Bene Elohim

The ancient Hebrews distinguished between two clases of created beings, according to whether their conception was in the ordinary natural way from a mother and father vs. spiritual beings (e.g. angels) that were directly created supernaturally by God, without parents. The latter were termed "bene elohim, which means "sons of God."

Q: Were Adam & Eve bene elohim?
A: Yes, they are the only two humans who were directly created by God, without parents. The rest of us were conceived in the ordinary way from two parents.

Now please read carefully what Jesus told Nicodemus.

(NIV) John 3:1-3, Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” 3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. (Greek "from above").

4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.

7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

Jesus says (verse 6) that in regard to our bodies, our birth is ordinary ("flesh gives birth to flesh"). But if you have been born again, your spirit is a direct creation of the Spirit of God. That makes your spirit a bene elohim, just like the angels! I like to think about that! It makes me feel special!

This also provides an alternative answer to the unsaved person who doesn't see their need for salvation and protests, "Why do I need to be saved? I'm a good person! Yes, it's good to to be a good person! But getting to Heaven is not about being good enough. Nobody is good enough to deserve a perfect place like Heaven! Getting to Heaven is about about having your spirit born from above.

• In order to live under the ocean you need a diving suit.
• In order to live in outer space you need a space suit.
• And in order to live in Heaven you must have a spirit.

Jesus says twice (John 3:3 & 3:5) that people without a spirit will not see Heaven. What's to become of them? God will treat them fairly because He is always fair. But they won't be in Heaven. And they will always regret that they refused to be "born from above" while they had the opportunity.