Being a child of God is one of the greatest blessings and privileges imaginable. The Bible has much to say about what it means to be His child. Let’s explore some key aspects of this incredible reality.
We are adopted into God’s family
The Bible teaches that when we put our faith in Christ, we are spiritually adopted into God’s family: “In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will” (Ephesians 1:5). Through Christ’s redemptive work on the cross, we are granted the right to become children of God (John 1:12).
This means we are no longer strangers, but full heirs with Christ, deeply loved by the Father. What an awesome privilege to be able to call God our Father and to know we belong to His family forever.
We are recipients of the Father’s love
One of the greatest blessings of being God’s children is experiencing His profound love for us. The Bible says, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1). As His children, we get to live in the light of His unconditional love.
God doesn’t love us because we earn it or deserve it, but simply because we belong to Him. This love never fails, never gives up, and continues pursuing us our whole lives. There’s no greater security than resting in the Father’s perfect love.
We have a new identity and purpose
When we are reborn into God’s family, we are given a new identity and purpose. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” Our old sinful self dies, and we become a new creation in Christ.
We are set free from sin and called to live holy lives that bring glory to God (Ephesians 1:4, 2:10). We no longer find our purpose and value in earthly things, but in who we are as beloved children of the King.
We have direct access to the Father
Through Jesus, we can come directly into God’s presence with confidence and boldness (Ephesians 3:12). We don’t have to go through priests or other mediators. The Bible says, “You received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father'” (Romans 8:15). Abba is an intimate Aramaic term similar to “Daddy.”
We have this intimate access because Jesus tore down the dividing wall of sin, making a way for us to be reconciled to God (Ephesians 2:14-18). We can freely and openly commune with our Father anytime.
We are never alone
God promises His children, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). No matter what trials we face, He remains with us every step of the way. Jesus said He would send the Holy Spirit to dwell in His people forever (John 14:16-17).
The Spirit guides, comforts and helps us in our weakness (John 14:26, Romans 8:26). As children of God, we have the omnipotent, omnipresent Creator always by our side. We are never alone.
We have hope for the future
While the brokenness of this world brings pain and hardship, God’s children have hope for the future. The Bible says the creation itself eagerly awaits for the day when “the children of God” will be revealed in full glory (Romans 8:19-21).
On that day, Jesus will return to make all things new and wipe away every tear (Revelation 21:1-5). We will inhabit a resurrected world free of sin, crying and death. As God’s heirs, this blessed hope sustains us amid suffering (Titus 3:7).
We are being transformed into Christ’s image
The Bible says God predestined His children “to be conformed to the image of his Son” (Romans 8:29). Though the process is lifelong, the Holy Spirit is continually shaping us into the likeness of Christ. As we yield to Him, we become more loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind and self-controlled.
One day, God’s children will be made like Jesus: “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). What an amazing promise!
We are being prepared for eternal rewards
At the judgement seat of Christ, God’s children will be rewarded for how they lived their lives on earth. 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 describes these heavenly rewards that will last for eternity. Though salvation is by grace alone, our works still matter.
As God’s children, we long to hear “Well done good and faithful servant!” Knowing our labors in the Lord are never in vain motivates us to live wholeheartedly for Him (1 Corinthians 15:58). Our eternal destiny fuels how we live today.
We are Christ’s representatives on earth
As God’s children, we have the privilege of representing Jesus to the world. He calls us the “light of the world” and commissions us to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 5:14, 28:19). Empowered by the Spirit, we further God’s kingdom through words and deeds.
Our lives should point people to our Father. We have the joy of joining in the Father’s mission of redemption and restoration. Being a child of God is both an incredible privilege and a sacred responsibility.
We are fellow heirs with Christ
Romans 8:17 tells us: “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” As God’s children, we share in Jesus’ inheritance.
This means everything that belongs to Christ also belongs to us: the Father’s love, divine blessings, the Holy Spirit, eternal life. We are joint heirs of all the riches in Christ. However, we must also share in His sufferings if we want to share in His glory.
We are part of God’s forever family
The blessings of being a child of God are not just for this life. They are eternal. Though we were once separated from God by sin, now we are united with Him forever. “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:18).
Revelation 21:7 promises, “Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.” Through Christ, we gain an eternal family and relationship with the Creator. Nothing can separate us from His love.
We have the Holy Spirit living in us
A key aspect of being a child of God is having the Holy Spirit dwelling within our hearts. Romans 8:9 tells us: “You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.”
The Spirit convicts us of sin, guides us into truth, produces spiritual fruit in our lives, and empowers us to fulfill our purpose (John 16:8, 16:13, Galatians 5:22-23, Acts 1:8). His presence testifies that we belong to Christ and are God’s children (Romans 8:16).
We are set free from bondage
Before knowing Christ, we were slaves to our sinful nature and to the kingdom of darkness. But Romans 8:15 declares, “So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children.”
As God’s children, we have been liberated from slavery to fear, sin and Satan. We now submit to righteousness leading to holiness (Romans 6:17-18). Through the redeeming work of Jesus, we have been freed and brought into God’s family.
