Despite the misuse of the term by many Christians, not all of us are children of God. The Bible states that fact clearly, multiple times, but our eyes tend to skip over those words as they interfere with the image of God we have built in our minds. Many people, including Rousseau, Twain, and Voltaire, are quoted as saying: “God created man in his own image and man, being a gentleman, returned the favor.”
Nicholas Epley of the University of Chicago, described the results of a study he conducted on that topic in an article in National Geographic. Epley said,
“People may use religious agents as a moral compass, forming impressions and making decisions based on what they presume God as the ultimate moral authority would believe or want. The central feature of a compass, however, is that it points north no matter what direction a person is facing. This research suggests that, unlike an actual compass, inferences about God’s beliefs may instead point people further in whatever direction they are already facing.”
We want God to prop the Heavenly gate wide open and welcome everyone into his kingdom. Jesus’ description of Heaven, however, shows many people locked outside and suffering, desperately longing to get in, without relief.
Our New Testament epistle reading this week from John amplifies that understanding of separation from the rest of the world through adoption by God:
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been fathered by God, and everyone who loves the father also loves the child fathered by him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God: whenever we love God and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God: that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, 4 because everyone who is fathered by God conquers the world. And this is the victory which has conquered the world: our faith. 5 Now who is the one who conquers the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? — 1 John 5:1–5 (LEB)
That first sentence creates a dichotomy of people who believe Jesus is the Christ (anointed one), and those who don’t. John writes that those who do believe it are fathered by God, implying a different situation for those who do not believe.
All people are created by God; so are animals, rocks, and trees. Merely being created by God is not the same as being adopted by him. Paul describes the difference in his letter to the church in Rome:
For all those who are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself confirms to our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer together with him so that we may also be glorified together with him. — Rom 8:14–17
Paul explains the adoption model as having been decided by God for each of us before creation. This also is uncomfortable for many Christians, but as Epley alluded, aligning the Bible to our thoughts is quite different from aligning our thoughts to the Bible. We have to adjust our theology to match what Scripture says, rather than adjusting Scripture to match what we want it to say.
…just as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption through Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his will… — Eph 1:4–5
Of course, we’re tempted to think that these statements are just from Paul or John, and not Jesus himself. That “red-letter Bible” concept always seemed irrational to me. On one hand, they attest to Scripture being inspired by God, referring to 2 Tim 3:16–17 — All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, in order that the person of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. Yet on the other hand, they ascribe a higher level of authenticity to the third-party statements attributed to Jesus. For them it seems that statements brought by the second person of the Trinity outweigh those made by the third. In this case, however, we have Gospel verification of the adoption doctrine by Jesus himself.
In his warning to the Pharisees who were rejecting him, Jesus said, “If God were your father, you would love me, for I have come forth from God and have come. For I have not come from myself, but that one sent me. 43 Why do you not understand my way of speaking? Because you are not able to listen to my message. 44 You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father! That one was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand firm in the truth, because truth is not in him. Whenever he speaks the lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies. — John 8:42–44
If everyone is a child of God, then we are already all saved. Why would Jesus be tortured and crucified if everyone is a child of God already? There would be no need, and that’s a lot of suffering for Jesus to endure for nothing if it wasn’t necessary.
We see the importance of understanding and believing that Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead in his statement to Thomas in John’s Gospel:
…Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” — John 20:29
Why would Jesus talk about the importance of believing in his resurrection if everyone is already saved? That’s the problem with universalism: It sounds wonderfully inclusive and loving, but its functionality falls apart at the foot of the cross. The Bible use of the term adoption is deliberate. It is done by the parent, not the child, and is permanent. When children are adopted into a family, it brings an irrevocability to the relationship. Foster children are temporary; adoption is forever.
Easter reminds us of the glory that awaits us if, and only if, we put our hope in Jesus and his conquering of death. By his death, our sins are atoned, and by his resurrection, we receive eternal life. But only if we accept his offer of salvation and believe.
Your Brother in Christ,
Fr. Austin
Footnote: Ed Yong, “Creating God in One’s Own Image,” National Geographic, Nov. 30, 2009, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/creating-god-in-ones-own-image?loggedin=true&rnd=1712084829509.