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                                             ON BEING SONS OF GOD

                                                                                                             By W. G. Guy

John 1:12 – But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 

            The purpose for Jesus Christ coming in the flesh to be the sin sacrifice was not just for believers to be saved and go to heaven, but to become the children and family of almighty God – also known as “sons of God” and joint heirs of God’s kingdom with Christ.  It is the work of the Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ reveals God as our Heavenly Father.  The evangelical church preaches the gospel, but in limited amounts failing to show the whole purpose of God in Jesus Christ.  God wants to restore to fallen mankind what was lost in the garden when sin entered.  Consider the following scriptures.

Romans 8:14 – For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God,   (not the bride of Christ).

Romans 8:19 – For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God,  (not the bride of Christ). 

Galatians 4:6 – And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father, (not Father-in-law). 

Philippians 2:14-15 – Do all things without murmurings and disputings:  that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;  (His light shining in and through us, as sons of God, not as His bride).

1 John 3:1-2 – Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God (not the bride): therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.  Beloved, now are we the sons of God (not the bride), and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him, (not like her); for we shall see him as he is. 

          Preachers and teachers traditionally say that the church is the bride of Christ.  This is not accurate!  The church, which is composed of those who believe in Him (according to John 1:12) are “sons” of God our Heavenly Father.  Under the Old Covenant, Israel’s relationship with God was different then our relationship with God under the New Covenant.  Under the Old Testament (Covenant), Israel was identified as the wayward wife of God, in that he was married to Israel, (Jeremiah 3:1 & 20). 

          Under the New Testament (Covenant) we are born into our relationship with Him.  The new birth, or being born-again, makes us His children, sons of God through Jesus Christ.  Israel could be represented as our mother according to Revelation 12.

Revelation 12:17 – And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

          Sons do not make up a bride!  God is not preparing a bride for Jesus Christ, He is preparing sons as heirs to His kingdom with Christ who are going to rule and reign with Him, not be His wife.

Romans 8:16-17 – The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:  and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ (not His bride); if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Romans 12:5 – so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

1 Corinthians 12:12 & 27 – For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. ….Now ye are the body of Christ (not the bride), and members in particular.

          Nowhere in the Bible is the church called the bride of Christ.  The error preached about believers being the bride of Christ comes from misunderstanding a verse in the bible that is used allegorically about how a man should love his wife. 

Ephesians 5:25 –  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it

          The error also appears to be a product of the Roman Catholic Church and their feminine focus of Mary as being the deified Mother of God and Queen of Heaven.
The verse above says, “as Christ loved the church” and does not say the church is His wife.  Jesus is the example of how a man should love his wife, giving of himself for her.  This includes forgiving her for overdrawing in the check book, or over spending on credit cards, etc.  Many preachers also fail to understand what the bride really is as it is directly stated in the Book of Revelation.

Revelation 21:2 – And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  (Who is the husband, Jesus and His body of believers, the joined with Him as sons of God.)

Revelation 21:9-10 – And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.  And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.  (The city descends, the believing sons of God ascend into heaven to join with Him.)

          Believers constitute Christ’s body here on earth as His direct representatives.  When we are joined with Him at the resurrection/rapture we are joint heirs with Him and compose the groom.  There is a wedding celebration that joins the groom with the bride consummating the marriage.  That is when Jesus and His body of believers enter into the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, our dwelling place that has been prepared for us.  Preachers try to say that the Holy City of the New Jerusalem represents the church as the bride.  The Bible does not say this, it is assumed!  By teaching this doctrine that we are the bride, we belittle what God has ordained for us as joint heirs with Him; as kings and priests with Him; to rule and reign with Him!

          Besides, you don’t put a man’s head on a woman’s body, which is an abomination, (and sounds like what Satan is trying to do with transgenderism).

Ephesians 5:23 – For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 

Colossians 1:18 – And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 

          It is important to understand who you are as a believer in the Lord and what He has planned for you, as well as the position He has for you.

1 Peter 2:9-10 – But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:  which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God:

        If you are a born-again believer, you are not a bride but a Child of the Father, as sons of God, who will rule and reign with Christ. 

2 Corinthians 6:7b-18 – ……… and I will receive you, 18 and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters  (not a bride), saith the Lord Almighty.
 
         The term, “bride of Christ” is allegorical and not literal; representing a loving and caring relationship with the LORD.  You will not be a bride, or a wife, but a fellow heir with Christ in the kingdom of God.  The term "as a bride" is allegorical and is used as an illustration of Christ's love for those who receive and believe in Him.

          In conclusion; back to the verse listed at the beginning of this article:
John 1:12 – But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

       Being made a son or child of God gives us a special purpose in this world. Our Lord Jesus Christ has made us able to be sons of God so we can be the light of the world that Jesus declared.  Consider this:

1 John 1:5 – This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

          Since God, our Heavenly Father is LIGHT, then His divine Son, Jesus Christ is also of that same Light.  God is light, and the source of light which equals illumination of divine knowledge, purity, holiness, truth, and righteousness; and so it is with Jesus.

John 8:12 – Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

      Now consider us believers being that light that Jesus called His true followers to be:

Matthew 5:14-16 – Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

          The Son of God is light, carrying in Him the light of the Father.  Those of us who are born-again of the Spirit, having His light in us, as His followers, enables us so that we can be His light in this world.  That light of God, through Jesus, in us identifies us as TRUE SONS OF GOD.

1 John 3:2 –  Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that whenever he is revealed we will be like him, (not her), because we will see him just as he is.   (The shinning light)