toward another human being then you need to repent, confess your sin and ask God to forgive you of all your unrighteousness in the name of His Son, Jesus. Then BELIEVE that God is always faithful to forgive us and CLEANS us from ALL our unrighteousness to be made PERFECT in the eyes of God once again. This is called REMAINING or ABIDING IN Jesus. And this brings us to reason number five as to why ALL people are NOT the children of God.
REASON #5. The LOVE of some true born-again Christians will grow cold, and thus, they will not endure until the end to be saved.
In other words, even SOME of the true born-again Christians that God BESTOWED His love upon to be CALLED the children of God will NOT endure unto the end to receive their gift of eternal life in the world to come. And thus, they will not be the children of the first resurrection at the coming of Jesus.
Please read Philippians 2:12-16.
“Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always OBEYED, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13. For it is God which works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
14. Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
15. That you MAY BE blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, (For you see, not ALL who call Jesus Lord will enter into the JOY of our Lord, but Jesus will say to the children of God who are workers of iniquity or sin to DEPART from him. And that is why Paul is WARNING us all to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling to DO the GOOD pleasures of God in order to be found BLAMELESS and harmless, the sons of God WITHOUT rebuke) in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom you shine as lights in the world;
16. Holding forth the word of life; (Or sharing the true gospel of Jesus Christ with others so that they also might BECOME the children of God) that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain.”
There are just three more verses of Scripture having the phrase “children of God” in them.
Please read Matthew 5:9.
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they SHALL BE called the children of God.”
Here again, we clearly see that not ALL people are peace makers. Also, notice that they SHALL BE called the children of God. And in verse 1 of Matthew chapter five we learn that Jesus was speaking to his disciples or his followers who followed Jesus up to the mountain to learn more.
So let us read this verse again in its CONTEXT. And while you read the context, please consider the CONDITIONS that are required to be called the children of God. Also, notice that the disciples of Jesus are called the SALT of the earth but IF the salt LOSES it savor then it is good for nothing but to be cast out and trodden upon. Jesus is teaching us to ENDURE unto the end to be a LIGHT unto the world.
Matthew 5:1-16.
“And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
2. And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
3. Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Do ALL people believe in their spirit or in their heart that they NEED a Savior? NO! So then, ALL people are not poor in spirit)
4. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. (Do ALL people mourn for their sins? NO! So then, ALL people will NOT be COMFORTED)
5. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. (Are ALL people meek? NO! So then ALL People are will INHERIT the earth)
6. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. (Do ALL people hunger and thirst after righteousness? NO! So then, ALL people will NOT be filled with the gift of righteousness and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit)
7. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. (Do ALL people show mercy to others? NO! So then, ALL people will NOT obtain mercy. Jesus warns us in the next chapter, Matthew 6:14,15 that IF we do NOT forgive others then God will NOT forgive us. And James warns us in James 2:13 that those who show NO mercy shall have judgment WITHOUT mercy)
8. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. (Are ALL people pure in heart? NO! So then, ALL people are will NOT see God in the world to come)
9. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. (Are ALL people makers of peace? NO! So then, ALL People are will NOT be called the children of God)
10. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Again, are ALL people persecuted for the sake of righteousness? NO! So then ALL People are will NOT enter into the kingdom of heaven)
11. Blessed are you, (Speaking to the disciples or the followers of Jesus) when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. (Do ALL people forgive others in the name of Jesus? NO! And thus, not ALL people will be saved and receive eternal life in the world to come/ It is ONLY the children of God who will receive eternal life in the world to come)
13. You are the SALT of the earth: (Are ALL people the SALT of the earth? NO!) but if the SALT has LOST his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? It (Speaking of the Christians who have LOST their first love to be a LIGHT unto the world. Is a Christian that lives in a lifestyle of SIN a LIGHT unto the world? NO! And thus, the Christians who has LOST his SALTINESS) is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14. You (Speaking of true born-again Christians who are the SALT of the earth) are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. (And also should not be hid)
15. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it gives light unto all that are in the house.
16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your GOOD WORKS, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
When Christian do GOOD WORKS to those in the world then the unsaved REALIZE that they are not like you. And that causes them to ask WHY you are different from other people in the world. Here is the second verse of Scripture that we have not yet covered which contains the phrase “children of God”.
John 11:52.
“And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in ONE the children of God that were scattered abroad.”
Now, if one “INTERPRETS” this verse out of its CONTEXT and apart from the rest of God’s word then their own personal interpretation of this verse may SEEM as if it is saying anything that they DESIRE it to say.
In other words, one could “interpret” the children of God as being ALL of the people, both the Jews AND the Gentiles that are LOST as being the children of God being gathered together in ONE.
Now, IF that interpretation is true, then that would mean that ALL people will be saved.
However, the Bible itself clearly teaches us that NOT every person will be saved. And therefore, ALL people are NOT the children of God.
Please notice that the context teaches us that Jesus died not ONLY for the one NATION of Israel but ALSO for the Gentiles so that WHOSOEVER of ANY nation that BELIEVES shall be saved. Always read the context.
Please read John 11:49-52.
“And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, You know nothing at all,
50. Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.
