Genesis 1:27 "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."Since we were created by God it would appear that we are sons of God!
Genesis 61a "And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose."Theologians have always interpreted this to mean that "fallen angels" which God also created, married the daughters of men. Because God created angels who rebelled against him, that they were in fact his "sons" and God their "Father". Because they rebelled against the One whose offspring they were, forfeited their relationship.
Likewise, when God created Adam and Eve, that made him their Father. However, just as the angels had done before them, they were estranged from God and God emancipated them. Children who show signs of industriousness and independence can legally be emancipated from their guardian and have all the legal privileges as do adults. However, rebellious children who believe they are capable of doing for themselves can be emancipated by the courts in spite of the objection of the legal guardian. Adam and Eve, just as the fallen angels, were at one time "children of God", but because of their desire to do "what was right in their own eyes" God, in his justice, emancipated them.
However, with emancipation comes responsibility and consequences. After they "died to God" it was necessary for these prodigal children to provide for themselves. While they could toil and work the soil to live a physical life, they were soon to die because they were emancipated from God's protection! As such they were destined, along with the fallen angels, to eternal damnation. Because of their emancipation they didn't have God to save them and don't have the power to save themselves. That is the consequence of emancipation!
We're all familiar with emancipation of the slaves here in the United States. They lived a sparse existence, worked hard, but were cared for from cradle to grave. It may not have been a fair existence, but some, with hard work had liberty. At the conclusion of the "War Between the States", all slaves were emancipated with the 14th Amendment. They were now on their own and free. However, there are consequences to freedom. Many found themselves without care and like the Israelites in Pharoah's time, some wanted to give up their freedom for care under slavery. They voluntarily returned to their old masters as servants!
When Adam and Eve were emancipated from God they became slaves to Pharoah, symbolic of the devil. Because we are Adam's seed, we too are emancipated from God, but obedient to the devil.
Romans 5:12 "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:"This passage has several meanings. 1) We are now mortal, 2) we may die a second death (eternal death of our soul) and that we are born "emancipated". We are free to choose our own life. When we are old enough to make conscious decisions we can choose who our father is to be: Is it God or is it Satan? By default our father is Satan, but if we answer the knock of Jesus, then we offer our self as a living sacrifice to God. Because we are willing to sacrifice our all to God, God is willing to become our Father. Then we have certain rights. We restore out relationship that Adam once had!
The parable of "The Prodigal Son" is this "restoration":
Luke 15:31 "And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. 32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found."In this parable the younger son wasted all that his father had given him in a far away place. The father had thus emancipated his son and the son, with his new found freedom, squandered his inheritance. A famine came and he was in dire need! He was no longer his father's son. He was his own and had the freedom to do as he wished. That he did with "riotous" living. With that type of rebellion he became a foster son to another!
John 8:44a "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do."That "riotous" living" was pleasing to the devil. He was delighted that his son did his will and not his father's nor his Father's! When one is emancipated from God and has the freedom to do "what is right in his own eyes", then he is eligible for foster care. Satan, or the devil, stands patiently by waiting to adopt whoever is emancipated from God! By not doing the will of the Father, then we are no longer his son!
In the parable of the prodigal son, the youngest son was emancipated from the father, but when he returned he "was alive again" and "was lost, and is found". As such the son was restored to his intended position. He became a child of his father. This was symbolic of the "lost son" who is emancipated and the devil took him in; but because of sorrow, repentance and acceptance, God restores him as his child! This is called "adoption"!
Romans 8:15 "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.""Abba" is a loving term for Father. It's like "Daddy" or "Papa" is today. It's bestowed upon those who are dear! We cry out to the one we love and he's there for us!
When emancipated, we think we're free, but only our masters change. When one guardian grants freedom, the other enslaves. Therefore, emancipation is slavery! We trade a good master for a cruel master. Prodigal sons who taste freedom and squander what God has given, are blessed when God takes them back! For us all Adam emancipated us, but with one thing, God adopts us:
Galatians 3:26 "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus."It is by faith that we become children of God. We drop our devotion to our foster parent, the devil and believe in and trust Jesus Christ!
Romans 5: 17 "For if by one man's offence (Adam's) death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ."This passage amplifies what God offered all along. God emancipated Adam, not because he was dutiful, but because he failed to honor his Father. As such, death reigned by Adam and although Adam tasted freedom, he enslaved himself and mankind to the devil. We are born children in bondage. Out father is the devil and we're not "all God's children"! In fact since we're all born of Adam's blood the devil is the father of us all. When we were born, although we're God's offspring, the devil took us under his care. We are his until we are "born-again"! This "new birth" is when the adoption process is complete and we become new persons with a new parent, Jesus Christ!
2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."Being "born-again" is when we reject our foster father the devil and accept our true Father through Jesus Christ. This is the "adoption" process and it's a matter of faith. Trusting Jesus is ongoing. It's not something that we do for a spell, but it's a lifetime commitment to be a good son to God. As adopted sons, we go back to how it was before our emancipation. We wanted our freedom so that we could sin. Adam did that for us! When we're born-again we realize that we only believed our self to be free, but with freedom comes a price; it's personal responsibility without the safety offered by our guardian, God! Because we lack the protection of God, we are slaves because with freedom we get tricked by the deceiver. He tells us "Go ahead. Taste that freedom! Live for pleasure! Live for gain! To hell with everybody else!" Because we believe the lie, free men become slaves!
However, with faith comes advantages! We are under the protection of a divine guardian. We can call on him to guide us as in this prayer:
Luke 11:2 "And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth."This prayer is for those "born-again". It's for the sons and daughters adopted by God because none of us are born into God's son-ship... "no not one" for "all have sinned"! We are born children of the devil and are given the choice: "Do I want that new Dad or not?" God stands there patiently waiting and calling. "Come home!" "Come home prodigal son!" When we do come home he gives us the fanciest of robes and a life of luxury. Actually, prodigal sons become royalty... of the "royal priesthood"!
If a person is not one of "God's Children" therein lies trouble!
John 9:31 "Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth."People who pray even all day; unless preceded by sorrow, repentance, belief and trust, are not even heard when they pray! Why because they are of their father the devil. If that same person has been born-again and adopted, God hears the prayers! The only prayer God listens to before adoption is one of repentance!
Mark 2:17 "When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."Who are the sinners? Everybody! Who does Jesus call? Everybody! What is everybody to do? Repent! Saying and meaning "I'm sorry, Father, for my riotousness!' is how the adoption process begins. It can be a short process or quick. It depends on whether the sinner listens to the lies of his foster father or not. When God calls his son back home, Satan fights to keep him astray!
Some submit to servant-hood in Christ very quickly while others relish in the memory of the delights of Egypt. If we listen to God, obey and not look back, salvation is readily given. With salvation comes liberty from bondage and the bound son becomes free, but his choice as that of prodigal son is to become a servant to his Father!
Are homosexuals included in "We're all God's Children"? No one is if they are still living for their father the devil. They are still fostered out and adoption can't happen without repentance. Those "born-again" commence new lives because they become changed people. The prodigal son didn't come back to his father with baggage from riotous living. He came back humble, empty handed and sorrowful.
Anyone can become "God's child", but with adoption comes changed lives. If the life has not changed, then someone forged the adoption papers! It could be that your pastor disobeyed the Magistrate and inked in his own name. We are not "All God's Children" and if you want to be, there is a way, but it's not your way; it's God's Way... Jesus Christ!
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