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Response
Becoming a child of God necessitates faith in Jesus Christ. “To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” «But 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 1:12).
“You must be born again”
When Nicodemus, a religious leader, visited Jesus, he was not immediately assured of heaven. Instead, Christ told him he needed to become a child of God, saying, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again” «Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. », (John 3:3).
The first time a person is born, they inherit the sin nature that originates from Adam’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden. No one needs to teach a child how to sin. They naturally follow their own wrong desires, leading to sins such as lying, stealing, and hating. Instead of being a child of God, they are a child of disobedience and wrath (Ephesians 2:1-3).
As children of wrath, we deserve to be separated from God in hell. Fortunately, Ephesians 2:4–5 says, “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” How are we made alive with Christ / born again / made a child of God? We must receive Jesus by faith!
ReceiveJesus
“To all who have received him—those who believe in his name—he has given the right to become God’s children” «But 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 1:12, NET). This verse clearly explains how to become a child of God. We must receive Jesus by believing in Him. What must we believe about Jesus?
First, the child of God recognizes that Jesus is the eternal Son of God who became man. Born of a virgin through the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus did not inherit Adam’s sin nature. Therefore, Jesus is called the second Adam «For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. », (1 Corinthians 15:22). While Adam’s disobedience brought the curse of sin on the world, Christ’s perfect obedience brings a blessing. Our response must be to repent (turn from sin) and seek forgiveness in Christ.
Second, the child of God has faith in Jesus as Savior. God’s plan was to sacrifice His perfect Son on the cross to pay the punishment we deserve for our sin: death. Christ’s death frees those who receive Him from the penalty and power of sin. His resurrection justifies us «who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.», (Romans 4:25).
Finally, the child of God follows Jesus as Lord. After raising up Christ as the Victor over sin and death, God gave Him all authority (Ephesians 1:20-23). Jesus leads all who receive Him; He will judge all who reject Him «And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. », (Acts 10:42). By God’s grace, we are born again to a new life as God’s child. Only those who accept Jesus— not just having knowledge about Him but depending on Him for salvation, surrendering to Him as Master, and cherishing Him as the ultimate treasure— become children of God.
Become a Child of God
Just as we played no role in our natural birth, we cannot bring ourselves into God’s family by performing good deeds or summoning faith on our own. God is the one who has granted us the privilege to become children of God according to His merciful will. “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” «Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. », (1 John 3:1). Therefore, the child of God has nothing to boast about; their only pride is in the Lord (Ephesians 2:8-9).
A child grows up to resemble their parents. Similarly, God desires His children to become more and more like Jesus Christ. While perfection will only be achieved in heaven, a child of God will not persistently and unrepentantly sin. “Dear children, do not let anyone deceive you. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as He is righteous. The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose: to destroy the devil’s work. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot keep on sinning, because they have been born of God. This is how we can distinguish between the children of God and the children of the devil: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God, nor is anyone who does not love their brother” 1 John 3:7-10.
Make no mistake—a child of God cannot be “disowned” by sinning. But someone who consistently engages in and enjoys sin without heeding Christ and His Word reveals that he was never born again. Jesus told such people, “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire” «Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. », John 8:44. The child of God, on the other hand, no longer craves the gratification of sin but desires to know, love, and glorify his or her Father.
The rewards of being a child of God are immeasurable. As God’s child, we are a part of His family (the church), promised a home in heaven, and given the right to approach God in prayer Ephesians 2:19;1 Peter 1:3-6;Romans 8:15. Respond to God’s call to repent of sin and believe in Christ. Become a child of God today!
