The Bible teaches that those who believe in Jesus Christ are children of God. This is a profound truth that provides amazing benefits and privileges to believers. 1 John 3:1 says, “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” This verse tells us that God has lavished His love upon us by allowing us to be called His children. Let’s explore the meaning and implications of being children of God.
We are Adopted into God’s Family
When we trust in Christ, we are spiritually adopted into God’s family. Although we were once separated from God due to sin, we are now brought near and given full status as sons and daughters of the Most High God. Adoption confers all the rights and privileges of being part of God’s family. Romans 8:15-17 says:
“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.”
Adoption into God’s family is an act of pure grace. We don’t earn or deserve to be adopted, but God chooses to bring us into His family simply out of His extravagant love for us. He predestined us for adoption before the world began (Ephesians 1:5). Now we can call God our Father and joyfully cry out “Abba!” which means “Papa” or “Daddy”, denoting closeness and intimacy with God.
We Bear God’s Image
Genesis 1:27 says that God created man in His own image. Although this image was marred by the Fall, a part of being God’s children means being progressively renewed into His likeness. As we grow closer to Christ, we take on His character and begin to reflect the family traits. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says:
“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”
Being children of God includes being transformed by the inner renewal of the Holy Spirit to display Christlike virtue. As we yield to God’s sanctifying work in our lives, we radiate more of His glory through traits like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. Our family resemblance to our Heavenly Father grows stronger over time.
We Have a New Identity in Christ
When we are born again into God’s family, we are given a new identity and status before God. Our primary identity is no longer based on earthly things like career, ethnicity, gender, or achievements. Rather, our fundamental identity is now in Jesus Christ. Galatians 3:26-29 tells us:
“For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.”
Our new identity in Christ connects us to Jesus Himself and all the promises God made to His children. This gives us security, significance, meaning, and purpose. We are no longer defined by our earthly status but by our new position as beloved sons and daughters of God!
We Have Direct Access to the Father
As God’s children, we can boldly approach His throne and bring our needs and requests directly to Him. Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” We have unlimited access to come to our Heavenly Father at any time, knowing that He hears us and answers our prayers according to His perfect will.
Jesus also promised that whatever we ask in His name, God will give us (John 15:16). When we pray according to God’s will and in the authority of Christ, we can have confidence that God will respond to our prayers. The privilege of access motivates us to draw near to God and seek His face continually in prayer.
We Are Guaranteed Eternal Life
Along with all the privileges in this life, being God’s children also guarantees eternal life in Heaven. 1 John 5:11-12 declares:
“And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”
Because we have trusted in Christ, we have eternal life residing in us even right now. One day we will fully inherit all the promises of Heaven and dwell face-to-face with God forever. This amazing hope inspires us to live faithfully and please God during our time on earth.
We Have the Holy Spirit Living Within Us
A key aspect of being God’s children is having the Holy Spirit dwelling inside our hearts. The Spirit guides us into truth, convicts us of sin, comforts us in difficult times, produces spiritual fruit in our lives, and empowers us to serve God. Romans 8:14-16 tells us:
“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God…you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”
The indwelling Holy Spirit assures us that we belong to God and enables intimate relationship with Him. His presence is the guarantee and the foretaste of our future heavenly inheritance as God’s children and heirs.
We Are Disciplined by a Loving Father
A parent who does not discipline his children does not truly love them (Hebrews 12:6). Because God loves us as His children, He will gently discipline us for our good, to share His holiness and produce righteousness. Hebrews 12:7-11 explains how God’s loving discipline works:
“It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline…then you are illegitimate children and not sons… For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
When trials and suffering come our way, we can be comforted knowing that God is disciplining us because we are His true children. His discipline flows out of His love and leads to greater maturity and holiness.
We Will Receive Our Full Inheritance
While we experience many spiritual blessings now, we have an even greater inheritance waiting for us in the life to come. 1 Peter 1:3-5 describes our inheritance:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
Our heavenly inheritance includes resurrection life in a perfected new creation where suffering, sin, death and crying will be no more (Revelation 21:1-4). As children and heirs of God, all that Christ has inherited will be ours as well. We will reign with Him in glory!
We Relate to Fellow Believers as Family
All those who have trusted in Jesus for salvation are united together in one spiritual family. Though we come from diverse backgrounds, the Body of Christ is united across national, socioeconomic, generational, and ethnic lines. Galatians 3:28 declares, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
As God’s children, all believers are our brothers and sisters. We are commanded to love one another, pray for each other, comfort, serve, and bear with one another. We are joined together in pursuing Christlikeness as God’s family.
