As Christians and follower of Christ, we call ourselves child of God. Are all Christians really a child of God? Does this mean anyone who is not a Christian are not a child of God? What does the Bible teach us on this topic?
The definition for Child of God is written in Romans
'For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. ' Romans 8:14
Child of God’s - DNA
For us as Humans, we have something called DNA and it has Chromosomes, the Chromosome X and Chromosome Y forms who we are and it’s got from our parents, we will not go to the science of DNA / Chromosome and get confused here.
Similarly for us to be called as Child of God, we need to have two Chromosomes (Chromosome X & Y) in us. 1 John 3 explains that
Love of God
Love of God is the primary thing for a us as followers of Christ, it forms the core DNA - This I call Chromosome X
'See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. ' 1 John 3:1
We have a great Love from our father. That’s why we are called children of God
God chose us out of his love, we did not choose God, remember we are dust in his eyes but still he chose us to be his Child.
What is it that makes us slow to believe the love of God?
Sometimes it is pride, which demands to prove itself worthy of the love of God before it will receive it.
Sometimes it is unbelief, which cannot trust the love of God when it sees the hurt and pain of life.
Sometimes it just takes time for a person to come to a fuller understanding of the greatness of God’s love.
Relationship with God
Relationship with God is another primary thing for us to call us as Child of God, This forms the core DNA – This I call Chromosome Y
The relationship with God the Father, Jesus Christ as Son, and the holy Sprit
He is the Father for us, and we are his sons and Daughters
'And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”' 2 Corinthians 6:18
As a son he is not ashamed to call us as his brothers and Sisters
'Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. 'Hebrews 2:11
If we have the Spirit of Christ, we bear the witness of him and testify that we are the child of God
'The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. ' Romans 8:16
Qualities of Child of God
Now that we have seen the DNA, let’s see what qualities we should have to be the Child of God. There are many qualities, I have listed the top 5 qualities that are must.
In this world we are constantly challenged to fall into Sin / deceptions and distractions to turn away from God by Satan. Many of us have these qualities but the key as children of God is to have them consistent in life. Yes, we are not perfect like Jesus, we constantly fall from these qualities time to time but it’s important to recognize that we have fallen and get the grace of Jesus to get back to these qualities.
Strive to be Pure
As Child of God, we must strive to be pure like Jesus, yes, we are born with Sin, but that does not give us the reason not to pursue the pursuit of Purity in Christ. Thru Jesus we can get that purity.
'All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. ' 1 John 3:3
The only path for us to get to this purity is recognizing the Sins in our life and repentance of Sin. Repent to Jesus, that’s the path for you to get pure.
Righteous before God
As a child of God, we should make our paths right in his eyes, not as per the world’s eyes. This simply means any work we do we have the right standing of Conscious before God.
It’s more than saying, “I am not guilty of what I did”, It is more like saying, “I am not guilty of what I did, and I am in right standing before God” that assurance that there is no sense of guilt or evil things that come out of your action. John describes this very clearly
'Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. ‘ 1 John 3:7
Sin is lawlessness
You cannot be the child of God if you keep on sinning. John defines Sin at its most basic root. It is a disregard for the law of God, which is inherently a disregard for the law Maker, God Himself.
A true Christian can only be temporarily in a lifestyle of sin. Paul’s teaching in Romans 6 is a great example of this principle. He shows us that when a person comes to Jesus, when his sins are forgiven and God’s grace is extended to him, he is radically changed – the old man is dead, and the new man lives. So, it is utterly incompatible for a new creation in Christ to be comfortable in habitual sin; such a place can only be temporary for the Christian.
Whatever sinful things come from us is from Devil, that does not mean we don’t fall to sin, yes, we will fall to that trap of Sin, when you, your conscious questions the Sin as you live in with a new creation in you and actions turning to old ways, immediately you ask for the repentance of God
'This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister. 1 John 3:10
Obedience to God
This is one of the hardest characters for Child of God, we are constantly challenged by many desires, some desires come from our own self, some from God. Many times, Satan tricks us to make us believe the desires that comes from us are also from God and makes us disobey God. But you will soon realize that if you walk with God. That is a temporary moment.
If you are a Child of God, you will seek God’s will and obey as God Commands you to do. Sometimes this may go against what we desire to do. But remember God is Good all the time and every time, he wants to give the best for his Children.
This is the promise for us if we obey and do according to his will.
'The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. '1 John 2:17
'This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. '1 John 5:2
Love of God
When we have the basic DNA of Love in Christ, the love of God becomes deep, the love shows in action to many things around us. It becomes very infectious on what we do, you will show the same kindness to fellow human beings as God shows his kindness to you. You will show the Love to others as God shows his love to you. The Love becomes in action in us, John describes best of this
'If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. ' 1 John 3:17-18
'Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. ' 1 John 4:20
Fact Check
Let’s do a fact check to see if we truly are children of God, just because you are Christian does not mean you are a child of God.
Are you having these to be called as Child of God?
Relationship with Jesus
Are you talking to Jesus daily? How is your relationship with God? In a family, small babies / children often talk to parents and vice-versa, that’s the way they show their love and parents raise them in a disciplined way. As the child grows up the talking back to the parent’s also slows down, many teenagers have a limited talk with their parents, once you grow to become an adult / family of your own the talk with your parents are selective. Is your relationship with God like that of a little child or like that of teenager or adult? Be shameless Infront of God to seek him daily and depend on him, he is your father, all he wants is the relationship with him, he expects us to come and say “I depend on you Jesus, please guide me according to your will “
Condemnation of Heart
'This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. '1 John 3:19-20
“ If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything”: But what if we have been walking with all the characters of “Child of God “, yet our heart still condemns us before God? John assures us that God is greater than our heart, and so reminds us that we cannot base our relationship with Him purely on how we feel in His presence. Condemnation can well up inside us that has nothing to do with our standing before God. It may be the work of the enemy of our souls. At those times, we trust in what God’s Word says about our standing, not how we feel about it.
If your heart does not condemn that’s a sign, you’re still a Child of God
Live by his Spirit
'The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.' 1 John 3:24
Once we start living in dependence on Jesus, his spirit will guide us on everything. we will obey his commands; our desires take 2nd priority than what God is calling you to do. This will also lead us to reinforce the definition of Child of God
'For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. ' Romans 8:14
If you don’t have these fact checks correct, it’s never too late to turn to the love of God to become Child of God. If you are already a child of God, humble yourself to continue be child of God as Satan prowls to take you away from God.
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