From 8/11/ 2020
Simply “created by God” or actually also “children of God”? Jesus said not everyone is a child of the Father…. some have another father. The father is the one who influences our life, provides and guides, the standard- bearer, the one whom we honor, reverence, and obey. Jesus called Him “Abba” (Daddy)! It incensed the religious leaders.
By Dorcas Beth Andrews 8/11/2029
“We are all brothers and sisters and children of God.” Have you heard that lately? In this day of rage and offense and social upheaval, the idea of one big happy human family under the same “Higher Power” sounds good. There’s just one problem. It’s not true. The mere fact of being human does not qualify us as children of God. It means that we are all God’s creation. But the relationship is very different between creation and Creator and child and Father.
The Bible makes clear those who are the children of God:
“To all who received Him [Jesus Christ], to those who believe in His name, He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).
“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, (Galatians 3:26).
Children of God are those who have received Christ as their Lord and Savior. Period. End of debate. Does that mean that God doesn’t love all people? Absolutely not. Remember John 3:16? “For God so loved the world . . .” that means all people. All people are loved by God, but only those in Christ are the beloved of God.
Thus, to say that we are all “brothers” is also not true. Now before you write me off hear me out: All humans bear the image of God. That in itself should be enough to cause us to love and respect all people and work for the good of one another. But that doesn’t make us “brothers.” We don’t like to think in terms of “us” and “them” but the Bible makes the distinction clear.
The Bible also tells us how to recognize a “child of God”:
“This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother” (1 John 3:10). Did you catch the fact that there are only two “fathers”: God or the devil. Those are His words, not mine. Unlike natural families, you and I choose our father.
I know, you prefer to hear something warm and fuzzy. But people are going to face judgment with a false security that being human gives them an “in” with God. Warm and fuzzy isn’t getting the truth across. There is only one way to be a child of God – faith in Jesus Christ His Son. That makes you Jesus’ brother or sister. And mine. I want you to be part of the family.”