Hallelujah Bread #14 (B)
Who Are the Children of God?
We were not born “God’s Children” though this is a widely held belief. The first verses in John's Gospel point to the ability to BECOME a child of God. This transformative state is confined to those "who believe on his (Jesus') name.” The text follows:

HB 14: B
Discovery: The Lord’s Prayer "Our Father Who Art in Heaven .. "

The familiar “Lord’s Prayer” is a prayer that is recited routinely in churches and almost every Christian event. Yet when reciting it, few realize that it is an entirely new understanding to recognize G-d as our Father. Jesus made it known to his disciples that they too were to become children of God. Jesus was considered a blasphemer and was crucified because he said God was his father for it was never so taught in Jewish tradition. At the time that Yeshua (Jesus) of Nazareth, ministered on earth. The Jewish authorities held that G-d had no son. The same doctrine is held by Islam today.

There were no Christians nor sons of God Before the Resurrection?

It is common to hear Christian leaders call Jesus’ disciples "Christians" during his earthly ministry. (It is even foolishly taught by some Christian pastors that followers of Moses were Christians.) The disciples were not yet Christians, they were, followers of Yeshua of Nazareth. His disciples believed him to be the promised King of Israel and it was hoped that he would become the ruling Messiah.

The original disciples did not attain to the status of sonship until after Jesus breathed upon them bringing spiritual regeneration and understanding to life in them. (John 20:22) (Luke 24:45) They were then prepared to received the "promise of the Father" the full immersion into the Spirit empowered life. The Spirit of Truth would take which Jesus would supply in word or action to minister with the anointings that Jesus' ministry required. Therefore, the sonship that was promised in the above prayer was spoken in advance of any of the disciples actually becoming "children of the Father."

Jesus' Teaches in Parables: The Wheat and the Tares; (585 w)
A Proof Text That We Are Not All God's Children.

Matthew 13: 36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. 37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; 38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; 39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. 40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.

The above passage indicates that some church-goers sitting in a pew next to us, who we presume to be Christians, may be among the tares. Others belonging to another denomination or religion may be numbered among the tares. Tares can be defined as unregenerate humanity. The appearance of goodness, religious status or moral standing is no guarantee that they are among the called and redeemed. Only God has this knowledge. Sorry! The Bible does not teach the equality of all religions.

Who is it that determines whether or not we qualify for the title of God's children? The Father in heaven knows those who are His own. This will become abundantly clear when the in gathering, final harvest, occurs at the end of the age.

Date of Edit: 03-08-2021