Are all people God's children? Why or why not?

[Guest Judas Machabeus]

8 hours ago, missmuffet said:

All People are God's creation. Only those who are born again believers in Christ are God's children John 1:12; Romans 8:16; 1 John 3:1-10. We become God's children when we are truly saved. We are co-heirs with God and Christ Ephesians 1:5.

Very good distinction. I was going to answer differently until I saw your post and realized I was not making the distinction between created and adopted. 

[missmuffet]

18 minutes ago, PlanetChee said:

That passage isn't saying people aren't God's children. All souls come from God. 

That is true but not all souls are going to heaven unfortunately.

[Fidei Defensor]

1 hour ago, PlanetChee said:

That passage isn't saying people aren't God's children. All souls come from God. 

Interesting point, "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb," (Psalm 139:13), ""Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations," (Jeremiah 1:5), and, "Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being." (Genesis 2:7).

So the question is what is meant by children of God? All people are children of God in the sense or semantics of that God breathes life into them or else they would not exist. But to be Child of God forever and spiritually you must have faith in Christ, "For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God's promise to Abraham belongs to you." (Galatians 3:26-29). The only way to be a eternal child of God is faith in Christ Jesus (John 6:40, Romans 10:9-10). While all are born children, in that God formed them in womb, sin takes the rights of being child away, the only way to get it back is to confess Jesus as Lord and believe God raised Him from dead in your heart (Romans 10:9-10).

[GoldenEagle]

@PlanetChee, @Yowm, @missmuffet, @Davida, @Spock, @simplejeff, @Fidei Defensor, @Gary Lee, @Judas Machabeus thanks for the feedback! A follow-up question then for clarification.

What's the difference between being God's creation and adopted as God's child?

God bless,
GE

[simplejeff]

6 minutes ago, GoldenEagle said:

@PlanetChee, @Yowm, @missmuffet, @Davida, @Spock, @simplejeff, @Fidei Defensor, @Gary Lee, @Judas Machabeus thanks for the feedback! A follow-up question then for clarification.

What's the difference between being God's creation and adopted as God's child?

God bless,
GE

 

8 hours ago, Gary Lee said:

This is the OP; Are all people God's children? Why or why not?  ........Not where all souls come from.

PlanetChee said; That passage isn't saying people aren't God's children

Joh 8:42  Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me   Joh 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil.   That is reasonably understandable. You cannot be a child of God and the devil, both.

 

The devil,  hasatan, is God's Creation,   but is not God's child.

Likewise the children of the devil here,  the many anti-christs among us.

[enoob57]

13 hours ago, Spock said:

I think there is Biblical evidence to support both positions - temporary and permanent, and I am now leaning toward temporary, with God then extinguishes their life completely. 

But I don't want to derail this thread.....

annihilism is humanism trying to rationalize the justice of God.... Hell is hermeneutically eternal and those not of God will be there without end suffering... they receive exactly what they wanted 'to have nothing to do with God' Who made them... God as Owner and Opperator of His eternal desires has a placed His Wrath upon them for their choices "they knew"

Romans 1:20 (KJV)

[20] For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

 

[Guest Judas Machabeus]

1 hour ago, GoldenEagle said:

@PlanetChee, @Yowm, @missmuffet, @Davida, @Spock, @simplejeff, @Fidei Defensor, @Gary Lee, @Judas Machabeus thanks for the feedback! A follow-up question then for clarification.

What's the difference between being God's creation and adopted as God's child?

God bless,
GE

I would say that God created us to love Him and be loved by Him. But he's not going to force that upon him. So when we are baptized we become part of the new coventant and covenants are making those that are not related to each other family. 

So when Jesus said this the blood of the new coventant. He is creating a new family bond with all that wish to join it. For some it's an altar call for others it's through baptism. Either way you enter into that covenant with Jesus and become a bonded (adopted) member of the family. 

Thats my take on it. 

Edited May 23, 2017 by Judas Machabeus

[PlanetChee]

12 hours ago, Gary Lee said:

This is the OP; Are all people God's children? Why or why not?  ........Not where all souls come from.

PlanetChee said; That passage isn't saying people aren't God's children

Joh 8:42  Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me   Joh 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil.   That is reasonably understandable. You cannot be a child of God and the devil, both.

 

The importance of context is a thread here that someone started. And this particular passage is evidence of why I think context is always key in reading the Bible. Jesus wasn't speaking of all people there so again that passage does not pertain to the OP .

John 8

8 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.

² And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.

³ And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,

⁴ They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.

⁵ Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?

⁶ This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

⁷ So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

⁸ And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

⁹ And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

¹⁰ When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?

¹¹ She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

¹² Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

¹³ The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.

¹⁴ Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.

¹⁵ Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.

¹⁶ And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.

¹⁷ It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.

¹⁸ I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.

¹⁹ Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.

²⁰ These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.

²¹ Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.

²² Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.

²³ And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.

²⁴ I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

²⁵ Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.

²⁶ I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.

²⁷ They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.

²⁸ Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.

²⁹ And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

³⁰ As he spake these words, many believed on him.

³¹ Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

³² And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

³³ They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

³⁴ Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

³⁵ And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.

³⁶ If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

³⁷ I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.

³⁸ I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.

³⁹ They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.

⁴⁰ But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.

⁴¹ Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.

⁴² Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

⁴³ Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.

⁴⁴ Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

⁴⁵ And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.

⁴⁶ Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?

⁴⁷ He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

⁴⁸ Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?

⁴⁹ Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.

⁵⁰ And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.

⁵¹ Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.

⁵² Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.

⁵³ Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?

⁵⁴ Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:

⁵⁵ Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.

⁵⁶ Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

⁵⁷ Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?

⁵⁸ Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

⁵⁹ Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

King James Version (KJV)

Public Domain

[Mike 2]

1 hour ago, Yowm said:

Spiritual rebirth.

1 Corinthians 2:11-14 KJV
[11] For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. [12] Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. [13] Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. [14] But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them , because they are spiritually discerned.

 

There is great meaning in this verse along with what Jesus, the Son of God says in Joh 5:19  Jesus told them, "Truly, I tell all of you with certainty, the Son can do nothing on his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing, What the Father does, the Son does likewise. 
Joh 5:20  The Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing, and he will show him even greater actions than these, so that you may be amazed. 

How is it that the Son (Jesus) "sees" what the Father does?  

 1 Corinthians 2:11-14 in the above quote gives us a clear indication. It is through the Holy Spirit that knows the things of God.

Without the Holy Spirit we cannot know the things (Father) of God.

Like a son comes out from the father physically it happens the same way spiritually. Spiritual truth and direction come out of the Father and are revealed by the Holy Spirit to the Son, most well known to us in that of Jesus. (waaaait for it.....)

As verse 14 above states someone that has not accepted what the Christ has done, and therefore has not received the Holy Spirit, cannot work as Jesus did because they cannot know (see) what the Father does (desires). They remain natural and are not sons of, children of, God, because they do not have Gods Holy Spirit in them. 

When we receive the Holy Spirit, we become sons of God (gender does not apply here) and we can then do Gods will on earth as it is in heaven.

We are all God's creation but we are not all God's spiritual children.

[missmuffet]

3 hours ago, enoob57 said:

annihilism is humanism trying to rationalize the justice of God.... Hell is hermeneutically eternal and those not of God will be there without end suffering... they receive exactly what they wanted 'to have nothing to do with God' Who made them... God as Owner and Opperator of His eternal desires has a placed His Wrath upon them for their choices "they knew"

Romans 1:20 (KJV)

[20] For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

 

Yes