Who are the children of God?

**Kenny64** · July-27th-2012, 04:46 PM

This was written to me by a dear Christian brother and friend.
I want to pass along to my dear brothers and sistters in Christ on RF.

Contrary to the teaching of some; all people are not the children of GOD. When you hear “we are all children of GOD” you should be on alert for the next bending of the truth that is sure to follow. It seems that this saying is used most often to defend a lifestyle that is contrary to what is in scripture. It seems as though we humans are always trying to find ways to skirt the truths of the Bible. I tried to do this for years and I’m in good company as many have attempted to rationalize sin in their life by avoiding the word of GOD. For centuries men and women have looked for loopholes that would give them comfort as they lived a lifestyle that was satisfying and pleasing to their flesh or worldly self. Unfortunately there is no escape from the truth of GOD, there is no intellectual brilliance that is able to overcome what the creator has known about his creation from the beginning. “ For from within, out of the human heart, come evil ideas, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, evil, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, pride, and folly. All these evils come from within and defile a person.”” (Mark 7:21–23, NET)

Why are we humans so wise in our own eyes yet we can’t look through GOD’s eyes and see the futility of trying live apart from GOD’s will and purpose for our life. If your lifestyle is contrary to what is right in the eyes of GOD, then to live connected to HIM in righteousness way a change is required. In order for change to occur you must turn from your pleasure seeking self which is contrary to the ways of GOD and by definition “evil” and be reconciled to HIM through the knowledge of HIS Son JESUS CHRIST.

“that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.” (Ephesians 1:17, NASB95)

“For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.” (2 Peter 2:20, NASB95)

To clear up any misunderstanding regarding who is/are children of GOD and who are children of the devil, the following is what the Bible says. Let there be no mistake, there is no middle ground. Your friends, neighbors, loved ones, are either of GOD or of the devil. Although this is a hard thing to consider it is all the more reason why it is so important to lead the lost to CHRIST. This is the call we have accepted and the cross we bear.

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,” (John 1:12, NASB95)

““Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man.” (Acts 17:29, NASB95)

“The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.” (Romans 8:16–17, NASB95)

“That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.” (Romans 9:8, NASB95)

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;” (Ephesians 5:1, NASB95)

“so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,” (Philippians 2:15, NASB95)

“See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him. Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.” (1 John 3:1–10, NASB95)

“Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:1–5, NASB95)

“So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.” (Revelation 12:17, NASB95)

To give further perspective and relevance for our current times. Examples of errant lifestyles are seen in those who are living in a way that is offensive to our FATHER. But there is hope.

“ Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! The sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, passive homosexual partners, practicing homosexuals, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, the verbally abusive, and swindlers will not inherit the kingdom of God. Some of you once lived this way. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9–11, NET)

If we preach or teach anything less than this truth, it will be us who are living outside of GOD’s will and purpose for our life. May it not be so.

**anath** · July-27th-2012, 05:06 PM

Abba, Father!
Galatians 4:4-7

New International Version (NIV)

⁴But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, ⁵to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. ⁶Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” ⁷So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.