SONS OF GOD
The phrase, sons of God, appears in the New Testament as a name for
people who are in a covenant relationship with God. This exact phrase
never appears with this meaning in the Old Testament, although the idea
is implied. For example, God referred to the scattered children of
Israel, whom He promised to gather together again, as His sons and
daughters <Is. 43:6; 45:11>.
The classic New Testament passage where this phrase occurs is Romans
8:12-19. The apostle Paul encouraged the Christians at Rome to live not
"according to the flesh," but "by the Spirit," because those who "are
led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God" <v. 14>. The process is
described as one of adoption, by which the believer becomes a child of
God, and thus an heir of God, a joint-heir with Christ <Gal. 4:5; Heb.
2:10; 12:7>. Other passages use the phrase children of God, with the
same basic meaning <John 1:12; Phil. 2:15; 1 John 3:1-2>.
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary)
(Copyright (C) 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers) |
