The Sons of God

Millions of people all over the world accept Jesus Christ as the Son of God without a second thought. Most people don't even realize what this really means.

Those who have given it some consideration will perceive it as a strange idea. The very concept of a 'divine family' is not only against the nature of God as the Supreme Being but is the ultimate blasphemy. God cannot be absolute if he shares his attributes with another partner or has a 'begotten son'. Procreation is a human act of sexuality. God is above the needs of sex for the initiation of his creations. To originate anything He only has to will it to cause its existence.

So where does this belief stem from? The Church and Evangelistic organizations actively promote the 'sonship' of Christ. But Christ did not preach this in his gospels. lt seems to be another doctrine which developed and is now difficult to shed. To deny that Jesus is THE Son of God would shake one of the Church's foundation stones. Let's take a look at what the Bible says about this

We read in Matthew 3:17, when Jesus was baptized by John:
'And L o a voice from heaven, saying, This is m y beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.'

In this verse it appears that Jesus is God's son. But if the word 'son' is accepted literally, it causes some problems because many other people are called 'son' in the Bible.

For example in Romans 8.14 'For alI who are being led by the Spirit of God, are the sons of God. '

In the following verse Jacob (Israel) is His firstborn son. "And thou (Moses) shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord, Israel is my son, even my firstborn. " Exodus 4:22

Read also II Samuel 7:13-14 and I Chronicles 22:10: "He (Solomon) shall build a house for m y name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father and he shall be my son.... "
These references to 'sons' of God obviously do not apply to Jesus.

Read Jeremiah 31:9 you will notice it is said that God says ...Ephriam is My firstborn". But In Exodus 4:22 Israel was called firstborn, too. Who is now the real firstborn? Israel or Ephraim? Surely there cannot be TWO firstborn children?

The Bible even calls common people children of God; as mentioned in Deuteronomy 14:1. "Ye are the children of the Lord your God. ", they can also be called firstborn. "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn of many brethren. " Romans 8:29.

If all are firstborn, what is Jesus then? Could he be the begotten Son of God? Does this word 'begotten' make: Jesus unique and special?

"God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son... " John 3. 1 6.

But long before Jesus was born, God said to David in Psalm 2:7, "I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me (David), Thou art my Son; this day have l begotten thee. "
 
This makes David God's begotten Son as well. So now we know that according to the Bible Jesus is not the only begotten Son of God.

Do you see the problems if the meaning of 'Son' or 'begotten son' of God are taken as literal.

Metaphorically anyone who is beloved by God can be His 'son'. Jesus also said that God is not only his Father but also your Father (Matthew 5:45,48). "That ye may be the children of your Father" and 'By ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. "

You will see in many passages of the Bible "Son of God" which signifies love and affection, nearness to God, not just applied to Jesus alone. You will see sons and daughters of God in II Corinthians 6: 1 8: "And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. "

 In view of these and other passages in the Bible, there is no reason whatsoever why Jesus should be regarded as Son of God in a literal or unique sense.

Some people might say that, as he has no father; that is why he is Son of God.

But Adam is not considered as the unique Son of God, as Jesus is, although he lacked both father and mother, and is also called Son of God in Luke 3:38: "Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God "

There is also another really unique person who is "Without father, without mother without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God, abideth a priest continually. " Hebrews 7:3.

Who is he? The answer is in Hebrews 7:1: " Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham... "

Melchisedec is more unique than Jesus or Adam. Why is he not preferred to be Son of God or God himself?

Jesus called himself Son of man and refused to be called Son of God. "And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of Goal. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak, for they knew that he was Christ. " Luke 4:41.

It is clear here that he refused to be called Son of God. He refused again in Luke 9:20-22, and told them so.
"He (Jesus) said unto them (the disciples), But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of Goo'. And he straightly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing. "

Jesus who was the expected Messiah, a Prophet, was escalated from teacher to Son of God, Lord, and finally God Himself. Read John 3:2: "The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God...' (John 6:1 4): "Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world."

Jesus is called a prophet in John 7:40, Matthew 21: 11, Luke 7:1 6 and 24:19.

It was Paul's doctrine to spread the belief that Jesus was THE Son of God. "And straightway he (Paul) preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God." Acts 9:20.

This shows that early Christians were still using synagogues, but later when Christianity deviated from the original teaching of Jesus, churches were established. Paul, Barnabas and the gentiles were expelled from the synagogues, as they were accused of blasphemy and pollution. Read Acts 1 3:50, 1 7:1 8 and 21:28.

The Quran identifies Jesus as the Son of Mary. This is a definition which none can disagree with. In Chapter AI-Anbyaa verse 21.25-26 God says: "...There is no God except Me; therefore, you shall worship Me.' But they said, 'God most gracious has taken a son for Himself!' God be glorified, no, the prophets are no more than honored servants."

Ascribing a son to God is a most serious offence. Read verses 88-91 of Chapter Mary of the Quran: "They said. "God most gracious has begotten a son!" Indeed you have uttered a gross blasphemy. The Heavens are about to shatter, the earth is about to burst, and the mountains are about to crumble upon hearing such a claim about God most gracious. It is utterly improper that God most gracious should take for Himself a son".

In Chapter AI-An'aam 6.101 the Quran say; "He is the designer of the heavens and the earth. How could he need a son? Nor did he need a wife. Instead, he created all things, and He is fully aware of all things."

Chapter AI-Kahf 1 8.1 -5 tells us why God sent down the Quran: "...to bear Good News for the believers who work righteousness...and to warn those who claimed that God has taken a son for Himself. They have no real knowledge thereof, nor did their ancestors. Gross indeed is such an utterance, coming out of their mouths. What they utter is a lie."