The term "Sons of God" in the New Testament is a significant theological concept that denotes a special relationship between believers and God, emphasizing both identity and inheritance. This term is primarily used to describe those who have been adopted into God's family through faith in Jesus Christ, highlighting the transformative nature of salvation and the intimate relationship believers share with God.

Adoption and Identity

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul extensively discusses the concept of believers as "Sons of God" through the spirit of adoption. In Romans 8:14-17 , Paul writes, "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!' The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him." This passage underscores the intimate relationship believers have with God, characterized by the ability to call Him "Abba," an Aramaic term for father that conveys deep affection and closeness.

Transformation and Inheritance

The identity as "Sons of God" is not merely a title but signifies a profound transformation and a promise of inheritance. In Galatians 3:26-29 , Paul states, "You are all sons 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 Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise." This passage highlights the unity and equality of all believers as "Sons of God," transcending ethnic, social, and gender distinctions, and affirming their status as heirs to the promises made to Abraham.

Moral and Ethical Implications

Being "Sons of God" carries moral and ethical implications, as believers are called to reflect the character of their Heavenly Father. In Matthew 5:9 , Jesus declares, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God." This beatitude emphasizes that those who pursue peace and reconciliation are living in accordance with their divine identity. Similarly, in Philippians 2:15 , Paul exhorts believers to "become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world." Here, the call to holiness and moral integrity is linked to the identity of being God's children.

Eschatological Hope

The New Testament also connects the identity of "Sons of God" with eschatological hope. In 1 John 3:1-2 , the Apostle John writes, "Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is." This passage assures believers of their current status as God's children and points to the future transformation and glorification that will occur at Christ's return.

In summary, the term "Sons of God" in the New Testament encapsulates the believer's identity, transformation, ethical calling, and future hope, all rooted in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.Sons of God New Testament

SONS OF GOD (NEW TESTAMENT)

1. New Testament Terms:

Two Greek words are translated "son," teknon, huios, both words indicating sonship by parentage, the former indicating that the sonship has taken place by physical descent, while the latter presents sonship more from the legal side than from the standpoint of relationship. John, who lays special emphasis on sonship by birth, uses teknon, while Paul, in emphasizing sonship from the legal side, as referring to adoption, which was current among the Romans but scarcely if at all known to, or if known, practiced by, the Jews, uses the word huios (John 1:12 Romans 8:14, 16, 19 Galatians 4:6, 7 1 John 3:1, 2).

2. New Testament Doctrine:

Men are not by nature the sons of God, at least not in the sense in which believers in Christ are so called. By nature those outside of Jesus Christ are "children of wrath" (Ephesians 2:3), "of disobedience" (Ephesians 2:2), controlled not by the Spirit of God (Romans 8:14), but by the spirit of disobedience (Ephesians 2:2-4). Men become sons of God in the regenerative and adoptive sense by the acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour (John 1:12 Galatians 3:26). The universal brotherhood which the New Testament teaches is that brotherhood which is based on faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as the divine and only Saviour of the world. And the same is true of the universal Fatherhood of God. It is true that all men are "his offspring" (Acts 17:28 f) in the sense that they are God's created children; but that the New Testament makes a very clear and striking distinction between sonship by virtue of creation and sonship by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, there can be no reasonable doubt.

Sonship is the present possession of the believer in Christ (1 John 3:2). It will be completed at the second coming of our Lord (Romans 8:23), at which time the believer will throw off his incognito, by reason of which the world may not have recognized his sonship (1 John 3:1, 2), and be fully and gloriously revealed as the son of God (2 Corinthians 5:10). It doth not yet appear, it hath not yet appeared, what we shall be; the revelation of the sons of God is reserved for a coming day of manifestation.

The blessings of sonship are too numerous to mention, save in the briefest way. His sons are objects of God's peculiar love (John 17:23), and His Fatherly care (Luke 12:27-33). They have the family name (Ephesians 3:14 1 John 3:1); the family likeness (Romans 8:29); family love (John 13:35 1 John 3:14); a filial spirit (Romans 8:15 Galatians 4:6); a family service (John 14:23; John 15:8). They receive fatherly chastisement (Hebrews 12:5-11); fatherly comfort (2 Corinthians 1:4), and an inheritance (Romans 8:17 1 Peter 1:3-5).

Among the evidences of sonship are: being led by the Spirit (Romans 8:14 Galatians 5:18); having a childlike confidence in God (Galatians 4:5); having liberty of access (Ephesians 3:12); having love for the brethren (1 John 2:9-11; John 5:1), and obedience (1 John 5:1-3).

William Evans

The People of the Book.
... the Church of God, the people are never spoken of by this their new designation
of "sons," but always by the title used of those in the Old Testament who were ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the people of the book.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, John i. 10, "The World was Made ...
... sermons on selected lessons of the new testament. Sermon LXXI. ... "But as many as received
Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God." See ye have ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon lxxi on the words.htm

On the Same Words, John i. "In the Beginning was the Word," Etc.
... sermons on selected lessons of the new testament. Sermon LXIX. ... But as many as received
Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God." "To become ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon lxix on the same.htm

The Love that Calls us Sons
... more accurately given, and to which in the New Testament that name ... Every one that
loveth is born of God,' that is ... them gave He power to become the sons of God ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/the love that calls us.htm

On Christian Liberty
... We will restrict this consideration to the church of the New Testament, to which ...
a deliverance from real bondage, the privilege of the sons of God, and the ...
/.../the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 20 on christian liberty.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, John x. 30, "I and the Father are One. ...
... sermons on selected lessons of the new testament. Sermon LXXXIX. ... All the rest
then, all saints are sons of God by grace, He Alone by Nature. ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon lxxxix on the words.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, John xii. 44, "He that Believeth on Me ...
... sermons on selected lessons of the new testament. ... that He is the True Son; therefore
He was to be distinguished, because of the many sons which God hath. ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon xc on the words.htm

The Redeemer's Return is Necessitated by the Ratification of the ...
... John wrote, "Beloved, now are we the sons of God ... Keep yourselves in the love of God,
looking for ... Each Epistle writer of the New Testament makes mention of the ...
/.../pink/the redeemers return/iii the redeemers return is.htm

The Silence of Faith.
... morning stars sang together; and all the sons of God ... light of knowledge of the mind
of God which the ... do the latter, the writers of the New Testament, say, with ...
/.../kingsley/westminster sermons/sermon xxv the silence of.htm

The Knowledge of God a Divine Gift, According to the Philosophers.
... to prophesy (the latter being called the sons of God ... yet let him know that it was
God Himself that ... and necessary proofs," but in the Old and New Testament. ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter xiii the knowledge of god.htm

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