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Index to all Charles Pinkney Christian Study Essay Titles
John 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (In this passage the "right" is Gk. exousia, which means permission or authority.) The question may be asked, “Who are his own?” Are they the Jews under God’s covenant or does it refer to all of the human race? I think the answer is yes, both. The message of salvation comes to the Jew first and then the world (nations) gentiles.John 6:37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. The notion that all of humanity are the "Children of God" is a popularly held belief. It is the "ecumenical" viewpoint wherein no religion or denomination is excluded from claiming that they are among "God's children." This agrees with a Universalist theology. It has also been declared by the now pope, Pope Francis 1. In John, the first chapter, we find that those who receive him (Yeshua, Jesus the Messiah) will receive the Power which is Gk. exousia which means authority or permission. At this point we are to understand that not all will receive Jesus. They as unbelievers can not be among those who may call themselves "sons of God, or children of God." God has no grandchildren (https://youtu.be/9FUIkeQkjcI) and each who come to him must come on the strength of their own faith and calling. 1
John 3:1 - Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon
us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knows
us not, because it knew him not. I find this belief to be the current doctrinal understanding in many of the mainline Christian churches. Universalists uphold the comforting belief that man is essentially good and that a wise, all-compassionate God will certainly acknowledge that one's best human efforts will grant them an eternal heavenly reward based on their best intentions motivation and actions. It is a belief that seems most fair to the natural mind. The view that all are children of God is also allows a tenant of Buddhism where "all paths eventually lead to God." We must turn to Jesus' words to be reconciled to the reality, There is "a broad path that leads to destruction, by which many go.. "Matthew_7:13 Enter ye in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby. And also: Pro_16:25 There is a way that seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Jesus speaks of a narrow path. This narrow path leads through Jesus of Nazareth himself. He is the one access point, the door. He said, "No one comes to the 'Father' but through me." This narrow way has always been the pathway that brings offense and causes many to stumble. Also see: John 6:44: (Jesus speaking of those who come to believe in him) No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.") Why is the path that leads to salvation such a limited one? This chapter rightly belongs among the Mysteries of God. Is the WAY so restricted that it limits access to but a few? The belief of a hidden or limited path is rejected by the mass of humanity. Proofs are found in the New Testament but veiled and hinted in the Old Testament. The Holy Bible teaches that only those who are "born of God are the children of God." 1 John C.3, (The Jewish traditions honors the title of God by rendering the divine name God, ha shem or JHVH, Yahweh.) "Our
Father Who Art in Heaven.. " Remember in the days that Yeshua (Jesus) of Nazareth, ministered on earth. The Jewish authorities held that God had no son. The same doctrine is held by Islam today. It is emblazoned upon the Al Aqsa mosque on the dome of the Rock in Jerusalem. Why did Jesus so thoroughly offend the Jewish authorities of his day? Because they said he made himself equal with God; declaring that God was his father. This was blasphemy according to their understanding of Mosaic law. It continues to be a critical point of contention held by any orthodox Jew today. Since in Jewish tradition, God is “Echad” "one," the rabbis concluded that Yeshua can not be the Messiah because he made himself equal with JHVH. The Sanhedrin, of Jesus' day, crucified Jesus for this "blasphemy." Jesus instructed his disciples to pray to the heavenly Father even as he himself did. This new relationship foretold a new relationship that would soon come. It was not to affirm to them that "we are all God's children." This point of view of course is questioned by credentialed church leaders today. Only a closer study of the Bible texts will bring light to settle the matter. Christians
Before the Resurrection? That identity of Jesus as the "Son of the Living God" was was given to Peter by revelation of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 16:16) The question that Jesus asked his disciples that day is one of the most important questions that the entire human race will need to answer, both then and now! Thereafter the disciples believed that Jesus was truly the Messiah and the Son of the Living God. They carried this belief for the duration of their days with him. Nevertheless they stumbled at what it meant when Jesus spoke of his destiny to die in Jerusalem to fulfill his Father's will. Finally, the original disciples did not attain the status of sonship until after Jesus breathed upon them bringing spiritual regeneration (salvation to them) and empowered life to them. (John 20:22) (Luke 24:45) They were then prepared to received the "promise of the Father" (Acts C.1 vs 4) the full immersion into the Spirit Acts C,2) was an outpouring of the Holy Spirit to bring Spirit empowered life. The Spirit of Truth would take that which Jesus would supply in word or action to minister through his disciples with the various 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." Proverbs
