Vol. XXXVIII May 1, 2006 No 5
WHO IS IN THE FAMILY?
by Tom McLemore
What constitutes the family of God? Who is a child of God? Who is known by God as his child, and who legitimately may call upon God as Father? Some suggest that anyone who manifests the behavior of a child of God while claiming to have faith in Christ is a child of God. There is a measure of truth in that statement, because children of God act as God acts and as God’s Child, Jesus acts (1 John 3; Matthew 5:9, 44, 45; and Ephesians 5:1-2; cf. 2 Corinthians 6:17, 18; 1 Peter 1:16). But the error in the statement is that it places among the children of God many who have not been baptized into Christ.
The thought that good people can be so Christ-like in their behavior and not be children of God is repugnant to our sensibilities. And yet, people are children of God, not because they or we feel as though they must be, but because of the fact that God indeed has become their Father. God has a family (1 Timothy 3:15; Ephesians 2:19; Hebrews 10:21; 1 Peter 4:17), and those who are part of that family are begotten by God and born into it (John 1:11-13).
In John 3, Jesus explains to Nicodemus the way in which one is born of God. Before we consider Jesus’ explanation, it is essential to be aware of the larger context (John 1:19-36; 3:22-4:3) which describes the work of John the Baptizer and Jesus, viz., baptizing. “Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, “You must be born from above.” The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit’” (John 3:1-8). In this passage, Jesus explains the idea which was introduced in John 1:12, 13. The birth from above (a new birth, since it involves those who have already been born physically) involves “water and [the Holy] Spirit.” The context indicates that water baptism is meant, but, of course, there is more than water involved in this birth.
Water baptism is the birth from above, because one submits to it under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, one may not be able to see visibly the activity of the Spirit as one is being baptized, but he is at work there all the same, purifying, renewing, making the believer God’s dear child (Cf. Titus 3:4-7; Galatians 3:26, 27; Colossians 2:12; 1 Peter 1:22-25). And Jesus is unequivocal in indicating that all of this goes on in behalf of the believer who has been led by the Spirit’s teaching into the water of baptism. Some may not like it, and many may not want it; and though Nicodemus and everyone on earth should be unable to see any sense in it, that birth takes place in the water of baptism!
Despite Jesus’ plain teaching in John 3, some would suggest that water is not involved in the birth and that one is born of God merely by believing in Christ. While being born of God involves belief in Christ, it is clearly something that may be distinguished from believing itself (John 1:12, 13). In fact, some believed on Jesus (John 8:30, 31), but Jesus said they were children, not of God, but of the devil (John 8:32-35).
As John and Jesus preached the gospel of the kingdom, the Holy Spirit was leading people to be baptized (John 3:31-36). These people were being born from above, born anew, born of the Spirit, born of God. There is no child of God who has not become a child of God by being immersed under the direction of the Holy Spirit.
While this is true, it must also be observed that not every person who has been immersed is a child of God, for there are some who have been immersed under the influence of something other than the Holy Spirit. Likely, there are some who have been immersed while not believing in Christ or not having repented of sins, etc. Furthermore, not every person who has been immersed, even under the influence of the Holy Spirit (i.e., as a genuine response of faith in Christ), lives as a child of God should live (e.g., Acts 5:1-11; 8:13-24, et. al.). While they are actually children of God, they are not practically children of God. It is a serious error to think that such individuals are in fellowship with God even though they are children of God.
The fact that some who have not been immersed are Christ-like in their behavior does not make them children of God. During the Battle of the Bulge in World War II, there were some German soldiers who had been trained to behave and speak like Americans. These infiltrated the American forces and caused considerable havoc. Thankfully, they were uncovered as impostors before they could accomplish their objective. The point is this: merely acting like a child of God does not make one an actual child of God. One becomes a child of God only by being born of God.
Many paternity claims have been made. They are easily proved or disproved by a blood test. Persons whose parents have denied being their parents have been proved to be their parents. On the other hand, persons who have been living as children of parents for years have been proved not to be their children. In either case, the relation exists, or does not exist, on the basis of birth.
There are many legitimate children whose behavior is entirely out of character with their fathers (and mothers), and yet they are still children. Their being children is a matter of birth. We have met persons whose behavior is so much alike that we are sure they must be kin, and yet their birth rules it out. A forged birth certificate does not make a person the biological child of the persons named therein as parents. Genetic tests easily prove who was born of whom.
“God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this inscription: ‘The Lord knows those who are his,’ and, ‘Let everyone who calls on the name of the Lord turn away from wickedness’” (2 Timothy 2:19). Christ has taught us the manner in which one is born of God. There will not be any who turn out to be God’s children who were not immersed, and none of those immersed will inherit who did not exhibit the Father’s nature in their manner of living. No one should be encouraged to think that being a child of God is simply a matter of being born! And yet, no one should be deceived into thinking one can be a child of God without being born of him!
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