51. And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;
52. And NOT for that nation ONLY, but (Or and) that also he should gather together in ONE the children of God that were scattered abroad.”
This is speaking of the REMNANT of Jews being CALLED to BECOME the children of God in the last days when Jesus will gather together the REMNANT of Jews at his coming to become ONE with the children of God who are found worthy to receive eternal life.
Again, just because Jesus DIED for ALL people does NOT mean that ALL people will be saved to BECOME the children of God.
And here is the third and last verse of Scripture that we have not yet covered which contains the phrase “children of God”.
1 John 5:2.
“By this we know that we love the children of God, WHEN we love God, and keep his commandments.”
AFTER we become a Christian we do things that even surprise ourselves. God has created in us a NEW heart that desires to do his will. But the OLD outer man of the FLESH wars against our new inner man of the spirit or the heart. And thus, WE must put off the old outer man of the flesh by crucifying the deeds of the flesh. And by the way, the word “commandments” here is speaking of the TWO commandments of Jesus written in the New Testament under the NEW Covenant and NOT the Law of Moses and the Ten Commandments under the Old Covenant. Every commandment that Almighty God REQUIRES us to obey are written IN the New Testament. Let us read this verse of Scripture again in its CONTEXT.
Please read 1 John 5:1-5.
“Whosoever BELIEVES that Jesus is the Christ is BORN OF God: and every one that loves him that begat loves him also that is BEGOTTEN OF him. (Speaking of true born-again Christians)
2. By this (Or by loving those who are BEGOTTEN OF God by their FAITH IN Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior) we know that we love the children of God, WHEN we love God, and keep his commandments.
3. For this IS the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. (And the Law of Moses IS grievous and cannot be borne, according to even the very Apostles of Jesus in Acts 15:10. So again, the commandments here is speaking of the TWO commandments of Jesus under the New Covenant written in the New Testament and NOT the keeping of the Law of Moses under the Old Covenant)
4. For whatsoever is BORN OF God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our FAITH.
5. Who is he that overcomes the world, but he that BELIEVES that Jesus is the Son of God?”
And whosoever BELIEVES in Jesus to be saved is given the POWER to BECOME the sons of God, according to John 1:12,13 which we will read again.
John 1:12,13.
“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:
13. Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
So then, according to the very teachings of Jesus in the New Testament, the ONLY people who have become the children of God are the people who BELIEVE IN Jesus as their Lord and Savior. And thus, NOT ALL people are the children of God. For you see, ALL people have SINNED and they have fallen short of the glory of God which is God finding us WORTHY to receive His GLORY to become His ETERNAL children in the world to come.
So our message should be to the LOST children of the WORLD, the children of Satan the Devil that God loved us WHILE we were yet sinners. And it is BY God’s grace and mercy that He alone provided for us a way to be saved. And Jesus IS that way, the ONLY WAY to the Father. Then lead them in the sinners prayer saying, that IF they truly believe in their heart that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God and they CONFESS that Jesus is Lord and that God raised him from the dead after three days and three nights, then they shall be saved.
Thanks for reading, and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God.
And to me, the truth concerning who Jesus TRULY is, according to the Bible ITSELF, is the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus.
Once Christians, Jews, Muslims, and even atheists understand the REASON that Yahweh CREATED the Son of MAN, Jesus, was to have DOMINION over the work of Yahweh’s hands.
And after you understand that the REASON that Yahweh did that is to STILL His ENEMIES, Satan and the fallen angels.
Then you can understand that God made His human Son to become “a” Lord, “a” King, and “a” God, under and subject to his God and Father in order to JUDGE Satan and the fallen angels.
For a deeper understanding of this WAR that Lucifer and one third of the angels waged against the throne of Almighty God, please read the studies under the subject category called ** Q-0 Why Are We Here? Is God at WAR? **.
More studies are coming in this SHORTER Biblical Unitarian view of who Jesus is according to the WHOLE word of God.
If you have a PARTICULAR verse of Scripture that you would like to know the sound Biblical Unitarian meaning, then please email me at MarkatAMatterOfTruth@Gmail.com and let me know.
For further and more in-depth studies on this subject of Jesus being created to STILL the enemies of Yahweh, please read the studies called D-25. A NEW LOOK at JOHN 1:1, In the BEGINNING!
And also read the study called D-28. The PRE-ADAMIC LUCIFERIAN FLOOD!
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Thanks again for reading, and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God.
And to me, the truth concerning who Jesus TRULY is, according to the Bible ITSELF, is the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus.
And again, for ALL of the studies on the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus, please click on the subject heading ** D-0 The BIBLICAL UNITARIAN VIEW of Jesus! **
And for the SUBJECT on the true foundation of the church, please click on the subject heading ** C-0 The TRUE FOUNDATION of the Church! **
This way you can just send ONE link to those who you want to share the TRUE sound Biblical FOUNDATIONAL teachings of the church that Jesus and his Apostles taught in the first century church.
Your brother in our Lord Jesus Christ,
Brother Mark.
My heartfelt prayer is that all Christians RETURN to the TRUE FOUNDATION of the church that is taught by the very Apostles of Jesus in the first century.
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