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Are We Really ALL God's Children?
Note from Lee: This article came from an
e-mail discussion I had with a buddy of mine. What started out with
a joke evolved into a very serious discussion of the nature of our
status as humans in relation to our Creator.
Like many people, I have a couple of friends in my
address book that love to pass along all those "you-gotta-read-this"
kind of e-mails. You know the ones:
"Fwd: Re: This is true! I saw it on Good Morning America!"
or
"Fwd: Re: Re: Monkey Sniffs Finger and Falls Over! Hilarious!"
or
"Fwd: Re: Fwd: Re: Re: Re: Fwd: Re: Re: Bill Gates is Giving
Away Money!"
If I have the time, I might take a look at them but
most of the time they go straight to the Trash file. (By the way,
I really hate the e-mails that say, "If you love me and/or
if you love Jesus, forward this e-mail to ten friends as fast as
you can!" I refuse to respond to these e-mails because they
are at best, silly, and at worst, a desperate cry for affection/attention.
If the only way I can prove my friendship to you is is by clogging
up the web with junk mail then perhaps I have not been such a great
friend to begin with. Here is how I would like to respond: "If
YOU really love ME, don't send me any more of this crap!")
Recently, my buddy sent me an e-mail that had been
making the rounds which read:
"WE WOULD RATHER DO BUSINESS WITH
1000 AL QAEDA TERRORISTS THAN WITH ONE SINGLE AMERICAN"
This sign was prominently displayed in
the window of a business in Philadelphia. You are probably outraged
at the thought of such an inflammatory statement. One would think
that anti-hate groups from all across the country would be marching
on this business . . . and that the National Guard might have
to be called to keep the angry crowds back. But, perhaps in these
stressful times one might be tempted to let the proprietors simply
make their statement . . We are a society which holds Freedom
of Speech as perhaps our greatest liberty. And after all, it is
just a sign.
You may ask what kind of business would
dare post such a sign?
Answer: A Funeral Home (Who said morticians had no sense of humor?)
Now I admit my experience with morticians is somewhat limited but
most of the ones I have met are not this clever. Nor would they
even consider putting a sign like that in front of their funeral
home. Grieving family members are rarely in the mood for sly political
satire on the day of their dearly departed's funeral. So I immediately
doubted the authenticity of this supposed "true story".
But even so, I found the joke to be mildly amusing and as usual,
I quickly deleted it to make room for more classic comedy bits.
However, later that day, a reply e-mail arrived from someone else
on my buddy's distribution list. To my amusement, this person had
selected the "reply to all" option and let fly with this
indignant response:
"It is SAD that at first you are led to think that this
sign is against people that know that they are God's children
but when you find out it is really against people that just don't
know that they are God's children, it seems less comical doesn't
it. No one should find the death of even one of God's children
that doesn't know him comical."
In case you got lost in the bad grammar, let me translate this
woman's response and interpret what she really meant
[My comments are in blue]:
"It is SAD that at first you are led to think that this
sign is against people that know that they are God's children.
[This sign tricks you into thinking
it is against Americans and apparently, she is of the opinion
that ALL Americans know that they are God's children.]
but when you find out it is really against people that just
don't know that they are God's children, it seems less
comical doesn't it. [The Al Qaeda terrorists
are ALSO God's children but they just don't know it yet.
I assume that is because no one has ever told them. It is tragic
and unfunny when one of them dies in their ignorance.]
No one should find the death of even one of God's children
that doesn't know him comical."
[We should all be sad when a child of God
dies before someone can tell them that they are a child of God.
]
I understand the sentiment behind this woman's response: If we
would just tell these terrorists that they are children of God just
like WE are children of God, then they would not want to blow up
their brothers and sisters. But more than that, if we who ARE children
of God were just more enthusiastic in our evangelizing efforts,
we could get all these people saved."
While her writing skills may need some improvement, her opinion
is not uncommon. In fact, most people who have grown up in a mainstream,
evangelical church in America have been told this very thing.
1). We are ALL God's children - every man woman and child on
earth.
2). As His children, God loves us all equally and desires that
we are all saved. However, HE can't really do anything about it
personally - He has left that responsibility to His other children.
3). Though God is not responsible, it is a tragedy when He loses
one of His children.
