Who are the Children of God?
Scriptures compiled
and highlighted by Jeff Fenske
This is a simple, though I think a very profound study — perhaps even sobering.
It’s simple because it’s simply straight-forward sections of scripture that aren’t surgically micro-edited to bias the results. So far, I’ve chosen not to even comment other than by how I highlighted the texts.
And I think it’s profound because these scriptures reveal a much different message than what is the mainstream teaching of our day. Imagine the profound result of what would happen if what the Bible so clearly says would instead be the mainstream teaching in America.
What would happen if the Bible would be simply accepted for what it simply says?
May we always greatly desire to line up with the word of God no matter what.
[Technical notes:
I most always use the World English Bible translation (WEB), because it’s intentionally not copyrighted (so we can use it freely, for free). It’s also usually very accurate, and it’s based on the reliable Textus Receptus text (as are the KJV and NKJV).
Here, the translators took the liberty to translate sons into the gender-free title, children. From a strict literal perspective it would seem that it would be best that a translation not do this unless it claims to be a paraphrase. In seminary, this was considered taboo. But I suppose it depends upon how gender-free the term sons was meant to be originally. Clearly, sons is meant to include women as much as it does men, so I’m going quote the WEB as is.
Also, I’m highlighting in black and in blue. All links on my sites are in red; though, in my writings, I also often emphasize the word ‘heart‘ in red.]
If you think of other scriptures that should be displayed here, please let me know.
God bless!
jeff : )
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Jesus in Matthew 5
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.
…
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 47 If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
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Jesus in John 10
1 “Most certainly, I tell you, one who doesn’t enter by the door into the sheep fold, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But one who enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out. 4 Whenever he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 They will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him; for they don’t know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus spoke this parable to them, but they didn’t understand what he was telling them.
7 Jesus therefore said to them again, “Most certainly, I tell you, I am the sheep’s door. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters in by me, he will be saved, and will go in and go out, and will find pasture. 10 The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.
11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who doesn’t own the sheep, sees the wolf coming, leaves the sheep, and flees. The wolf snatches the sheep, and scatters them. 13 The hired hand flees because he is a hired hand, and doesn’t care for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and I’m known by my own; 15 even as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep, which are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will hear my voice. They will become one flock with one shepherd.
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Romans 8
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For what the law couldn’t do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh; that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. …
13 For if you live after the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God. 15 For you didn’t receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God; 17 and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him.
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed toward us. 19 For the creation waits with eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.
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Gal. 5
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ [They that are Christ’s – KJV] have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.