In one of the missionary pamphlets that they pass out to people (The Restoration of The Gospel of Jesus Christ), the first thing it says is “God is your father in heaven.”
When it says this, it means that God the father is literally the father of your spirit. Meaning that heavenly father and heavenly mother together procreated your spirit, and you are literally their spirit offspring. The primary Bible verse that LDS members will most often go to is Acts 17:29 which says:
“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill.”
Whenever we are reading God’s Word, we should always strive to be faithful interpreters of God’s Word. One of the ways we can do that is by verifying the context of a single verse by reading the verses before and the verses after to make sure we have a proper understanding of what the paragraph and this verse are actually saying. If we take this approach and jump back just one verse to Acts 17:28, it says:
“As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’”
The first thing we notice is that Paul is quoting pagan Greek poetry. And poetry very often uses metaphors that should not be taken in a literal sense. Paul is quoting a pagan source in order to make a theological point to the people of Greece. Quoting a source that the people are familiar with would enable them to understand Paul’s message more easily. Other passages in the New Testament clarify that we are not literally God’s offspring.
Romans 8:14-15 “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God…the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.”
Galatians 4:4-5 says: “God sent his son…to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.”
Two points:
1st – Not everyone is a child of God. Only those who are led by the Spirit are His children.
2nd – We become children of God when we are spiritually adopted into his family which occurs when we become born again by putting our faith in Christ.
A good question to ask our LDS friends and missionaries on this topic would be:
I see that we can become spiritually adopted into God’s family, but can you show me a verse that clearly states that we are the literal offspring of heavenly father and heavenly mother?
This concept of being adopted into God’s family is so beautiful. Truth be told, we are born sinners. There is a reason why two of the most common words in a toddler’s vocabulary are “no” and “mine.”
At dinner time: “No, mom and dad…I will not eat my broccoli!”
A sibling has a toy that the toddler wants: “Mine!” as they walk up to the sibling and snatch the toy out of their hands.
There is a reason why we have to teach our kids how to share and be unselfish. Why is our default nature selfishness? I never taught my kids how to lie, cheat, steal or hit…they picked that up all on their own because they are born with a sin nature. As a result of Adam and Eve’s sin at the fall, you and I enter into this world as natural enemies of God.
Yet in his mercy, God sees us in our mud pit of sin and reaches down, offering us his hand with this amazing gospel of grace and forgiveness. For more information on this topic, check out my other article, “Which Gospel Are You Under” (https://jllds.org/2024/01/12/which-gospel-are-you-under/)
John 1:12 “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
To anyone who chooses to believe and receive this free gift of eternal life, those will become spiritually adopted into God’s family. And once you are adopted into God’s family, He will never kick you out. For his unconditional love endures forever.
Romans 8:38-39 “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
2 Corinthians 9:15 “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”
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