The Sons of God: God's Dear Children

It is most important that we fully understand the walk of the sons. There is and has been much controversy concerning the expectations the Father has of His children. However, this is unwarranted. The scriptures are not vague on this issue. In fact they are quite specific. Paul’s instruction to the church at Ephesus is a good place to begin our study on this matter.

Ephesians 5:1

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

We are expected to follow God, not the vain philosophies of men. Jesus said, “ . . . Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4). However, I think we have not heard this passage the way it was intended to be heard by the church. My meaning here is that we seemed to have focused more on the word “followers” by the definition the world placed on it.

According to Webster’s Dictionary, to follow is to be devoted to a person, cause or activity. But this has the connotation of a mature mind choosing to follow after a person, an ideology or cause. This devotion includes adherence to the principles and all other requirements pertaining to that person we choose to follow. Nevertheless, the term “follower” suggests the offer of free agency; meaning one may follow after a cause today, and later in life drop that one and follow after another without penalty to their life. This is the concept of freedom and liberty.

Before our born again experience, we were slaves to the will of satan. We were born in sin and our bodies were the incubators for iniquity. We were corrupt in body and spirit. We were the children of the devil and it was his lust we fulfilled in our flesh. We were more than followers; we were slaves to Satan's will and desires. Thus it follows, that we were not in control of our destiny. Our only expectation and assured fate was hell.

But as we look a little closer, we were also unable to perform righteousness, because righteousness can only be performed by those who have been made righteous. For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I (Romans 7:14-15). The sinner or natural man cannot do the righteousness he desires to do because the law of sin and death brings him into the bondage of his flesh. In this I heard the Lord say to me, “True freedom is the power to be whatever you are; with the ability to cleave to and operate in your choices, without the fear of penalty or peril from those who oppose the choices you make.” It is power over all the power of your enemy.

Man was made a little lower than the angels and certainly lower than God. Thus, the powers that be are greater and able to control man’s destiny. Therefore, we could never consider ourselves to be free moral agents before the born again experience, because neither our former master, nor did we ever have power over all the power of God, who is an enemy of the unrighteous and able to inflict eternal damnation and the perils of hell on those who oppose His will. Our enslavement to sin caused us to live in fear of death.

Hebrews 2:14-15

14 Forasmuch then 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;

15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Therefore, the only real freedom man will ever possess is found in sonship. He must become a son of God. The sons of God cannot be forcibly brought under the power of darkness; they must willingly submit. They have the power to resist the powers of darkness in all manner of temptations and there is nothing Satan can do about it. That is freedom. Therefore, let us not follow God as a free moral agent who is able to make choices contrary to the will of the Father without penalty or peril. But instead let us follow as dear children; those who are born into the will of the Father and those whose nature it is to do His will.