SONS OF GOD – ADOPTED NOT EARNED — Encouragement International, Inc.

First Published May 2009

An even more personable description of Christians is the term ‘sons of God.’ It is used by Paul in Romans 8. It is significant that he uses the term in Romans 8 because the previous chapters have been describing the salvation of God that comes to those embracing the work of Christ on the cross by faith alone. In Romans 8, ‘sons of God’ is used to describe the intimate relationship of those who have embraced by faith the teaching of Romans 1-7.

NAU Romans 8:14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God… 19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.

NIV Romans 8:14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God… 19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.

KJV Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God… 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

‘Sons of God’ describes a family relationship. While being ‘a Friend of God’ is honorable and desirable, being a ‘Son of God’ is more so. Sonship indicates legitimacy as opposed to illegitimacy. However, the ‘Sonship’ of a Christian is not naturally acquired but legally acquired. We are ‘declared righteous’ through faith alone in Christ’s work and following this legal theme, Christians are legally adopted by God into His family:

NAU Romans 8:15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”

NIV Romans 8:15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. {15 Or adoption} And by him we cry, “Abba, Father!”

KJV 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

Sonship, however, has responsibility. Just as children have the responsibility to represent well the family name, so Christians have the awesome responsibility to represent well the Name of God who has adopted them as sons and daughters into His family. Loving, lending and doing well to our enemies should be a trait of God’s adopted sons and daughters.

NAU Luke 6:35 “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.

NIV Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

KJV Luke 6:35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

Being a peacemaker should also be a trait in the life of an adopted son of God:

NAU Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

NIV Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

KJV Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

What an honor to be called Sons of God by God, our Father. Though adopted, the term expresses legitimacy – not because we earned the right, but because He did the work to make us legitimate to enter into His family.

Christians have a kind Father who has adopted them into His family, and He treats us more kindly than we deserve. In a kind family, the father and mother treat their children – both natural and adopted – with discipline, kindness and respect. In return, their children live to honor their parents with a lifestyle that reflects the values of the family. Let us live as Luke 6:35 and Matt 5:9 describe the adopted sons of God.