Turning the page…
Turning the page…
Glory · Our Walk with Him
To be a child of God is to be brought, by the new birth and by adoption, into the family of God: given the right to be God's child through faith in Christ, sealed with the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry 'Abba, Father,' made heirs with Christ, and called to live as children who resemble their Father. It is the deepest belonging a person can have, and it is permanent.
https://glorystudy.com/questions/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-child-of-god · Scripture quoted from the World English Bible
John 1:1-18
As you read: To as many as received Him, He gave the right to become children of God: born not of blood or human will, but of God.
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2The same was in the beginning with God.
3All things were made through him. Without him was not anything made that has been made.
4In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome it.
6There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John.
7The same came as a witness, that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through him.
8He was not the light, but was sent that he might testify about the light.
9The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world.
10He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn’t recognize him.
11He came to his own, and those who were his own didn’t receive him.
12But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name:
13who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.
15John testified about him. He cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me, for he was before me.’”
16From his fullness we all received grace upon grace.
17For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.
18No one has seen God at any time. The one and only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.
1 John 3:1-10
As you read: That we should be called children of God; and what we will be has not yet appeared, for we shall be like Him.
1See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! For this cause the world doesn’t know us, because it didn’t know him.
2Beloved, now we are children of God, and it is not yet revealed what we will be. But we know that, when he is revealed, we will be like him; for we will see him just as he is.
3Everyone who has this hope set on him purifies himself, even as he is pure.
4Everyone who sins also commits lawlessness. Sin is lawlessness.
5You know that he was revealed to take away our sins, and in him is no sin.
6Whoever remains in him doesn’t sin. Whoever sins hasn’t seen him, neither knows him.
7Little children, let no one lead you astray. He who does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. To this end the Son of God was revealed, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
9Whoever is born of God doesn’t commit sin, because his seed remains in him; and he can’t sin, because he is born of God.
10In this the children of God are revealed, and the children of the devil. Whoever doesn’t do righteousness is not of God, neither is he who doesn’t love his brother.
Galatians 4:4-7
As you read: God sent His Son to redeem us, that we might receive adoption, and sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying 'Abba, Father.'
4But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law,
5that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of children.
6And because you are children, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!”
7So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Romans 8:12-17
As you read: Led by the Spirit, crying 'Abba, Father,' witnessed as God's children, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.
12So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13For if you live after the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God.
15For you didn’t receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God;
17and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him.
Matthew 5:1-16
As you read: In the Beatitudes Jesus names the family likeness: the peacemakers, the pure, and the merciful are called children of God.
1Seeing the multitudes, he went up onto the mountain. When he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
2He opened his mouth and taught them, saying,
3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
4Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.
6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.
10Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
11“Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
13“You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its flavor, with what will it be salted? It is then good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men.
14You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden.
15Neither do you light a lamp, and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house.
16Even so, let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Sonship is given, not achieved. John says that to as many as received Christ, He gave the right to become children of God, born not of blood nor human will but of God. Paul says God sent His Son, born of a woman, 'that we might receive the adoption of children.' And John marvels at it: 'See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God.' We do not become God's children by effort; we are given the name.
“But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name:”John 1:12
“who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”John 1:13
“that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of children.”Galatians 4:5
“See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! For this cause the world doesn’t know us, because it didn’t know him.”1 John 3:1
God does not merely call us His children; He marks us with the Spirit who cries out in our hearts. Paul says you received 'the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, Abba, Father,' and that the Spirit Himself witnesses with our spirit that we are children of God. Galatians says the same: 'God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.' The Spirit is the evidence and the experience of our sonship.
“For you didn’t receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!””Romans 8:15
“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God;”Romans 8:16
“And because you are children, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!””Galatians 4:6
Being God's child is not only a name; it is an inheritance. Paul writes, 'if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ,' and 'if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.' Whatever belongs to the Father through the Son is shared with all who are in the Son. We are not servants earning a wage but sons and daughters who inherit, and the inheritance is everything that is Christ's.
“and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him.”Romans 8:17
“So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”Galatians 4:7
Children bear the family resemblance. Jesus says the peacemakers shall be called children of God, and Paul urges us to be imitators of God as beloved children. God's own promise runs through the prophets: 'I will be to you a Father. You will be to me sons and daughters.' To be a child of God is to be called, and to grow, into a life that mirrors the Father's mercy, purity, and love.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.”Matthew 5:9
“Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved children.”Ephesians 5:1
“I will be to you a Father. You will be to me sons and daughters,’ says the Lord Almighty.””2 Corinthians 6:18
John holds both together: 'Now we are children of God, and it is not yet revealed what we will be.' We are already, truly, God's children; and what that will finally look like is still coming, for when Christ appears we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. Sonship is our standing now and our destiny forever, the deepest identity a soul can carry: called, and finally made, children of God.
“See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! For this cause the world doesn’t know us, because it didn’t know him.”1 John 3:1
“Beloved, now we are children of God, and it is not yet revealed what we will be. But we know that, when he is revealed, we will be like him; for we will see him just as he is.”1 John 3:2