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What We Believe and Why
Written by Dr. Lester Hutson

Copyright - Lester Hutson - 1986
This material is copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced without the express written permission of Dr. Lester Hutson.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

THE FATHERHOOD OF GOD AND THE BROTHERHOOD OF MAN

JOHN 8:38-44

There is a very common social and religious idea that God is the Father of all men and that all men are brothers in one great family. Since evolution theorizes that man evolved from the "lower animals"; it is commonly believed that the cousins of the man family are the primates, vertebrates, mammals, etc. This position, which has dire ramifications is embraced and zealously propagated in most intellectual, social and religious circles today. Those who reject it are generally thought to be narrow minded and bigoted. The idea is generally known as "The Universal Fatherhood of God" and "The Universal Brotherhood of Man Idea."

We reject the contentions of this doctrine, believing them to be absolutely without foundation in the Bible and in direct opposition to the teachings of God's Holy Word.

We believe God is the Father of only those who are saved from sin's penalty and that these form a brotherhood which is not related to unsaved man.

I. The Universalist idea is an appealing, yet sinister idea:

A. It is based upon a false assumption:

1. It is assumed that since all men must have come from a first man, then many believe God made that first man and must be the father of all those men.

2. It is true that all men descended from one man: Adam:

a. Gen. 1:26-28 and 2:15-24 records that God made man, then woman, from which all other humans have descended.

b. Adam is the federal head of the human race and introduced sin to it. Rom. 5:12.

c. Since there is a common bond between all men in that they all come from Adam, I Cor. 15:39 says, "there is one kind of flesh of men. .

3. Though God made all men to come from Adam, it does not automatically follow that all those men form one bortherhood and constitute God's children:

a. Descendance from Adam is not equivalent to membership in God's family.

b. The assumption of Universalism that it is, is a fleshly assumption which does not reveal the truth. The things of God are "spiritually discerned", I Cor. 2:14.

4. The Holy Spirit has discerned and revealed in Holy Writ that not all men are members of the same family, nor are they all God's children:

a. I John 3:10 speaks of both "the children of God ... and the children of the devil."

b. Read Rom. 9:6-8. From God's viewpoint being " Children of the flesh" does not automatically make people "children of God." See verse 8.

B. Yet, inspite of God's Truth, it has been and is now assumed all men are God's dear children and brothers in one big family:

1. The Jews doubtless had only their race in mind, nevertheless their words express the universalists' sentiments to a "tee", "we have one Father, even God." John 8:41.

2. This unscriptural Universalist idea is propagated every day:

a. Particularly by churches and in religious advertising.

b. By those endeavoring to advance social reform.

c. And. by thousands, of well-meaning, but uninformed, people.

C. The Universalist idea has devastating consequences:

1. It appeals to a man's sense of unity and fairness.

2. It seems to indicate God would be unfair and inequitable if he makes some His children while others aren't.

3. And, the thought that we are all God's children, though some are a little more unruly than others; and that "good ole God" is going to see that it all turns out alright in the end for us all, gives a sense of security that all is "O.K."

4. Thus, man is deceived into thinking all is well with his soul when it really isn't:

a. His knowledge of guilt and condemnation is deadened and deceived, II Cor. 4:4.

b. As a result he plunges on toward hell without even realizing that he is going there.

II. The truth is that all unbelievers are children of Satan and they are brothers only to the unsaved:

A. Jesus Christ is making this very point in John 8:38-44:

1. He speaks of "your father" as opposed to "my Father" vs. 38.

2. Jesus Christ was the "only begotten Son" of "God", John 3:16; "the only begotten of the Father", John 1:14. There is no question as to who He was referring to when He spoke of "my Father." He was speaking of God.

3. But, He said these unbelieving men (John 8:45) did not have the same Father He had. He said if they had had God as their Father, they "would love me", John 8:42. But, they did not love Him, nor believe Him. Instead they "seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you", John 8:37.

4. Of these unbelieving men, all of whom were descendents of Adam, He said, "Ye are of your father the devil". . .John 8:44.

B. Sinners are sons of Satan because they obey him:

1. God's will and command is that "all men everywhere. repent." Acts 17:30, not that they remain in unbelief and perish. II Peter 3:9.

2. Satan's will is diametrically opposed to God's will (II Thes. 2:4). He deceives men and keeps them in unbelief that they might perish. II Thes. 2:10.

3. God's Word says if you obey Satan's will, you are his servant and every unbeliever is obeying Satan. You belong to him and death. Rom. 6:16, "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?"

4. Every sinner who obeys the will of Satan, thus disobeying the will of God for him, falls into the camp of Satan, and is not God's.

5. The only way he can become a member of God's family is to obey God's will for him: "obey . . . from the heart that form of doctrine", Rom. 6:17; and that doctrine, which is God's will, is,"That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life", John 3:15.

C. So, the contention that all men are God's children, despite their disobedience of God's will, simply will not stand before the searchlight of scriptures: These are Satan's children:

1. "Children of disobedience," Eph. 2:2; Eph. 5:6; Col. 3:6.

2. "Children of wrath," Eph. 2:3.

3. "Children of the devil, I John 3:10.

III. Only by Faith does any man become God's child:

A. The Scriptures declare it:

1. Gal. 3:26, "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." Only by faith.

2. Notice in John 1:12 that sonship is only on them that believe.

3. Duet. 32:6 asks, "is not He thy Father that hath bought thee?" and every believer has been bought by God (I Cor. 6:19-20) with the precious "blood of Christ," I Peter 1:18-19

4. It is not a common place thing to be one of God's sons. It is a miraculous thing through faith. I John 3:1, "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God."

B. By faith a spiritual birth occurs and God becomes the Father of the believer:

1. I John 5:1, "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. "

2. Of these II Cor. 6:17-18 says, "...I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."

3. These can say, "to us there is but one God, the Father. . . "I Cor. 8:6.

4. These can address God as their Father: Rom. 8:14-17; Gal. 4:5-7; Mt. 6:9.

C. As sons of God, our true brethren become believers; they are the other sons in God's family:

1. Rom. 9:23-26 It matters not whether we be Jew or Gentile, bond or free, black or white, All believers are It children of the living God" and brethren of all other believers.

2. Through faith there is "one God and Father of all" (Eph. 4:6), and all the saved make one great family with God as Father. John 11:52. But, not one other person is a true brother to these, nor can he call God his Father.

 

"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"