| No, by saying I am a son of God, I do not mean that
I believe I am a messiah or anyone special. I am a son of God because I
have been adopted by Him, through the revelation of Jesus Christ. Quite simply, one day he spoke
to me, and I have followed him since. I was not in a church when this happened. I did not respond to an "alter call" and pray to receive a savior, or eternal life. Or a lollipop. I am not a particular fan of religion, or of churchianity (although I do attend a local fellowship). But when Jesus spoke to me, the only possible thing to do was leave my old life and follow him as Lord. What else can you do when someone supposedly dead for 2000 years strikes up a conversation? I can tell you details of this story, but I do not expect anyone to believe it, unless they too can already relate to it. Nor do I offer the story expecting to convince or persuade anyone to become like me. "He was in the world, and
the world was made by him, and the world A long time ago, I might have said that I was "a basically good person" who was "spiritual but not religious" (the typical platitude of many who have never had such an encounter with the living God). Many Christians might have said that I was "looking for God in all the wrong places." But the Bible is clear that there are none who are good, and none that seek God. "We might want him as our slave, or as a curiosity, but not as God." - Grantley Morris Issues That Make Christians Squirm So don't believe either of the above falsehoods about yourself, me, or anybody. I did not choose Jesus, nor was I somehow persuaded that Christianity was true and just decide to become one. He chose me nonetheless, visited me, and changed my life. He is the author and finisher of my faith, and I am his workmanship. He alone deserves the credit for making me a new, born-again creation. I did not seek to change or suddenly one day find him. He found me. I can say I no longer believe the lie that "we are all God's children." We are all God's creation, but outside of Jesus' atoning death on the cross, we are still sons of wrath, and will all still pay the penalty for the sins we have committed. It is only to "...as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." John 1:10-12 I can only tell of what He did in my life. He spoke to me and called me to follow him, and I have served him since. The best advice I can give to someone is Jesus' own words:
"Take my yoke upon
you, and learn Learn of Jesus, and perhaps he will speak to you as well. The Bible is the best place to start. I don't care about what you think of the Bible, so don't e-mail me with your opinions. I've studied such opinions extensively and I can guarantee you that you're not the first to think of whatever your objection is. Get over yourself. Many thinkers and scholars smarter than you and me have quite sufficiently dealt with these issues already. But the Bible itself will answer your objections in time however, if you ask God your questions directly and ask him to teach you. "Call unto me, and I
will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou
knowest not." Jeremiah 33:3 Your church, religion or spirituality (or lack of) cannot help you though. You are either a son of God or you or not. Only if Jesus draws you, and his Spirit convicts you a) of your sin, b) of his righteousness, and c) of the coming judgment, will you ever see your need. Perhaps he will likewise visit you, but I cannot guarantee that. You can only ask him to reveal himself to you, while you yet have breath. You can seek the Lord, while He may be found. He did say that he would not turn away any who came to him. I can only tell you that Jesus Christ
is alive today - the first-born of many brethren,
"Beloved, now are we
the sons of God,
For further reading -
"The True Christian Life?" by Guy Malone For further practice - www.spiritualnotreligious.org
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