SPECIAL TOPIC: CHILDREN OF GOD

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE CHILDREN OF GOD

The NT writers often use familial imagery to describe Christianity:

Father
Son
children
born again
adoption

Christianity is analogous to a family, not a product (ticket to heaven, fire insurance policy). This imagery comes from the intimacy of the faithful Jewish home. Believers in Christ have become the new eschatological "people of God" (cf. Rom. 2:28-29; Gal. 3:26-29; Eph. 2:11-3:13). As children we should reflect the Father's character, as did the "unique" (cf. John 1:14; 3:16) Son (cf. Eph. 5:1; 1 John 2:29; 3:3). "Child" is such a shocking title for sinners (cf. John 11:52; Rom. 8:14,16,21; 9:8; Phil. 2:15; 1 John 3:1,2,10; 5:2; Hos. 1:10 quoted in Rom. 9:26; and 2 Cor. 6:18).

It is also interesting that of the two Greek terms for children, one is always used of Jesus (huios), while the other (teknon, tekna) is used for believers. Christians are children of God, but they are not in the same category as the unique, divine Son of God, Jesus. His relationship with the Father is unique, but analogous. .

There are three more Special Topics that deal with different aspects of this subject.