The Journal of Biblical Accuracy

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I am a child of God and this cannot be changed.

This argument goes as follows: "I am a son of God, a child of God and this cannot be taken away. That second I believed, I was born again and the deal was sealed. I am saved regardless of what I do in my life. Can a son ever stop to be a son?"

My comment:

This argument uses the analogy of the physical sonship according to which "once a son always a son". But really what is the validity of this argument in the spiritual ground? For example angels are also called sons of God in the Bible. All of them, including also the fallen ones (Genesis 6:2) and even Satan himself (Job 2:1)! Does that mean that all of them are still, effectively, really, now sons of God in the meaning of having fellowship and enjoying what God has for those who are truly of His household?

No! In Genesis 6 we read about angels that apostatized. They are in the abyss now, in a prison of darkness waiting for the day of judgment (2 Peter 2:4). Can Satan expect anything other than his utter destruction, just because he was once an angel of light? No, he cannot. In addition: did the fact that those were children of God - as Adam also was - prohibit them from falling and ending up - as they will do - in the lake of fire? No it did not. So why is it that some of us consider that being a child of God, because we once believed, actually means that we have no obligations and we can also be a prodigal son and still have the father taking us back, without us repenting and returning to Him? Remember the father in the parable of the prodigal son: he received his son back with joy! But when? When he repented and came back home. He could have chosen to continue living without repenting and finally die alone somewhere. But he did not do this. Instead he repented, he returned home and this made the whole difference. Concerning us, Paul clarifies:

Romans 8:12-14
"So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."

We became children of God by faith in Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:26). But then why does the same apostle say here: "for as many as are led by the spirit of God, they are the sons of God"? What does it mean to be led by the spirit of God? It means to be driven by the Spirit, by the new nature, to walk by the Spirit, to walk by the new nature, to strive to do the will of God, to abide in the vine and to have His Word abiding in us. Can somebody be led by the Spirit of God, when God’s Word does not abide in him? Can somebody walk by the Spirit, if he does not abide in the vine, in Christ? No, he cannot. So what Paul essentially tells us here, is that real children of God are those who are led not by the flesh, the old nature, but by the new nature, the Spirit, Christ in us. We also saw previously, in Luke 8:20-21, Jesus making this clear when He said:

"And he was told, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you." But he answered them, "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it."

Real children of God, real brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ are those who hear the Word of God and do it. People who have discontinued in the faith, people who run after the world, its riches, pleasures and cares or turned back because of tribulation and temptation, in short, people who no longer abide in the vine, in Christ, are clearly excluded from those that Jesus, and also Paul in Romans, consider as real children of God. What should then somebody do if he is in that category? The answer is repentance and return to our loving Father. The parable of the prodigal son is here a good example:

Luke 15:20-24
"And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to celebrate."

Next section: No one can snatch me out of Jesus’ hand (John 10:27-28)

 

Author: Anastasios Kioulachoglou