We are given new strength for godly living
Despite being God’s children, we still struggle with sin while on this earth. Thankfully, His Spirit empowers us to resist temptation and walk uprightly: “But by the Spirit’s power we can destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).
The Holy Spirit transforms our desires, giving us strength to overcome sinful habits and addictions. We now have power to say no to ungodliness and unrighteousness as His children (Titus 2:11-12).
We relate to God as our perfect Father
Through Christ, we are adopted into God’s family and granted an intimate relationship with Him as our Father. He is the perfect Father we never had on earth. He makes no mistakes, always desires our good, and loves unconditionally.
We don’t have to fear going to our heavenly Father with requests, questions or emotions. We have open access because of Jesus: “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
We are recipients of God’s discipline
A parent who doesn’t discipline a wayward child doesn’t truly love them. Likewise, God disciplines His children because He loves us: “The Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives” (Hebrews 12:6).
Though painful, God uses difficulties and trials to mature us and produce Christlike character. Without discipline, we cannot share in God’s holiness (Hebrews 12:7-11). As a good Father, He disciplines for our good.
We bear God’s image
Part of being made in God’s image is the fact we are His children (Genesis 1:27, Acts 17:29). Bearing His spiritual and moral likeness sets humanity apart from the rest of creation. As His offspring, we can relate to and fellowship with God in a way animals can’t.
Jesus reflects the Father’s image perfectly (Colossians 1:15, Hebrews 1:3). As we become more Christlike, we more fully exhibit the family resemblance as God’s sons and daughters. One day, we will be made like Jesus (1 John 3:2).
We enjoy a community of believers
When we are adopted into God’s family, we also gain a worldwide community of fellow believers. These diverse brothers and sisters provide encouragement, accountability, comfort and fellowship as we walk with Christ (1 Peter 2:17).
Together, we worship our Father, study His Word, spur one another to love and good deeds, and partner in His mission (Hebrews 10:24-25). Unity in His family displays God’s love to the world (John 13:34-35).
We are saved from God’s wrath
Apart from Christ, the coming day of judgement will be dreadful instead of joyous for God’s children. But Jesus saves us from the wrath to come (1 Thessalonians 1:10). Romans 5:9 says, “Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!”
As His children, we don’t have to fear His righteous judgement for our sins. Christ bore God’s wrath on our behalf so we could be adopted into His family (Romans 3:25-26). Our salvation is secure in Him.
We are born again by the Spirit
Jesus said we cannot see or enter God’s kingdom without being born again by the Spirit (John 3:3-8). When the Spirit regenerates our dead hearts, we are awakened to salvation and spiritual life as God’s children: “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God” (1 John 5:1).
This new spiritual birth results in a new family identity. We gain God as our Father and fellow believers as siblings. We become part of the household of God (Ephesians 2:19).
We are reconciled to God
Sin destroyed the relationship between God and man. We were once “estranged and hostile” toward God because of wickedness (Colossians 1:21). “But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight” (Colossians 1:22).
Christ’s atoning sacrifice removed the barrier between us and God. We can now be united with Him as His beloved children. Our rebellion and enmity toward the Father have been replaced with peace because of Jesus.
We are delivered from darkness
Colossians 1:13 tells us God “has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son.” Before knowing Christ, we were trapped in spiritual death and blindness, enslaved by Satan’s dominion.
But God powerfully draws us out of darkness into His kingdom of light. As His children, we now walk in the true light that illumines everyone (1 John 2:8-10). We have been rescued from Satan’s grip.
We are declared righteous before God
Even though we are still sinners, through faith God counts us as righteous because of Christ’s finished work (Romans 3:22, 4:5). 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” What an amazing truth!
We don’t have to strive to make ourselves righteous before God. As His children, we already have a right standing before Him by grace. Our security rests in Jesus’ sinless life given for us.
We have victory over sin and death
Before Christ, sin and death reigned supreme. But now, Romans 8:37 declares, “in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Through Jesus, we are super-conquerors with power over sin, death and all forms of evil (1 John 2:13-14).
His resurrection life at work in us enables us to overcome temptation, addiction, and every weapon formed against us. Truly, the One in us is greater than the one in the world (1 John 4:4).
We are bought at a price
Being a child of God was extremely costly: “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed…but with the precious blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:18-19). Jesus paid the ultimate price to bring us into God’s family.
We now belong to God because we were purchased by Christ’s blood. This reminds us we are not our own. Our lives’ purpose is to glorify Him who paid such an infinite price for us (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
Conclusion
What an astounding gift to be called children of God! This is only possible because of Jesus’ atoning sacrifice on our behalf. When we place our faith in Him, we gain an entirely new identity and holy purpose as God’s own sons and daughters.
We receive unfathomable blessings, including adoption into His family, deliverance from sin’s bondage, new spiritual life, a glorious eternal inheritance, and intimate fellowship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. By His grace, we transcend from orphans to heirs.
However, being God’s child is not just about privileges – it’s also about responsibility. We are commissioned as Christ’s ambassadors on earth. Our lives should increasingly reflect our righteous and loving Father so others see Him through us. What an honor to bear the name ‘Child of God’!