God's Children

[essayfinder]

How we are partly involve God

 

[Walkntune]

All throughout the Bible we are repeatedly reminded that we are children of our Heavenly Father, why is it that so many denominations who read the Bible read that and do not believe it?
God has never referred to us as his pets, nor his mere creations, nor will He ever, Jesus taught us that we are all God's children. What does that mean to you?

It means He is our spiritual father.God is Spirit and must be worshipped in spirit.

 

[Storm]

Then how can God be your parent?

It's called a metaphor. Obviously, we're not God's physical children. You already have biological parents.

So you don't believe God is "Biologically" a living being?
Do you believe God can have children? Do you believe he would want to have children? Why or why not

Actually, I do. But I'm not a theist.

 

[zomg]

I find it uncomfortable that "the worlds most important book" is the also the most highly debated book in the world, and I also find it uncomfortable how many denominations base their religions on Biblical assumptions, such as what is a metaphor and what isn't.

I know! Wouldn't it be awesome if there was one truth we could all follow, one religion with all the answers? A true and living church led by God? Where oh where could we find that?!?!?!

 

[InChrist]

I believe according to the biblical scriptures everyone is a creation of God, but only those who put their faith in Jesus Christ alone to save them from their sins are then adopted by God and become His children.


But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. Romans 8:9-17

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. 1 John 3:1-3

 

[InChrist]

I know! Wouldn't it be awesome if there was one truth we could all follow, one religion with all the answers? A true and living church led by God? Where oh where could we find that?!?!?!

I believe it is found in Jesus Christ alone.

 

[Awoon]

"God" as the creating principle of the universe was determined by Jesus to be the parent of humans.

 

[Flat Earth Kyle]

No, I'm stating that the Bible does use metaphor without putting a big warning saying "HEY, EVERYONE! THIS IS A METAPHOR!" in front of it.

But as for the "Our Father in Heaven" thing, let me put it this way: do you have an actual father? As in an Earthly, human father?

Now... do human beings have multiple fathers, or only one?

It seems to me that a common sense approach to the text excludes a literal interpretation.


Yes, it is inconvenient for anyone claiming one particular interpretation of the Bible above all others that the actual text allows so many.


But you're doing exactly that: you're making a Biblical assumption that this phrase isn't a metaphor.

Have I really made any straightforward statements in this thread? I'm just asking questions.

 

[Flat Earth Kyle]

It means He is our spiritual father.God is Spirit and must be worshipped in spirit.

So if God is the Father of our spirits, does that mean we are part God? For we are made of body and spirit?

 

[Flat Earth Kyle]

I believe according to the biblical scriptures everyone is a creation of God, but only those who put their faith in Jesus Christ alone to save them from their sins are then adopted by God and become His children.


But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. Romans 8:9-17

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. 1 John 3:1-3

Powerful quotation.
What does it mean to you "heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. Romans 8:9-17"
It sounds quite literal to me, being like Him, being as pure as Him and being glorified with him. So are we metaphorically God's Children, or can we be literally God's children through adoption?
Another question, what exactly is Christ an heir of?

 

[Flat Earth Kyle]

"God" as the creating principle of the universe was determined by Jesus to be the parent of humans.

Jesus determined God would be the parent of humans?

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Have I really made any straightforward statements in this thread? I'm just asking questions.

You've made quite a few claims and statements in the course of asking those questions, and the ones you've asked do seem to be pointing in a particular direction.

 

[Flat Earth Kyle]

It's called a metaphor. Obviously, we're not God's physical children. You already have biological parents.


Actually, I do. But I'm not a theist.

So you believe God can have children, but you don't believe there is a God?

 

[Storm]

So you believe God can have children, but you don't believe there is a God?

No, I believe in God, just not a theistic God.

 

[Flat Earth Kyle]

You've made quite a few claims and statements in the course of asking those questions, and the ones you've asked do seem to be pointing in a particular direction.

so I am making claims and statements by asking questions?
If anything my questions are just finding out what other people believe in.
It is other people making the claims and statements.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

so I am making claims and statements by asking questions?
If anything my questions are just finding out what other people believe in.
It is other people making the claims and statements.

This is both a statement and a claim:

All throughout the Bible we are repeatedly reminded that we are children of our Heavenly Father,

So is this:

why is it that so many denominations who read the Bible read that and do not believe it?

And this:

God has never referred to us as his pets, nor his mere creations, nor will He ever, Jesus taught us that we are all God's children.

 

[Flat Earth Kyle]

people interpret the bible in many different ways.

being God's children? That'd be weird. I guess it'd be like having a father who ran away from home and has ditched his responsibilities as we can't have direct contact.

If God is our Heavenly Father and He sits us down and tells us to follow him we decide not to but to go a different way, who ditches who?

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

If God is our Heavenly Father and He sits us down and tells us to follow him we decide not to but to go a different way, who ditches who?

Do you think that this actually happens?

 

[Flat Earth Kyle]

No, I believe in God, just not a theistic God.

I thought Theist was believing in God and atheist was not beliving in God?
I don't understand, you believe in God, but not a belief in God God?

 

[Storm]

I thought Theist was believing in God and atheist was not beliving in God?
I don't understand, you believe in God, but not a belief in God God?

Speaking precisely, theism is a certain idea of God, namely a supernatural creator. I'm a panentheist, not a theist.