Are We All Children of God?
I’ve used “we’re all children of God” numerous times to describe everyone in the world. Because He created us all, I thought He considered us all His children. However, Biblically, that just isn’t true. While we are all His creation, only those who accept Jesus Christ as their savior and are born again are considered His children.
Who does the Bible say are the children of God?
Here are a few examples showing how God sees only those who have faith in Jesus as His children.
3 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
1 John 3:1 (ESV)
John distinguishes between the children of God and the rest of the world. The world does not know Him which is why they don’t know us.
26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith
Galatians 3:26
Galatians says that the sons of God come through Christ Jesus; not everyone is included. If you do not have faith in Jesus, you are not considered a child of God.
14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 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!”16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 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.
Romans 8:14-17 (ESV)
In Romans, those who receive the Spirit of God will call God “Father”.
Who should we say are the children of God?
Only with the spirit do we become children of God. The next time I call someone a child of God, I will only refer to another believer. However, it is our duty to make disciples. That way, we can call more people our brothers and sisters in Christ.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Matthew 28:19 (ESV)
Prayer for Today
Father, I thank You that you call me Your child. I pray that Your children are always in Your will, and that we are never afraid to go and make disciples as You have called us to do.
Amen