SPECIAL TOPIC: CHILDREN OF GOD

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE CHILDREN OF GOD

The NT writers often use familial metaphors to describe Christianity:

1. Father

2. Son

3. children

4. born again

5. adoption

Christianity is analogous to a family, not a product (ticket to heaven, fire
insurance policy). Believers in Christ have become the new eschatological
“people of God” (cf. Rom. 2:28-29; Gal. 3:26-29; Eph. 2:11-3:13; see
SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH’s
Eternal Redemptive Plan). As children we
should reflect the Father’s character, as did the “unique” (cf. John 1:14; 3:16)
Son (cf. Eph. 5:1; 1 John 2:29; 3:3). “Child” is such a shocking title for sinners (cf.
John 11:52; Rom. 8:14,16,21; 9:8; Phil. 2:15; 1 John 3:1,2,10; 5:2; Hos. 1:10
quoted in Rom. 9:26; and 2 Cor. 6:18).

It is also interesting that of the two Greek terms for children, one is
always used of Jesus (huios), while the other (teknon, tekna) is
used for believers. Christians are children of God, but they are not in the same
category as the unique, divine Son of God, Jesus. His relationship with the
Father is unique, but analogous. See Special Topic: Son of God.

There are two more Special Topics that deal with
different aspects of this subject.

1. SPECIAL
TOPIC: “Sons of God. . .”

2. SPECIAL
TOPIC: Sons of God in Genesis 6