The question of whether all people are God’s children or only Christians is an important one that the Bible addresses. At the core of this issue is how we understand God’s fatherhood and human kinship. A survey of key biblical passages provides insight into the nature of God’s fatherhood and how we become part of God’s family.
In one sense, all people are God’s children in that He created everyone. The Bible teaches that God formed humans from the dust of the ground and breathed into them the breath of life (Genesis 2:7). As the Creator of all, God has a general relationship to all humanity. The apostle Paul affirms this when he declares to the Athenian philosophers, “we are God’s offspring” (Acts 17:28). So God has a broad, universal Fatherhood as the Maker of all people.
At the same time, the Bible presents a more profound Fatherhood that God has towards those who have faith in Christ. When writing to Christians, the apostle John declares, “But to all who did receive him [Jesus], who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). A special, intimate Fatherhood is reserved for those who receive Christ by faith. Jesus Himself drew a distinction between God’s Fatherhood towards believers and unbelievers when He told some Jewish leaders, “If God were your Father, you would love me…You are of your father the devil” (John 8:42,44).
The New Testament epistles repeatedly address and describe believers in Christ as “children of God” (John 1:12; Romans 8:16; Philippians 2:15; 1 John 3:1). Scripture is clear that a special relationship as God’s children is reserved for those who have faith in Jesus. There is a general, universal Fatherhood God has as Creator over all people, but Scripture presents a particular, intimate Fatherhood God has as Redeemer over all who believe in His Son.
Related to this, the Bible makes it clear that people enter God’s forever family only through faith in Christ. John writes, “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). Faith in Jesus is the doorway into the Father’s family and household. This same truth is demonstrated in the imagery of adoption that Paul uses. He writes that believers have “received the Spirit of adoption as sons” and have been bought back from slavery to be adopted as God’s children through faith in Christ (Romans 8:15,23; Galatians 4:5). Adoption into God’s eternal family is only for those who trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior.
While God has a general Fatherhood over all people by creation, Scripture presents a particular Fatherhood over those who have faith in Christ. The Bible makes clear that only believers become members of God’s family and receive the Spirit of adoption through faith alone. All people relate to God as Creator, but only Christians relate to Him as a loving, redeeming Father.
In summary, the Bible teaches that in one sense all people can be considered God’s offspring since He created everyone (Acts 17:28). But Scripture presents a deeper, intimate Fatherhood that God has only towards those who trust in His Son, Jesus Christ. Only those who have faith in Christ are given the right to become children of God (John 1:12). The New Testament epistles repeatedly describe believers in Jesus as God’s children. God redeems people out of slavery and adopts them as His forever family through their faith in Christ alone (Galatians 4:5, Romans 8:15). So while God relates to all people as Creator, He has a unique, loving Fatherhood only towards those who have faith in His Son, Jesus.
Now that we have surveyed some key biblical material, let’s explore this topic further by considering a series of related questions:
What does it mean to be created in God’s image?
The Bible teaches that human beings are uniquely created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27). To be made in God’s image means that humans reflect key aspects of God’s nature: creativity, morality, reason, relationships, and an eternal spirit. Humans are the pinnacle of God’s creation on earth, made to represent and reflect God as His image bearers. Some implications include:
- All people have immeasurable value since they reflect God’s glory.
- All people are morally accountable to God for how they live.
- God made humans to be in relationship with Him and one another.
Being made in God’s image puts all people in a relationship with their Creator. It is foundational to understanding universal human value and worth.
What is God’s universal Fatherhood?
As mentioned earlier, in one broad sense God is the Father of all people because He created everyone. The apostle Paul highlighted this when speaking to the Greek philosophers in Acts 17:28 – “For in Him we live and move and have our being.” As Maker of all, God is the “Father of spirits” (Hebrews 12:9). He has a general relationship of Creator over the entire human race. This affirms God’s universal concern for all people as those formed in His image. Examples include:
- God sending rain on the righteous and unrighteous alike (Matthew 5:45).
- God demonstrating His patience and kindness to all (Romans 2:4-6).
- God providing food to sustain all He created (Psalm 136:25).
So in a broad sense, God cares for all humanity as His creation and has a general Fatherhood. But this is distinct from the intimate, redeeming Fatherhood He has towards those in Christ.
What is God’s unique Fatherhood towards Christians?
While God has a general relationship to all people as Creator, the Bible presents a second kind of Fatherhood God has towards those who have faith in Christ as Redeemer. Those who trust in Jesus are called “children of God” (John 1:12; Romans 8:16). This Fatherhood involves:
- Adoption into God’s family (Romans 8:15, Galatians 4:5).
- Membership in God’s household as heirs (Ephesians 2:19, Romans 8:17).
- Intimate, loving relationship as God’s children (1 John 3:1).
- The inner witness of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:14-17).
- Discipline as a loving Father (Hebrews 12:5-7).
- An eternal inheritance (1 Peter 1:3-5).
This language of sonship and Fatherhood shows the close, redemptive relationship God has with all who have faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
What does it mean to be “born again” or born of God?
“Born again” or “born of God” are biblical phrases that describe God’s action in making someone His child through faith in Christ. John 3:3 records Jesus telling Nicodemus “no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” 1 Peter 1:3 says God has given Christians “new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” Key points include:
- New birth is a work of the Holy Spirit (John 3:5-8).
- It brings spiritual life to those previously dead in sin (Ephesians 2:1-5).
- It results in a new nature that desires God (2 Corinthians 5:17).
- It comes through belief in Christ (John 1:12-13).
- It brings entrance into God’s family and kingdom.
