Children of God

Introduction

Divine filiation is the idea that “we are truly children of God” (1Jn 3: 2). The startling issue about divine filiation is its scope. For one might ask:

Can we be divine offspring independently of a spiritual journey transforming “what is born of the flesh” (Jn 3: 6a) into “what is born of the Spirit” (Jn 3: 6b)?

And then answer:

Yes, of course we can.

See? We are all set: there is a question and a model answer to that question. In what follows, I’ll quickly discuss the opposite answer:

Divine filiation is the work of the Holy Spirit and is not to be understood according to the flesh, that is, in terms of blood, human will and semen.

Born of God

The first thing one needs to know when it comes to God’s offspring is that they are “born not of blood ort he will of the flesh or the will of a male, but of God” (Jn 1: 13).

Those who are born of God are born “not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the word of the living and enduring God” (1Pt 1: 23).

See? It is this simple: anyone can think of themselves as children of God provided “God’s seed abides in them”(1Jn 3: 9b). Human seed is not at stake here – human seed is perishable and therefore irrelevant. What is at stake is the word of God.

Whenever we think of ourselves as children of God but the word does not abide in us, well, we are making wrongful use of God’s name. Yes, that's right, you got it. We are violating one of the Ten Commandment: “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not acquit anyone who takes his name in vain” (Ex 20: 7).

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Born from above

The second thing one needs to know regarding God’s offspring is that they come from above, as opposed to below, from heaven, as against earth, from God and not form human parents. Actually, God’s children come from heaven as they are born of the Spirit:

"No one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above. […] What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said: ‘You must be born from above'" (Jn 3: 3.6-7).

Human filiation is not tantamount to divine filiation. What makes the difference is the Spirit, not our flesh: "It is the Spirit that gives life; the flesh profits nothing" (Jn 6: 63a). One cannot claim they are born from above simply because they are living their life in this world, born of the flesh on earth. This world is dust, not heaven. God’s offspring is the only begotten Son and whoever abides in him by way of faith:

“You are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  […] All of you are one in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3: 26.28b).  

This is key to divine filiation – being one in Christ. There is just one Son, Christ, "the only begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father" (Jn 1: 18). All of us can become children of God by being one in Christ out of the Spirit. Actually, perfecting our being one in Christ enables us to increasingly ascend to heaven without taking God’s name in vain nor stealing:

“Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place? Those who have clean hands and pure hearts, who do not lift up their souls in vain” (Ps 24: 3-4).

The “sons of man” who claim they are “sons of God” without being born from above, seem likely to be making their little individual selves equal to Christ, thus offending the Spirit:

“The sons of man will be forgiven for all their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin” (Mk 3: 28-29).

It appears that dismissing the role of the Spirit in divine filiation is such a type of unforgivable blasphemy. No matter God’s love for humankind and creation as we know it from the point of view of the life we live in our flesh, God is our Father only insofar as we are born from above.

Properly, to be God’s offspring, we must be born of the Spirit and be made one in Christ Jesus, the one in whom God’s is well pleased (see Mt 3:17; Mk 1:11; Lk 3, 22).

Conclusion

We are not children of God intrinsically. By our very nature, we are of the dust; and yet, we may become God’s offspring, who are of heaven. Having set aside our little individual selves, we will stop taking God's name in vain, and will better taste and partake of King David's song:

“Ascribe to the Lord, O sons of God, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name” (Ps 29: 2).

Being born of God and having peace on earth seem strongly related. I thnik their mutual connection is as follow: God loves anybody, but peace only is for people with whom He is well-pleased. Peace calls for being born from above and made one in Christ Jesus, as God is well-pleased in Him:

"This is my Son, the Beloved, in whom I'm well-pleased" (Mt 3, 17 and see Mk 1, 11; Lk 3, 22).

As it is written:

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those with whom He is well pleased” (Lk 2: 14 and see Phil 2: 13).

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