From

Sent: Saturday, February 23, 2008 9:13 PM

Subject: Sons of God

Dear Peggy,

I would suggest that you send her (Kelly) both of the studies that I have written on the subject, "There were Giants in the Earth," and "More Light on the Nephilim."

The only clarification that I would add is her problem with the term, "the sons of God." Sister, if God's people would pay close attention to what they are reading in God's Word, it is obvious that this term is never used to speak about anyone except a created being. Period! Now let me explain this statement so that you will understand what I am saying.

We know that all of the angels are created beings, being brought into existence by a direct creative act of God. Therefore, because they are created beings they are referred to in the Old Testament as "sons of God."

No man [or woman] in the Old Testament is ever referred to by the term, "son of God," or "sons of God." In the New Testament Adam is referred to as the "son of God" [Luke 3:38], for Adam was the only human directly created by God during the Old Testament dispensations. Eve was taken from Adam. She was created, as Genesis 1:27 indicates, but only indirectly through Adam. All other human beings from Adam to this present day have been "procreated" by man through the inherent power of procreation placed within Adam and Eve at the beginning, and are therefore the "sons and daughters of men." Check this out for yourself.

If this blows your mind, let me remind you that "the new birth" is a New Testament concept and doctrine. The "new birth" was introduced by Christ Himself in John 3. Previous to that time it was unknown among men. Did the Old Testament saints experience the "new birth"? No! Show me book, chapter, and verse, where they did? Were the Old Testament saints then saved? Of course they were! There is ample Scriptural evidence of their salvation in both the Old and New Testaments. But were they "created new creations in Christ Jesus" by the "new birth"? When? Where? They are never referred to in the Old Testament as "sons of God," for only created beings are referred to in God's Word by that term. This is why the term is applied only to angels in the Old Testament.

Now let's go to the New Testament. In the New Testament the Lord Himself introduced the doctrine of the "new birth," John 3:1-7. The term "born again," literally means "born from above." Look up the Greek word for yourself. Involved in the "new birth" is a direct creative act of God in bringing forth "a new creation" in Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:16-17; Galatians 6:15.

This is why New Testament believers are referred to as "sons of God" many places in the New Testament. The inward man, the soul of the believer, is a "new creation." The Lord Himself said that "they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from [out from among] the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage: Neither can they die anymore: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children [sons] of God, being the children [sons] of the resurrection," Luke 20:35-36. Notice that the Lord Himself said that we New Testament believers are "equal unto the angels." Why? Because the angels are "created beings," and New Testament believers are "created beings." Glory to God! Hallelujah!

Sister, no other beings in the entire Bible are ever referred to as "sons of God" except created beings. This term is applied only to Adam, to the angels [both God's angels and the fallen angels], to New Testament believers, and to the Lord Himself who was the second Adam, 1 Corinthians 15:45. It is never applied to anyone else in all of God's Word. And I want; yea, I urge you, to check this out for yourself.

This is also why, throughout the Book of Hebrews, the inspired writer repeatedly points out that those who have "by faith" entered into the "New Covenant" have a better covenant, better promises, better hope, better resurrection, GLORY TO GOD, better everything!, than that which was under the Old Covenant. Better, better, better!

This is also why Paul tells us that the whole creation is "waiting for the manifestation [unveiling] of the sons of God," Romans 8:19. Sister, these fleshly bodies that we New Testament believers are living in are a veil that covers "a new creation." Like the angels, when we received Christ as our own personal Savior, we were "born from above" and were created "new creations" in Christ Jesus our Lord. All creation is waiting for our veils to be removed. Glory!

This is why James 1:18 explicitly states, "Of His own will begat He us [born us; brought us to new birth] with the Word of truth, that we should be a kind [species; special species] of firstfruits of His creatures." New Testament believers have experienced a "new birth," and in that process are "created" a "new creation" in Christ. We have become a special species of human beings called "sons of God" which God has "created" for the specific purpose of ruling and reigning with Him over a redeemed flesh and blood humanity, Revelation 1:5-6; 5:8-10.

If this blows your mind, this is just "skimming the surface" of what could be pointed out in God's Word. I could go much deeper into the subject, and provide book, chapter, and verse for every statement made. But....

The whole purpose in what I have written is to point out to Kelly and anyone else who reads this that the term, "sons of God," never refers to anyone but those who are direct creations of God. That limits the use of the term to angels, to Adam, to Christ, and to New Testament believers. Glory to God! Hallelujah!
Since the term is never used of men in the Old Testament, then all such Old Testament references are referring to angels.

Well sister, you have done it again! You asked me to give an answer to Kelly, and when I tried to, the Lord just kept pouring one Scripture after another into this vessel until I have practically written out another Bible study. But that is okay! As much as I know how to be, I am yielded to the Lord's will for my life. I know that now I am going to have to go back over all of this and put it into some better arrangement, so that it will make sense to those that read it.

Pray for me! God bless you dear sister. I love you in the Lord. Your brother in Christ,

Pastor F. M. Riley