To be “born again” means God adopts someone into His eternal family and transforms their heart through faith in Christ. It is a key part of God’s redeeming Fatherhood towards Christians.
Can someone be a child of God without having faith in Christ?
The New Testament is clear that sonship and intimate relationship with God comes only through faith in Christ. Some key passages include:
- John 1:12 – To all who did receive Christ, He gave the right to become children of God.
- Romans 8:14-17 – Those led by the Spirit are the children of God and fellow heirs with Christ.
- Galatians 3:26 – You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
- 1 John 3:1 – See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God.
While God has a general, universal Fatherhood, Scripture presents sonship and redemption as blessings given specifically to those who have trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation. A saving relationship with God comes only through faith (John 14:6).
At the same time, God graciously saves all those who call out to Him in genuine repentance and faith (Romans 10:13). So while sonship is reserved for believers, God invites every person to come to Him through His Son to receive adoption, forgiveness, and new life.
What about small children and people unable to understand the gospel? What is their status before God?
We can make several biblical observations about small children and those unable to comprehend the gospel:
- All people inherit Adam’s sin and guilt before God (Romans 5:12-14).
- But small children and the mentally disabled are in a special category concerning God’s judgment and grace (Matthew 19:14, Jonah 4:11).
- God can regenerate and give new life whenever and however He wills based on Christ’s work (John 3:8).
- Saving faith in Christ is the only biblical means specified to be reconciled to God.
- We can trust God who is perfectly loving and just concerning those who cannot express personal faith.
God’s universal Fatherhood gives Him the authority to administer saving grace however He sees fit. We can trust Him to judge rightly those who cannot outwardly profess faith in Christ before dying.
How should Christians understand other world religions in relation to God’s Fatherhood?
The Bible teaches salvation is found in Christ alone (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). At the same time, Scripture commands Christians to show grace and love towards all people, including those of other religions. Some principles for Christians include:
- Acknowledge that salvation comes only through faith in Jesus Christ.
- Respect those of other faiths as fellow human beings loved by God.
- Seek to share the gospel in gentle humility, not arrogance or hostility.
- Build friendship and understanding while standing firm in gospel truth.
- Trust that God loves all people and will judge justly.
Christians can uphold the uniqueness of Christ while also relating to adherents of other religions with genuine love. As we share our faith, we must represent both the kindness and righteousness of our heavenly Father.
If God is Father of all, why evangelize and make disciples of all nations?
God deeply loves the entire world (John 3:16) and relates to everyone as Creator. But Scripture is also clear that everlasting life comes only through faith in Jesus Christ (John 3:18, 36). Evangelism and disciple-making are vital because:
- People need to hear the gospel and respond in faith to receive adoption into God’s family (Romans 10:14-15).
- Faith in Christ is the only way to be reconciled to God and receive eternal life (John 14:6; Acts 4:12).
- Making disciples is an act of love, seeking to bless others with salvation.
- It fulfills Christ’s Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).
God desires all people to be saved and know Him as Father (2 Peter 3:9; 1 Timothy 2:4). Therefore, in light of God’s universal Fatherhood, Christians urgently proclaim the gospel of His Son to all nations, that they too may become God’s children by faith.
What are some reasons Christians can struggle with understanding this issue?
Christians can sometimes struggle in maintaining biblical balance on this issue. Reasons may include:
- Desire for inclusiveness – Wishing God’s Fatherhood extended to all, whether or not they have faith in Christ.
- Reacting against exclusivity – Wanting to be tolerant of other faiths in light of religious pluralism.
- Aversion to judgment – Not liking the idea of God excluding some people from His family.
- Misplaced pluralism – Thinking all religions lead equally to God.
- Failure to understand God’s grace – Thinking faith arises from human effort rather than God’s prior grace.
In a spirit of humility, we need to acknowledge that Scripture itself teaches both God’s universal Fatherhood of creation and unique Fatherhood towards those who have faith in His Son for salvation. We dare not impose our own sensibilities over Scripture.
How does God relate to people of different faiths or no faith?
The Bible teaches that salvation comes through faith in Christ alone. At the same time, we see principles of how God sincerely relates to all people:
- He created all people in His image with inherent worth (Genesis 1:26-27).
- He shows general grace and kindness to all (Matthew 5:45).
- He will judge rightly based on the light each person has received (Romans 2:12-16).
- He invites all to come to Himself through His Son (Revelation 22:17).
- He loves the entire world and gave His Son to provide redemption (John 3:16).
So God relates to all people as Creator with sincere love and common grace. Yet Scripture affirms saving knowledge of God comes through faith in Jesus Christ alone.
How does this issue impact how Christians should live?
Recognizing God’s unique Fatherhood of believers should move Christians to:
- Gratitude for the gift of adoption into God’s family.
- Seek intimacy with God as our loving heavenly Father.
- Desire to please God by living holy lives.
- Humbly share the gospel so others can know God’s redemption.
- Treat all people, even unbelievers, with dignity and Christ-like grace.
- Trust God who loves the whole world and judges righteously.
God’s fatherhood should lead us to godly living, gospel urgency, and gracious love for all people made in His image.
Conclusion
In closing, the Bible presents a nuanced picture of God’s fatherhood. He has a universal Fatherhood as Creator of all humanity. But Scripture also teaches an intimate, redeeming Fatherhood God has only towards those who trust in Jesus Christ as Savior. Only Christians are adopted as God’s children through faith in the gospel. At the same time, God loves the whole world and relates to all people with sincerity. His offer of salvation in Jesus is open to all. This biblical understanding should shape how Christians live with gospel urgency, godly conduct, and gracious love towards all.