English
Português
Español
Français
Answer
The New Testament mentions the term child of God or children of God multiple times. In 1 John 3:10, the concept of being a child of God is explained: “This is how we can identify God’s children and the devil’s children: Those who do not live righteously and do not love their brothers and sisters are not God’s children.” John is not addressing legalists who strive to earn God’s favor «not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; », (Titus 3:5). Instead, he is portraying the lifestyle of someone who has genuinely accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. A child of God will lead a life distinctly different from that of a nonbeliever, characterized by a desire to please the heavenly Father «Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. », (1 Corinthians 10:31), a life marked by love.
Many individuals mistakenly assume that all people are children of God. Given that humans are made in God’s image «So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. », (Genesis 1:27), does this mean we are all His offspring? The Bible clarifies otherwise. While every person is created and cherished by God, we only become His children through adoption (Ephesians 1:5;Romans 8:15). Due to our sin, we are under the dominion of Satan, the god of this world «in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them whiCh believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” , (2 Corinthians 4:4). We are enslaved by sin and live to follow its dictates (John 8:34; Romans 6:16). Sin-drenched humanity cannot enter the presence of a holy God. Our sin must be forgiven, and our natures restored before we can have fellowship with the One we have offended “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” , (Psalm 51:7).
Second Corinthians 5:17 describes what happens when we are born again into the family of God through faith in Jesus: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (KJV). Jesus taught that becoming children of God means we must experience the new birth “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). To be a child of God means our old sin nature is replaced with a nature that wants to please the Lord. We still sin “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” , (1 John 1:8), but we have “an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ the righteous” “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” , (1 John 2:1). Being a child of God means our sins are paid for, and our fellowship with God has.
Being children of God means we have access to the “throne of grace” through prayer, anytime and from any place; we have the promise that “we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” «Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.», (Hebrews 4:16). The child of God trusts his Father to supply all his needs “according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” «But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. », (Philippians 4:19). He is confident that the “Father in heaven [will] give good gifts to those who ask him!” «If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? », (Matthew 7:11).
A child of God has an eternity in heaven guaranteed (Ephesians 1:13-14;John 3:16-18). Jesus has already paid the entry fee for every person who trusts in His death and resurrection. Children of God live in the hope of seeing Jesus face to face, and so they “purify themselves, just as he is pure” «And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. », (1 John 3:3). A child of God is eager to do good works «who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. », (Titus 2:14), because saving faith is a faith tWhat changes us «What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? », (James 2:14,26) «For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.», (James 2:14,26).
A child of God is no longer a child of the devil and no longer plays in the devil’s backyard. God sets about transforming His children through the power of the Holy Spirit, and they begin to take on a family resemblance (Philippians 2:12-15). If we do not begin to look like our Heavenly Father in word, desire, and action, we are most likely not really His (1 John 1:5-6;2:3-4).
Human beings were created to live as children of God. Sin marred that purpose and broke that relationship with God. Christ restores us to that original relationship as we repent of sin and place faith in Him. God calls people from every era, region, and status in life to be His children «No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. », (John 6:44). For all eternity, the sons and daughters of God will worship Him as one, united as a family from “every nation, tribe, and tongue” (Revelation 7:9;Revelation 14:6). A child of God lives for Him on earth and eagerly awaits a future with Him in heaven (Philippians 1:21;Galatians 2:20).