While this is a great argument, none of it is biblical. So without
too much thought I sent out the following note:
To all:
According to the bible, we are all
God's CREATION... but we are NOT all God's children. If what this
person has written is true then you have a universe in which God
"ALL MIGHTY" must throw His own children into hell and
he is absolutely POWERLESS to do anything about it. How
frustrating that must be for God to be FORCED to torture His own
children in hell forever just because those of us who call ourselves
Christians were too lazy and/or too disobedient to go out and
"save" these ignorant people. Seems to me, given this
scenario, that the fair thing to do would be for God to spare
the ignorant ones and punish the careless and lazy Christians.
In reality, the bible says God knows everything.
He knows which people are His because He has elected to save them
before the world was created. He also knows who are NOT His children.
They will be condemned by their sinful nature. Finally, Christ
will return to WAGE WAR and to destroy the enemies of God. Are
these enemies "children of God"? I don't think so.
Jesus said to the Pharisees, "You do not belong to God, you
are sons of your father, SATAN!"
So again I say, we are all God's CREATION...
but we are NOT all God's children.
Several people responded back to this message asking for biblical
proof of my statements so I provided the following as a very brief
- certainly not an exhaustive - study of the topic. There is enough
here to make a few significant biblical points.
Don't Take My Word... Take THE
WORD!!
Point #1: We are all God's creation...
but we are NOT all God's children.
John 1:10-12:
10 He [Jesus] was in the world, and though the world
was made through him, the world did not recognize him.
[Jesus made ALL things including ALL people.
He is Lord of ALL]
11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not
receive him.
[Since Jesus is the creator of all people,
they are His possession. He owns them. In a more narrow sense,
this verse also means Jesus came to His own ethnic people group-
the Jews. Most of them rejected Him.]
12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in
his name, he gave the right to become children of God -
[ONLY those who "receive and believe"
have the right to be called children of God. Notice it is JESUS
that bestows that right.]
13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human
decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
[You are NOT a child of God because you
are born a human being or born to a particular race or lineage (not
of natural
descent). You are NOT a child of God because YOU decided to
make Jesus your personal savior (nor of human decision). You are NOT
a child of God because your spouse really, really wants you to
be one (or a husband's will). You are
a child of God IF AND ONLY IF you are "born of God".
In other words, ALL people are born NATURALLY of woman, but God Himself must
give birth to you SPIRITUALLY. He must "quicken" you (make you alive while you are
dead in your trespasses and sins) and by His grace, give you the gift of faith
so that you CAN have
the ability to believe in Jesus' name. Apart from His gift
of faith, you CAN'T decide to follow Christ nor will you
even want to. If God has given birth to you, THEN you can
be called a Child of God! Apart from this re-birth. you will
remain what the bible calls
"an ENEMY of God"... not His
child. God would NEVER throw His children into hell but He has
NO problem destroying His enemies!]
Point #2: If what this person has written
is true then you have a universe in which God "ALL MIGHTY"
must throw His own children into hell and he is absolutely POWERLESS
to do anything about it. How frustrating
that must be for God to be FORCED to torture His own children in
hell forever just because those of us who call ourselves Christians
were too lazy and/or too disobedient to go out and "save"
these ignorant people. Seems to me, given this scenario, that the
fair thing to do would be for God to spare the ignorant ones and
punish the careless and lazy Christians.
Psalm 11:
1 In the LORD I take refuge. How then can you say to me: "Flee
like a bird to your mountain.
2 For look, the wicked bend their bows; they set their
arrows against the strings to shoot from the shadows at the upright
in heart. [Sounds
like a description of al Qaeda terrorists, doesn't it?]
3 When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the
righteous do?"
4 The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD is on his heavenly
throne. He observes the sons of men; his eyes examine them.
[God is NOT powerless. He sits on a
throne of ultimate power. He sees and judges ALL men.]
5 The LORD examines the righteous, but the wicked and
those who love violence his soul hates. [God
hates those who are wicked and who love violence. He hates them…
hates! These are NOT His children.]
6 On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur;
a scorching wind will be their lot. [God
intends to destroy them. Why? Because He was unable to save them?
No! Because He was unable to convince them that they were really
His children? No! He will destroy them because they are wicked.
He will destroy them to show He is JUST and RIGHTEOUS and that
He HATES wickedness. And guess who is He showing all this to?
His children!!]
7 For the LORD is righteous, he loves justice; upright
men will see his face [His children
are upright men, saved by grace and justified by the applied
righteousness of Jesus. They will someday see the face of their Father.]
Point #3: In reality, the bible says God
knows everything. He knows which people are His because He has elected
to save them before the world was created. He also knows who are
NOT His children. They will be condemned by their sinful nature.
