Who are God's children?

[Enlightenedtruth]

In another conversation I am having; I have been told that only Christians qualify to be part of "God's Family", His children. Now I am curious; and would like to request input from other members of the forum?

Are there "those" who qualify for God's Grace and Love; while there are "other's" who are just part of God's Creation?

Thank you for your input.

 

[WIP]

In another conversation I am having; I have been told that only Christians qualify to be part of "God's Family", His children. Now I am curious; and would like to request input from other members of the forum?

Are there "those" who qualify for God's Grace and Love; while there are "other's" who are just part of God's Creation?

Thank you for your input.

Here are some things the Bible says about children of God.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 1:10-13 NKJV

12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.
13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “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 joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
Romans 8:12-17 NKJV

26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
4:1 Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all,
2 but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father.
3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world.
4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”
7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Galatians 3:26-4:7 NKJV

Hope this helps.

 

[WalterandDebbie]

In another conversation I am having; I have been told that only Christians qualify to be part of "God's Family", His children. Now I am curious; and would like to request input from other members of the forum?

Are there "those" who qualify for God's Grace and Love; while there are "other's" who are just part of God's Creation?

Thank you for your input.

Hi Enlightenedtruth, How are you all? here are a view: https://www.gotquestions.org/all-God-children.html

Love, Walter And Debbie

 

[Hopeful 2]

In another conversation I am having; I have been told that only Christians qualify to be part of "God's Family", His children. Now I am curious; and would like to request input from other members of the forum?

Are there "those" who qualify for God's Grace and Love; while there are "other's" who are just part of God's Creation?

Thank you for your input.

It is written..."But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." (Matt 5:44-45)
Everyone has an equal chance to be a child of God.
But obedience to God is required to "qualify".

 

[Tenchi]

In another conversation I am having; I have been told that only Christians qualify to be part of "God's Family", His children. Now I am curious; and would like to request input from other members of the forum?

Are there "those" who qualify for God's Grace and Love; while there are "other's" who are just part of God's Creation?

Thank you for your input.

We are all of God's creatures, saved and not, but we are not all God's children. Only those who have trusted in Christ as their Savior from the stain and penalty of their sin and who have yielded themselves to him as their Lord, God and Creator, are members of God's family.

John 3:3-7 (NASB)
3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."
4 Nicodemus *said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?"
5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 "Do not be amazed that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'

John 3:16-18 (NASB)
16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
17 "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
18 "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 3:36 (NASB)
36 "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."

Romans 10:9-10 (NASB)
9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

Revelation 3:20 (NASB)
20 'Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.

How will you know that you're truly "born again" by the Holy Spirit? He will:

- convict you (John 16:8; Revelation 2-3).
- teach you (John 14:26; John 16:13; 1 Corinthians 2:10-16).
- strengthen you (Ephesians 3:16; Philippians 2:13; Philippians 4:13; Romans 8:13)
- comfort you (2 Corinthians 1:3-5)
- change you (Galatians 5:22-23; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Romans 8:29)

It is in these things that the Holy Spirit "bears witness with your spirit" that you are truly a child of God (Romans 8:16). As He works in you, you will:

- love the Christian brethren (1 John 3:14)
- hunger for God's word (Jeremiah 15:16; Psalms 119)
- hate sin (Ephesians 5:8-9)
- desire God more and more (Philippians 3:8-10; Psalms 143:6; Psalms 84:2, etc.).

No one, then, ever has to be confused or uncertain about whether or not they have become one of God's children. But the offer of adoption by God is issued to all:

John 3:16-17
16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
17 "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

2 Peter 3:9
9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

1 Timothy 2:3-4
3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

John 6:37
37 ...the one who comes to me I will certainly not cast out.