Someone once quipped that there are 3 sides to any story:
Your side;
The other person’s/people’s side; and
The right side
Many times, the way we see things is totally dependent on how we are and not on the real state of whatever we are seeing.
To illustrate that point, let us imagine a cup that is filled with some measure of water. The pessimist would see the cup as half-empty: the optimist would see the cup as half-full; the realist would see the cup as one containing water; while the opportunist would DRINK the water, especially if it is chilled and the weather is particularly hot.
From the said illustration, all the individuals were correct, in that their reaction to the situation was dependent on their state of mind rather than the situation on ground.
In the same way, our approach to the term “sons of God” is totally dependent on the individual giving the definitions. From the Genealogy of Christ in Luke 3, Adam, the progenitor of all mankind was called “the sons of God”.
What does this imply? It simply means that by the virtue of creation, all of mankind can be referred to as children of God, or better still, the sons of God. This label holds true for all of God’s creation, regardless of one’s religious background, race, sentiments, or prejudices. This can be proven by the fact that there are a lot of general benefits that all creations get from God.
For example, the rain falls on all of mankind, including the Buddhist, the Moslem, the Animist and the Christian. The same holds for spiritual laws that work for all of mankind when they are followed.
Any man who engages in tithing and giving would always experience the boons of blessings.
Any man that embarks on speaking positivity to himself and everyone that is about him would always be prosperous.
All these are just a few of the spiritual laws that apply to and works for all of mankind, because we are all Children or sons of God.
Furthermore, we can take this truth to another dimension…if you can take it:
By virtue of creation, even satan is a “son” of the Living God. Yes, and that’s why satan could pop his ugly little head into a meeting of God with the “sons of God”, as is found in the book of Job!
However, if we look from another perspective, John 1:12 makes us to understand that anybody who believes in Christ Jesus is given the power to become a son of God. This explains that there is a higher level, which is greater than the general grace that exists for all of mankind. And this grace comes only by believing in Christ Jesus.
Nevertheless, just believing in Christ Jesus is only the basic beginning of God’s perfect plan for His sons.
Once one is born again, he/she receives the indwelling of God’s Own Spirit within him/her. This Spirit is the seal/guarantee on every believer that signifies that the individual has a home in heaven at the end of his/her stint stint here on earth.
Nonetheless, amongst the sons of God who believe on Christ Jesus, there is still a higher level of grace that can be attained. The 14th verse of Romans 8 makes us understand that as many that allow themselves to be led by the indwelling Spirit of God within them are the sons of God!
This is where it becomes all interesting…
First, there is a basic level of grace that exists on all mankind by virtue of creation based on the fact that they were (or are) one way or the other related to Adam, a son of God. This makes them qualified to be called the sons of God.
Then, there is a higher level of grace that exists on as many that believe on our Lord Jesus Christ. This is definitely higher than that which exists for all of mankind. This level is good, but it is not the best. You see, because of God’s great love for mankind he would not force Himself on any man. All mankind, regardless of whether they accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior or not, have the ability to make choices. They have to choose to accept Christ or reject Him. They have to choose to be led by The Spirit of God or not.
And this is where the third level is.
The born again individuals who choose to be led by The Spirit of God.
These are the ones that Romans 8 verse 14 refers to. They are the ones that John 1 verse 17 talks about. They are the ones who have chosen to receive the fullness of God within them. They are the ones who know that they have received the exact kind of grace that operated in the life of Jesus when He was fulfilling His earthly ministry. You see, despite the fact that Jesus was fully God, while He was physically on earth, He was also 100% Man.
He sighed.
He groaned.
He slept.
He ate.
And He wept.
He was tempted in every way…
…yet He did not sin once.
Why was Jesus able to operate in the realm of grace He operated under?
Simple. Because He CHOSE to follow the leading of The Spirit of God within Him.
And as many that allow themselves to be led by The Spirit of God can live the exact way that Christ lived while He was on earth!
Now, when it comes to judging the perception of the sons of God by the sons of God, it is only one “group” of the sons of God that is permitted to do this:
Not the general sons of God…because of the sinful nature that all of mankind inherited from the first man Adam after the Fall.
Not the carnal believers of Christ…because they refuse to be led by the indwelling Spirit of God, but would rather follow their five senses and logic. Such people cannot know their covenant rights as a believer, because they refuse to follow The One who reveals all things.
However, as a son of God who is led by the Spirit of God, one is qualified to judge all things!!!
Why?
Read this excerpt from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians,
“But as it is written, eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love Him.
But God has revealed them unto us by His Spirit; for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God
Now we have received, not the Spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God, that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Which things also we speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ”