Romans 9:6-18
It is not as though God's word had failed. For not all who
are descended from Israel are Israel. Nor because they are his
descendants are they all Abraham's children. On the contrary,
"It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned."
In other words, it is not the natural children who are God's
children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded
as Abraham's offspring. For this was how the promise was stated:
"At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have
a son."
Not only that, but Rebekah's children had one and the same
father, our father Isaac. Yet, before the twins were born or
had done anything good or bad - in order that God's purpose in
election might stand: not by works but by him who calls -
she was told, "The older will serve the younger." Just
as it is written: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."
What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For
he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,
and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."
It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but
on God's mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: "I
raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power
in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."
Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he
hardens whom he wants to harden.
Point #4: Christ will return to WAGE WAR
and to destroy the enemies of God. Are all of these enemies "children
of God"? I don't think so.
Revelation 17:12-14
"The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received
a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings
along with the beast. They [who are
NOT God's children] have one purpose and will give their
power and authority to the beast [as
in Satan, their Father]. They will make war against
the Lamb [Jesus], but the
Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of
kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers
[the Children of God].
Revelation 19:11-21
I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white
horse, whose rider [Jesus]
is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes
war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many
crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he
himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name
is the Word of God. The armies of heaven
[His Children] were following him, riding on white horses
and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes
a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations
[Not His Children].
"He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress
of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his
thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud
voice to all the birds flying in midair, "Come, gather together
for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of
kings, generals, and mighty men, of horses and their riders,
and the flesh of all people, free and slave, small and great."
[Not His Children]
Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their
armies [Not His Children]
gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and
his army [His Children]. But
the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had
performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs
he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and
worshiped his image [Not His Children].
The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning
sulfur. The rest of them [Not His Children]
were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider
on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.
Point #5: Jesus said to the Pharisees,
"You are sons of your father SATAN!" So
again I say, We are all God's creation... we are NOT all God's children.
John 8:42-47
Jesus said to them, "If God were
your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now
am here. I have not come on my own; but he 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 desire. 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. Yet because I tell the truth, you
do not believe me! Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I
am telling the truth, why don't you believe me? He who belongs
to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that
you do not belong to God."
The Apostle Paul also talked about the idea of becoming
a child of God in his letter to the Romans
Romans 8:12-17
Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation - but it is not
to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live
according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit
you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because
those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For
you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear,
but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry,
"Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our
spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children,
then we are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed
we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in
his glory.
Only those who receive the spirit of sonship are children of God
and it is clear that it is God who gives the spirit. It is not based
on a man's desire or his will but rather by grace alone - a gift
given by God. If you do not have that Spirit, YOU ARE NOT A CHILD
OF GOD! As I stated earlier, God would NEVER send one of His own
children to hell but He has no problem destroying His enemies!
The Apostle John also wrote:
1 John 3:7-10
Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does
what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. He who does
what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning
from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to
destroy the devil's work. No one who is born of God will continue
to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning,
because he has been born 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.
So are all human beings "children of God"? No! Could
there perhaps be a "lost sheep" mixed in
with the al Qaeda network? Not likely, but it COULD be so. Where
ever God DOES have a lost sheep among the goats, we know he is able
to save, able to send a missionary to preach the gospel, able to
open the eyes to see, the ears to hear, the mind to comprehend, the
heart to believe and the mouth to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
God is able. We have
no way of knowing who God has decided to save. We only know it
when it is actualized in time. But it is not for us
to judge anyway. Christ alone is Judge of every man.
On the other hand, we HAVE been told to proclaim the Gospel to
every living creature including al Qaeda. So I do agree that we
MUST comply obediently. Should expect
negative consequences? Jesus said, "They
will hate you because they hated me first". The Gospel
that we are to proclaim is NOT that God loves everyone equally and
sent Jesus to open the door for whoever wishes to stumble through
it. The Good News is that Christ came to die for the sins of all
those who believe. (John 3:16). Those who do not believe are already
cursed and condemned by God because of the sinful nature they inherited
from Adam at the Fall. Jesus was raised from the dead to give eternal
life to those whom he died for - those who would be filled with
the Spirit, who would love Him and obey Him. They are the ones He
intends to save and they receive both the Holy Spirit and the ability
to believe this Gospel.
To those who hate Jesus and persecute His children, well, God intends
to send them to hell in His perfect righteousness and He will not
weep for a single one because they were never His children to begin
with.
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