We Have a New Father
When we come to saving faith in Jesus, we are adopted into God’s family and can call Him our Father. We leave behind our old family under the dominion of Satan and are welcomed into God’s family of light. Jesus said to the religious unbelievers of His day, “If God were your Father, you would love me… You are of your father the devil” (John 8:42,44). But by God’s grace, those who formerly were children of the devil can now call the Most High God their Father.
Having God as our perfect Heavenly Father means we can rely on His love, guidance, comfort, provision, discipline, and hope at all times. We never outgrow our need for a father’s care. Calling God “Abba, Father” is a constant reminder of the amazing grace shown in adopting us as His own.
We Are Heirs of God and Co-Heirs With Christ
Roman law at the time the New Testament was written allowed for adopted sons to have equal status and privilege with natural-born sons. They received full inheritance rights. This forms a powerful metaphor for the believers’ position in Christ. Because we are adopted, we become “heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17).
Being co-heirs with Jesus means we will share in His glory. Revelation 21:7 declares, “The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.” Everything Christ inherits as the Son of God will be ours as well. We will reign with Him and share in the new creation. This promise is almost too amazing to comprehend!
We Relate to God as Dear Children
In Ephesians 5:1-2, Paul instructs us: “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” As dearly loved children, we strive to imitate our Heavenly Father by walking in love. His love demonstrated through Christ motivates us to give ourselves fully to God as a sacred offering, seeking to please Him in all things.
Instead of relating to God as a harsh taskmaster, we can draw near to Him with reverence mixed with delightful affection. He is our doting Father who wants the very best for His children. Our love and obedience flow freely from hearts overwhelmed by His kindness toward us.
We Are Set Apart as Holy
God’s children are called to pursue holiness and abstain from sin. As 1 Peter 1:14-16 exhorts us: “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’”
Our status as saints set apart for God motivates us to think, speak, and act in accordance with His holy nature. We grow to despise sin and whatever displeases our Father. Being children of God includes striving for purity and avoiding polluting influences. The family resemblance includes growing in sanctification.
We Receive Fatherly Comfort from God
During difficult seasons of life, we can receive deep comfort from our Heavenly Father. Just as a loving dad comforts his child with a big hug, our Father comforts us in our troubles. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 tells us that God is:
“The Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
Knowing God as Father means we can rest securely in His enveloping comfort whenever life hurts. He always provides His children the perfect measure of soothing words, assurance, hope, and grace in pain.
We Are Called God’s Treasured Possession
God declares of believers in Deuteronomy 14:2, “You are a people holy to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.”
What an astounding truth! The all-sufficient, all-powerful God of the universe considers little ol’ us His treasured possession and peculiar treasure. Though God owns everything and has no unfulfilled needs, out of grace He chose to adopt us weak, straying sheep as His prized children. This humble status boosts our security and significance.
We Have the Mighty Angels Watching Over Us
In Psalm 91:11-12, a passage about the security of God’s children, we find this promise: “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.”
Because we belong to the Most High God, His holy angels watch over us and protect us from unseen dangers. What comfort it brings to know heavenly beings are assigned to shield God’s kids from harm! Angels are loyal spirit servants caring for us so we can fearlessly obey Christ.
We Will Be Glorified Together With Christ
Our future as God’s children is incredibly bright. Romans 8:16-17 assures us that we are “heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” One day we will share in Jesus’ own glory!
First John 3:2 echoes this amazing truth: “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.” God’s children will be fully transformed to reflect Christ’s perfect image. Sinful flesh will be traded for glorified spiritual bodies.
We Have the Name of Christ Bestowed Upon Us
Revelation 3:12 records a stunning promise to believers who overcome: “I will write on him the name of my God…and my own new name.” Being named with God’s own name signifies being fully identified with Him. Bearing Christ’s new name represents being elevated to reign with Him in glory.
While on earth we may be unnamed, unknown, and obscure in the world’s eyes, we carry the highest names in the universe—the Name of names—marking us as God’s beloved, royal children forever.
Conclusion
What an amazing privilege it is to be called children of God! This spiritual position grants us innumerable blessings and a glorious future inheritance as part of God’s family. Those who put their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation are adopted, transformed, comforted, empowered, protected, and guaranteed resurrection life in a perfected new creation. We relate to God as our perfect Heavenly Father and to fellow believers as spiritual family. This privileged status should motivate us to pursue holiness and bring glory to our Father’s name. By His endless grace, the Creator of the universe has rescued us from sin and death to grant us eternal life as His own dear children.
