Devotion: How Many Sons Does God Have?

Many of us are familiar with the verse John 3:16, which focuses on God and his son.  Depending on the Bible version you have, the passage will read something like, For God so loved the world that he gave his “only begotten Son” (King James Version), that he gave his “only Son (the unique Son of God) (The Living Bible), that he gave his “one and only Son” (Basic English Bible), or that he gave his “only Son” (Weymouth New Testament Translation).  As we have discussed in previous devotionals, there are varied beliefs about the son of God, so much so, that we wonder if the varied translations of this particular verse are all saying the same thing about the son of God.  From these varied translations, we see that Jesus is labeled as God’s “only begotten Son,” his “only Son (the unique Son of God),” his “one and only Son,” or his “only Son.”  In short, each of the Bible translations listed above and many others not listed, cite Jesus as being “the only son of God.”  So, is Jesus the only son of God?  To many believers and some non-believers, the traditional answer would be “yes.”  The interesting thing is that according to the Bible, Jesus was not God’s only son.  According to scripture, God had another son.

“Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God” (Luke 3:38 – King James Version).

We find similar statements in the other translations we previously used as well.  They say, “Adam’s father was God” (The Living Bible); “Adam, the son of God” (World English Translation); “Adam, the son of God” (Basic English Bible); “Adam, son of God” (Weymouth New Testament Translation).  Yes, all of these passages call “Adam the son of God.”  With this revelation, it would appear that God had two sons, Adam, being one of them and Jesus being the other one.  But here is one fact we found interesting in all of this.  Just as God was the cause of “one in his image, after his likeness” (Genesis 1:26-29), Adam was the cause of “many in his image, after his likeness” (Genesis 5:1-3), and Jesus was the cause of many “in his image, after his likeness.”

“For from the very beginning God decided that those who came to him—and all along he knew who would—should become like his Son, so that his Son would be the First, with many brothers” (Romans 8:29 TLB).  “And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening (life-giving) spirit.  Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.  The first man is of the earth, earthy (made of the dust): the second man is the Lord from heaven.  As is the earthy (man of dust), such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.  And as we have borne the image of the earthy (man of dust), we shall also bear the image of the heavenly” (I Corinthians 15:45-49 KJV).  So then, if anyone is in Christ, that person is part of the new creation. The old things have gone away, and look, new things have arrived (II Corinthians 5:17 Common English Bible)!

Adam was the first man and the forefather of the entire human race (Genesis 1:26).  As Adam’s sin resulted in a sinful race, the gift of grace through the righteous act of Christ resulted in new creation (Romans 5:15-19).  Scripture tells us that Adam “is the figure or the type of him who was to come” (Romans 5:14).  Like the first Adam, Jesus, the last Adam or the second man, became forefather or the head of “the new creation, a spiritual race of mankind.”  Just as Adam had the government of mankind upon his shoulders (Psalm 8:6) when he disobeyed God and in like fashion, Jesus also had the government of mankind upon his shoulders (Isaiah 9:6) when he obeyed God.

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13 KJV).

It was the first man, Adam who came from the earth, who was made a living soul.  It was the last Adam, who was Jesus that was first made in the likeness of earthy man and then upon his resurrection was made a quickening or life-giving spirit.  For first came the natural man and then came that which was spiritual.  And as we have bore the image of the earthly man, we now have the opportunity to bear the image of the heavenly man.  We now have the opportunity to put on the new creation, a spiritual body that comes directly from God and to become “sons (and daughters) of God through our faith in Jesus Christ” (Galatians 3:26).  Today, God has many sons.

As you read today’s inspirational message, as strange as all of this sounds, we pray that you will give thought as to what the scriptures are actually trying to convey about “these two sons of God” and the implication this revelation may have on your life and your future.  If you be blessed by this message, please share it so that others may be blessed by it as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

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Kingdom Worker Ministries offers a series of products and resources to those desiring to dig deeper into the Word of God and break traditionalism to gain full truth of God’s words and principles.  Our products are designed to increase your awareness, improve your understanding, deepen your knowledge and inspire you to walk in truth.

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