I pose a question: Are we all children of God?
The opinions expressed by Larry the Lubber may not reflect the views of the staff — mostly because Larry is a pompous, sanctimonious authority on Scripture whose pontifications tend to offend others, even when he is right.
“VATICAN CITY (AP News) — In a January, 2023 interview with AP News, Pope Francis said, ““We are all children of God, and God loves us as we are.”
Is it an established fact that God regards everyone as His children? Does God harbor affection for us and desire that we remain unchanged?
Or do the teachings of Jesus, as encapsulated in the phrase, “Repent and believe the good news!” remain as relevant today as they did two thousand years ago?
Drawing from the Pope’s statement, it appears that his comprehension of human sin and the necessity of a savior exhibits more similarity with the beliefs of the Pharisees during the era of Jesus, rather than aligning with the doctrine of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
“We are not illegitimate children. The only Father we have is God himself.” John 8:41
The Pharisees contended that by adhering to the Law of Moses, they attained the status of children of God. Today, certain individuals assert that by renouncing the Law of Moses and embracing a path of love from the depths of our hearts, we become children of God. These convictions are prevalent in various segments of the contemporary church.
Darryl W. Stephens, director of United Methodist studies at Lancaster Theological Seminary states: “We are all children of God.”
On its website Collister United Methodist Church welcomes all with this statement: “We believe that all people are children of God and worthy of respect, love, and a church family.”
“Everyone is a child of god,” Becky Hall, Executive Director of Christ United Methodist Church in Chattanooga and a delegate to the UMC Conference.
“Seabold United Methodist Church believes that everyone is a child of God.”
What Does Jesus Say?
“If God were your Father … you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
“This is eternal life: that they may know the only true God. I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They have obeyed your word. I am not praying for the world. Rather, I pray for those you have given me, for they are yours. They are not of this world even as I am not of the world. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message.” (John 8:40-44,17:3, 6, 9, 14, 16, 20)
These utterances do not align with the convictions of a Savior who professes that every individual worldwide is a child of God. So, one must question: who, then, can be rightfully designated as the children of God? To this inquiry, Jesus provides an answer:
According to Jesus Who Are the Children of God?
“The field is the world and the good seed are the children of the Kingdom. The darnel weeds are the children of the evil one. The enemy, the devil, sowed the bad seed. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.” (Matthew 13:38-39)
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.” (Matthew 25:31-33)
“The kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 13:47-50)
Should the belief that everyone is a child of God be upheld without reservation, it inevitably raises a poignant question. In such a scenario, the distinction between favorable and unfavorable harvests, or between virtuous and sinful individuals, would cease to exist. This is because God, being inherently holy, imparts righteousness to His children through their unwavering faith in Jesus.
What Do the Gospel Writers Say?
To all who did receive Jesus, to those who believed in his name, Jesus gave the right to become children of God. (John 1:12)
Be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. Hold fast to the word of life. (Philippians 2:14-15)
God predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 1:5)
In Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. (Galatians 3:26)
All who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have received a spirit of adoption as sons. The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God. And if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ. (Romans 8:14-17)
While it may appear benevolent and all-encompassing to posit that we are all offspring of the Divine, one must ponder the ramifications of such a stance. If it were indeed factual that each of us is a child of God, then it follows that the redemptive sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus served no meaningful purpose.
In essence, His immense suffering and triumphant return from the grave would be rendered utterly futile. It is imperative to acknowledge the unequivocal teachings of Jesus and the Holy Scriptures: we are, by nature, estranged from the heavenly kingdom. It is only through our unwavering commitment to Jesus that we can attain acceptance within the dominion of the Almighty.
It is with a contrite heart that we should confess our transgressions and beseech Christ to embrace the role of our deliverer. We must not merely acknowledge His existence, but we must hold steadfast in our faith in His divinity.
The symbolic act of water baptism serves as an outward symbol of our consecration as children of God.
Furthermore, the infusion of the Spirit of Christ is requisite for our transformation into His divine likeness. This transformation aligns with the fulfillment of Jesus’ mandate to His disciples to embark upon the noble mission of guiding and nurturing disciples from all corners of the world. We are to immerse them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and inculcate within them a steadfast devotion to his teachings.
If necessary, this sacred duty extends even to leaders of various religious institutions and denominations who find themselves lost in the mire of muddled thinking. — Larry the Lubber
- What are your thoughts on the idea that all humans are considered children of God?
- Do you believe that God loves and accepts everyone as they are, or is there a need for repentance and faith in Jesus to become a child of God?
- How do you interpret the teachings of Jesus in relation to who qualifies as a child of God, and do they align with contemporary beliefs?
- Can you identify any religious or philosophical differences in the concept of who is a child of God, and how do they impact your perspective?
- How does the understanding of being a child of God affect one’s moral and ethical responsibilities towards our neighbor?
Are you looking for Jesus’ phone number? In 2023 Jesus’ phone number is the same as it ever was. Pray: 1 888 Lord Save Me!
