GOD'S SONS

The title "the Son of God" appears forty-seven times in the Bible.  The only reference to it in the Old Testament is found in Daniel 3:25, where Nebuchadnezzar said, "Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God."  Don't you find it strange that the leader of the Babylonian Empire, the one responsible for conquering Israel, a heathen Gentile, would be able to identify the fourth person in the fiery furnace as being "like the Son of God?"  It reminds me of the three disciples recognizing Moses and Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration (Mt. 17:1-8).  The Word does not tell us how Nebuchadnezzar new what the Son of God looked like, nor does it tell us how Peter, James, and John knew the two men who appeared before them.  I suppose if it were important that we know, God would have told us.  We probably should add that to our list of the millions of questions we hope to discuss in heaven.

Of the forty-six references in the New Testament, Christ's enemies recognized Him:  Satan (Mt. 4:3), the demons (Mt. 8:29), and the Centurion (Mt. 27:54).   His disciples believed He was God's Son (Mk. 1:1; Lk. 3:38; Jn. 1:49; Jn. 11:4; 20:31; Acts 9:20; etc.), but only John identifies Him as God's "only begotten Son" (Jn. 1:14, 18; 3:16, 18; 1 Jn. 4:9).  That distinction is very important in that, while God has many sons (and daughters), only Jesus was "begotten" of Him.  Jesus' Father is God; He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and became a human being (Lk. 1:35).  All of the rest of God's sons (and daughters) came to be God's children by believing in Jesus; we are adopted by God (Jn. 1:11-12).  Here are a few of the verses that speak of our adoption as children of God:

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."

Romans 8:23 - "And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body."

Galatians 4:5-7 - "To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.  And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.  Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ."

Ephesians 1:5-6 - "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved." 

If you believe in Jesus as God's only begotten Son, you have become FAMILY!