And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, 2That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.
Genesis 6:1-2
The first thing to notice is that it is the sons of God not sons of men taking the daughters of men. It would not be worth noting if it were the sons of men as that is what God created them male and female for.
Genesis 1:27-28 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
Hence, if the sons of God were just some family line of one of the men, as some proffer, it would not bear mentioning.
Genesis 6:4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.
The second thing to note is that the union of the sons of God with the daughters of men produced abnormal offspring: giants. These giants became men of renown. Again, if it were sons of men there would not be abnormal offspring.
Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
Job 2:1 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.
Third, take note that Satan is presented with the sons of God.
Job 38:4-7 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. 5Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? 6Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; 7When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
We see that the sons of God were in existence at the foundation of the earth. Therefore, they can not be sons of men.
This ends the Old Testament’s references of the sons of God. The New Testament use of the sons of God refers to those having trusted in the atonement of Christ Jesus our Lord and as part of salvation being adopted to become the sons of God.
Galatians 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Being adopted by God upon receiving Jesus Christ was a predestination part of the plan of salvation.
Ephesians 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
The conclusion is that although Adam was a son of God his children were not.
Luke 3:38 Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.
We who have trusted in the shed blood atonement of our Lord and Saviour, Christ Jesus, are waiting for the adoption.
Romans 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
We receive the redemption of our body and full salvation at the Rapture which is another study.
1 Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
But, what shall we be? “When he shall appear, we shall be like him.” What shall we be? We shall be as the angels.
Luke 20:35-36 But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: 36Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
We conclude then that the sons of God are angels.
The sons of God of the Old Testament were angelic beings. It was angels that took them wives of the daughters of men in Genesis and angels that shouted for joy at the creation of the foundation of the earth.
What makes Adam and the angels sons of God but not Adam’s children? Here we have to use so reason. What is the difference between Adam and his children? Adams was a direct creation of God, his children were the product of procreation. Procreation is a system of reproduction created into Adam.
The angels are neither given or taken in marriage
Matthew 22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
I must conclude that angels were directly created by God individually and hence the definition of a son of God is the fact of being a direct creation. The saints become direct creations when be become new creatures in Christ and are changed when the Lord returns.
1 Corinthians 15:51-55 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
There is a teaching that transposes the New Testament definition of the sons of God being believers having the adoption into the Old Testament. This interpretation is biblically impossible as there was no salvation in the Old Testament as the Holy Spirit could not be given due to Christ not having made the atonement for sin.
John 7:39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
Therefore, there were no born again believers in the Old Testament who had receive the salvation benefit of the adoption to become the sons of God.
I believe this to be the only interpretation that fits all of the Scripture without wresting or causing them to contradict.