R.C. Sproul

But when the Bible speaks of the fatherhood of God as we've already seen, it doesn't do it normally and characteristically with regard simply to creation, but specifically to redemption. It is in the context of redemption that this language of fatherhood is used most frequently in the Bible. And in that case, it is not inclusive, but it's exclusive and restricted.

But when the Bible speaks of the fatherhood of God as we've already seen, it doesn't do it normally and characteristically with regard simply to creation, but specifically to redemption. It is in the context of redemption that this language of fatherhood is used most frequently in the Bible. And in that case, it is not inclusive, but it's exclusive and restricted.

In that sense, God is first of all only the Father of Jesus in the unique way. Jesus is the only begotten of the Father. And as we've already seen, the fatherhood of God is then extended to those who are adopted into his family by virtue of their union with Christ.

In that sense, God is first of all only the Father of Jesus in the unique way. Jesus is the only begotten of the Father. And as we've already seen, the fatherhood of God is then extended to those who are adopted into his family by virtue of their union with Christ.

And so, so far from teaching the universal fatherhood of God, the Bible teaches the particular fatherhood of God that this concept of fatherhood applies only to and in particular to those who are in Christ.

And so, so far from teaching the universal fatherhood of God, the Bible teaches the particular fatherhood of God that this concept of fatherhood applies only to and in particular to those who are in Christ.

And to call God Father in the New Testament sense of the word, in the sense of the word the way the church expresses it as the family of God, is to repudiate the very uniqueness of Christianity. So I would say be very careful about that proposition. It's un-American to question it. And it's anti-humanistic to question it. But the idea of the universal fatherhood of God is not a biblical concept.

And to call God Father in the New Testament sense of the word, in the sense of the word the way the church expresses it as the family of God, is to repudiate the very uniqueness of Christianity. So I would say be very careful about that proposition. It's un-American to question it. And it's anti-humanistic to question it. But the idea of the universal fatherhood of God is not a biblical concept.

The universal creatorhood of God is. Now, the second proposition, in a very real sense with Harnack and others who use it, is deduced from the first. Since God is the Father of us all, then we must all share in our common humanity a certain brotherhood or sisterhood, that there is a common community relationship of the whole human race that Harnack describes as a brotherhood.

The universal creatorhood of God is. Now, the second proposition, in a very real sense with Harnack and others who use it, is deduced from the first. Since God is the Father of us all, then we must all share in our common humanity a certain brotherhood or sisterhood, that there is a common community relationship of the whole human race that Harnack describes as a brotherhood.

This, of course, was before sexist language was condemned, and today we would have to say brotherhood and sisterhood or whatever. But in any case, this really is a deduction from the first premise, not from the New Testament. Now let me say something else that is shocking to you. I don't think the Bible teaches the universal brotherhood of men at all.

This, of course, was before sexist language was condemned, and today we would have to say brotherhood and sisterhood or whatever. But in any case, this really is a deduction from the first premise, not from the New Testament. Now let me say something else that is shocking to you. I don't think the Bible teaches the universal brotherhood of men at all.

Now you say, wait a minute, doesn't the Bible teach us to love everybody? Yes. And shouldn't a brotherhood be a community where people love each other? Yes, of course, obviously. But just to have a community where people are obligated to love each other doesn't mean that you have a brotherhood or a sisterhood. That concept goes deeper.

Now you say, wait a minute, doesn't the Bible teach us to love everybody? Yes. And shouldn't a brotherhood be a community where people love each other? Yes, of course, obviously. But just to have a community where people are obligated to love each other doesn't mean that you have a brotherhood or a sisterhood. That concept goes deeper.

And again, in biblical categories, the brotherhood of which the New Testament speaks is the brotherhood or sisterhood, a fellowship of all of those who are adopted into the family of God and who are in Christ, who becomes the firstborn of many creatures and of whom the Bible describes as our elder brother. I am in the brotherhood when I am linked to Christ by adoption. He's my adopted brother.

And again, in biblical categories, the brotherhood of which the New Testament speaks is the brotherhood or sisterhood, a fellowship of all of those who are adopted into the family of God and who are in Christ, who becomes the firstborn of many creatures and of whom the Bible describes as our elder brother. I am in the brotherhood when I am linked to Christ by adoption. He's my adopted brother.

And every other Christian who is in that special fellowship, the fellowship of the church, the fellowship of the bride of Christ, are people who are participating in this special brotherhood. And you're not born into it naturally. You must be reborn or regenerated to be in this fellowship, to be in this brotherhood or sisterhood.

And every other Christian who is in that special fellowship, the fellowship of the church, the fellowship of the bride of Christ, are people who are participating in this special brotherhood. And you're not born into it naturally. You must be reborn or regenerated to be in this fellowship, to be in this brotherhood or sisterhood.

And when we speak about the universal brotherhood of man, we weaken or cheapen this crucial point that the New Testament makes about the church and about the body of Christ with respect to its singularity. Now, why would anybody come to this conclusion of the universal brotherhood of man? I've suggested one reason as a deduction from the first premise, the universal fatherhood of God.

And when we speak about the universal brotherhood of man, we weaken or cheapen this crucial point that the New Testament makes about the church and about the body of Christ with respect to its singularity. Now, why would anybody come to this conclusion of the universal brotherhood of man? I've suggested one reason as a deduction from the first premise, the universal fatherhood of God.