WHO ARE THE MANY SONS [υἱός ^G5207] OF GOD?

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-- Stoning for blasphemy, adapted from Pinterest.com

ISLAM. We continue our study of some differences between Islam and Christianity. Islam condemns Christians because it is blasphemy in their thinking to assert that Jesus is the Son of God; i.e., the second person of the godhead (Colossians 2:9). Some Muslim would even challenge a Christian to show them where Jesus ever called Himself “the Son of God” in the gospels. Their point is that His followers falsely made that claim. The Bible is clear that Jesus is the Son of God but is it blasphemy to call oneself the “Son of God”?

USE OF “SON OF GOD” IN THE BIBLE. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth (Genesis 1:1). “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life” (2:7). And his name was Adam. Later, in the genealogy of Luke 3:38 Adam is called, “the son of God.” This expression is understood from the introduction of Jesus' genealogical list. It begins with Jesus “was thought [being] the son of Joseph [huios ^G5207 ].” Jesus, through His earthly mother Mary, a daughter of Adam, is also a son of God, like Adam, through virtue of His adopted flesh.

JESUS DID CALL HIMSELF “THE SON OF GOD.” At one time the Jews were going to stone Jesus because He had called Himself the Son of God (John 10:31). Jesus asked them why they wanted to stone Him. “I have done many good works from the Father. Which good work are you stoning me for?”

The crowd said, “For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy and because you, being a man, make yourself God.” Again, Jesus answered their charge in verse 36, “You accuse me of blaspheming because I said I am the Son of God?” To Islam's question, “Where did Jesus say that He was the Son of God?” One of the passages is this one in John 10! And the Jews were about to stone Him because of it!

CALLING ONESELF A SON OF GOD IS NOT BLASPHEMY. Jesus so responded to the accusers that just confirming oneself to be a son of God is in and of itself not blasphemy. The expression of “son of God” can be used to refer to oneself as a faithful one of God! Jesus quoted the inspired Psalmist (in 82:6).

This point should not diminish or confuse Jesus' special relationship to God. But it should prove to us that when the Scriptures mention the “sons of God” in any context one is not to conclude on that basis that the reference must be blasphemy. Why? For it does not necessarily refer to heavenly beings or deity. Jesus reminded His accusers in this context that, in Psalm 82, God stands in judgment among “the gods” in the assembly (synagogue) on earth. In verse 6 (RV) it records, “I said, Ye are gods, and all of you sons [huios ^G5207] of the Most High." Jesus reminded His Jewish accusers that “their” Scriptures called the assembly of Jews the “sons of God.”

“SONS OF GOD” FOLLOW JESUS. Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words agrees that while huios (son) may signify the relation of offspring to parent, it is often used metaphorically of moral characteristics.ⁱ Indeed, Jesus taught in His sermon on the mount that His followers when acting as peacemakers would be called “sons [huios ^G5207] of God” (Matthew 5:9). Hosea 1:10 predicted, 'It will be said to them, “You are the sons of the living God.”' So Islamists, like the first century unbelieving Jews, are in error in accusing anyone of blasphemy just because one says “Jesus is the Son of God.”

“SONS OF GOD” FOLLOW THE SPIRIT. In addition, Romans 8:14 states “those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons [huios ^G5207] of God.” And in verse 19, ASV: “For the earnest expectation of the creation waiteth for the revealing of the sons [huios ^G5207] of God.” Also, “And because ye are sons [huios ^G5207], God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father” (Galatians 4:6).

“SONS OF GOD” THROUGH FAITH. Galatians 3:26 (LSV), “You are all sons [huios ^G5207] of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” “Bless” others, “do good to them” and “pray for them … that ye may be children (sons, huios ^G5207 ) of your Father” (Matthew 5:44, 45). “But love ye your enemies” ... “and ye shall be the children [sons, huios ^G5207] of the Highest” (Luke 6:35).

SONS OF GOD AND DAUGHTERS OF MEN. Who were the sons of God in Genesis 6? Understanding how the expression “sons of God” is used in the Scriptures helps to correct the false teaching that those who “went into” the daughters of men before the flood were fallen angels.ⁱⁱ Fallen angels would not have been “Sons of God.” To designate fallen angels as the cause of the flood can be seen to be untrue. Men and women caused it. “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth” (Genesis 6:5). It was because they had gone into the "daughters of men." Jesus said that the DNA of angels does not include sexual identities like that of humans (before their death). Only created man was charged with multiplying and replenishing the earth (Genesis 1:28). Angels “neither marry nor are given in marriage” unlike the current design of the human bodies (Matthew 22:30).

JESUS IS A SPECIAL SON. Jesus confessed to Nicodemus that He had a special relationship with God the Father as His only begotten Son (Μονογενής^G3439, in John 3:16; cf. 1:14). But Jesus also taught that if we follow His teachings we will also be called sons [huios ^G5207] of God. Vincent's Word Studies sums it up for us: “The only [begotten] Son did not become such by receiving power, by adoption, or by moral generation, but was (ἦν) such in the beginning with God.”

JESUS IS GOD, THE WORD. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:1, 2, 3, 14).

Finally, while it is important for us that Jesus does call Himself “the Son of God”, it is even more so that He confessed in all the gospels to being “the Son of Man” of prophecy. Jesus was crucified for "blasphemy" because He applied the Daniel prophecy to Himself before the high priest (Matthew 26:24; Mark 14:64; Luke 22:69). The prophecy of Daniel foretold the “one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, … and all people shall worship him” (Daniel 7:14). No one is to be worshipped except God (Luke 4:8; Deuteronomy 6:13). For example, John sought to worship the angel in Revelation 22:8,9 but the angel forbad him, saying, “Woship God.” Jesus triumped over the devil in His temptations by declaring that God alone can be worshipped and served (Luke 4:8). As "son of man" Jesus along with God the Father is to be worshipped and served.

GAYLON WEST

THROW OUT THE LIFELINE

edited by Janie Ward and Mary West