30:4 - An Old Testament Statement Testifying of God's Son Jesus' Parable of the Wheat and the Tares; 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 sows 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 those sitting next to us in a pew, who we presume to be Christians, may be among the tares. Others from another denomination or religion may likewise be among the tares, unregenerate humanity. The appearance of goodness 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 knows those who are His own. This will become abundantly clear when the in-gathering, final harvest occurs at the end of the age. We who have been "born from above" have this witness that we are the children of God. From the viewpoint of any casual observer, believers are indistinguishable from unbelievers. Churches and cults imagine and display confidence in their righteous standing; that they are the elect and beloved of God. But have they had their names written in the "Book of Life?" Have they been "born again?" The Gospel of Grace declares that our status of adopted sons and daughters may be received as a free gift. It is not awarded because of meritorious religious works or righteous deeds. God Himself initiates this transaction supernaturally. He answers those who cry out with a sincere heart. Anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved! (Joel 2:32) 32 "And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: (saved) for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call." Why
Jesus Taught in Parables Proof
Texts from the Gospel of John John 6:37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. John 14.6 - - Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. It is the Father in heaven who makes the decision about those who will be drawn forth or "chosen" for the title of Son of God. But the qualifying fact is that they are to come to the Father through only one channel, that of the Son, who is also called the door of the sheep fold. Believing in God you do well, so do the demons and they tremble; But to go into the sheep fold by any other means is not permitted. (John 10: 7-10) John the apostle writes in his 1 John:3 Johns first Epistle: 3 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." John continues to clarify the identifying traits of those who are God's children and the children of the devil later in the same chapter: (1 John 3:9) Anyone born of God refuses to practice sin, because God’s seed abides in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. (10) By this the children of God and the children of the devil can be distinguished: Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother. Worldly Christians it seems, are far more engaged in pursuit of worldly rewards, name, fame, power, recognition, and acquisition of things. They have set their hearts (the seat of affections) upon things of this world that perish, and not things which are eternal / heavenly. John has exhorted against this pitfall, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." Worldly Christians it seems, are more engaged in pursuit of worldly rewards, name, fame, power, recognition, and acquisition of things. They have set their hearts (the seat of affections) upon things of this world, things that perish, and not things which are eternal / heavenly. John has exhorted against this pitfall, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (1 John 2:15) Some have debated the reality of Good vs. Evil. The Bible makes it clear; there are some human beings who are Evil and some who are Good. The good news is that we can change that status once we realize the truth about our fallen nature. Ephesians 2:v3 explains: We were in times past counted among the children of the evil one. But in God's time we were delivered from that state and translated into the Kingdom of God's dear son. AMPC translation of Ephesians 2:3 - - Among these we as well as you once lived and conducted ourselves in the passions of our flesh [our behavior governed by our corrupt and sensual nature], obeying the impulses of the flesh and the thoughts of the mind [our cravings dictated by our senses and our dark imaginings]. We were then by nature children of [God’s] wrath and heirs of [His] indignation, like the rest of mankind. Christ has redeemed us. We are redeemed from the curse of the law, Christ having been made a curse on our behalf. (Galatians 3:13) This is the Phillips translation of the same verse: "To you, who were spiritually dead all the time that you drifted along on the stream of this world’s ideas of living, and obeyed its unseen ruler (who is still operating in those who do not respond to the truth of God), to you Christ has given life! We all lived like that in the past, and followed the impulses and imaginations of our evil nature, being in fact under the wrath of God by nature, like everyone else. The final thought is this, we can be changed. We can be rescued from destruction. We can escape the wrath to come both temporal and spiritual. We can change our parentage from a fallen child of the evil one; (a son of Adam or daughter of Eve) to being a child of the living God. Christ
has redeemed us. We are redeemed from the curse of the law, Christ having
been made a curse on our behalf. (Galatians 3:13) The consequences of
not receiving our Savior Redeemer:
Return to Christian Titles Index Updated 08-25-2024
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