WHOSE CHILDREN?

"In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil; whosoever does not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loves not his brother" (I John 3.10).

We are all children. The question is whose? Some say that we are all children of God. If by this expression is meant that all men are made in God's image, then this is true. But this is not what we are talking about. in fact, we challenge anyone to fi the phrase "children of God" as referring to all of humanity. The phrase is used in the Bible, but in every instance it refers to God's elect.

These children, like all children were BORN into their family. But unlike in physical families, God's children were eternally in Christ. They were God's children BEFORE Christ came to earth, "Forasmuch as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the devil; a deliver them who through fear of death were all that lifetime subject to bondage" (Hebrews 2.14-15).

As children often do, we went astray and became in our NATURE "children of wrath"; " Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others" (Ephesians 2.3). But despite being children of wrath, we were NEVER children of the devil! Like the prodigal son, we left our home and wandered away from our home in rebellion. This rebellion originally happened weigh Adam and we, inherited his sinful nature, which caused the same kind of rebellion in us, BUT WE WERE STILL SONS! "For this day MY SON was dead, and is alive again; he was lost and is found..." (Luke 15.24). Although this parable talks about the gentiles being the children of God as well as the Jews, the principle still applies. For God's chosen ones their sonship was eternal, "For he that sanctifies and he that is sanctified are ONE; for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying I will declare your name to my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise to you. And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, behold, I and the CHILDREN which God has given me" (Hebrews 2.11-13). When were these children of the Father given to the son? Before time began!

But not all men are the children of God. Some have another father, "you are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning and abode not in the truth in him. he speaks a lie because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie he speaks of his own; for he is liar and the father of it" (John 8.44). Thus there are some who never and will never be children of God. They are reprobates, rejected before time began in eternity. This is why Paul could say to Elymas the sorcerer, "...o full of all subtlety, and all mischief, you child of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness..." (Acts 10.10). These are the two worlds that exist.

Brethren, you see what the manifestations of members of these two types of children. Who is your father?