Are you truly a child of God? I guess you are saying, what kind of question is that? Aren’t we all children of God?” But is that really true? This is not only a great question; it is an important question for which all of us need to be certain of the answer.
You see, these days, almost everyone thinks he or she a child of God. It doesn’t seem to matter what religion they are, almost everyone seems to hold the belief that they are a child of God. But is that really true? Have you ever wondered who the real children of God are? Does God possibly have anything to say about this? Well, it is time for us to examine ourselves to see if we are truly children of God.
Some people trust in the fact that they grew up in a Christian household or that they are religious, so that makes them children of God. But does being a “Christian” or being “religious” mean that a person is a child of God? What do you think? Would you like to know for sure if you are God’s child? Today, I want to challenge you to examine yourself by God’s Word to see if you are truly His child.
In Romans 8 verses 9-17 the Apostle Paul also addressed this issue of being a child of God as well. In the midst of all the religious activity going on around him, Paul wanted the Christians to have concrete ways to be certain they were the children of God. Paul says, “The Spirit himself bears witness with our Spirit that we are the children of God, 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.” In other words, if you become a child of God, you become an heir of all that God owns. All that belongs to God is your inheritance. In the resurrection everything that exists will be yours.
He presented a great Biblical truth in Romans, which he also declared in 1 Corinthians 4:20. He said “the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.” Paul makes the point in verses 9 through 11 that if you are a child of God then the Spirit of Christ must be in you. He said, “Now if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His”.
You see, the Holy Spirit is invisible to the natural eye. So how can you be sure that you have the Spirit? When the Holy Spirit comes into a person He makes His presence felt. It happens in the same way that your presence is felt in your home. When the Spirit of Christ comes into a person, He begins to arrange the “furniture” of your life to His liking. He makes His presence felt by changing the things you like and dislike.
The person who has received the Spirit of Christ suddenly discovers he doesn’t want to do those things any more. This is what Paul meant, in verse 13, when he said it is through the Spirit that the deeds of the body are mortified or put to death. The Holy Spirit changes the things you want to do and the things you want to say. It is only when the Holy Spirit comes inside of a person, that real change of heart is possible. This change is one way to be certain that you are a child of God.
In Romans 8 verse 14, the Apostle Paul tells us plainly who the real children of God are. He said, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God”. The real Children of God, therefore, are those that are continually being led by the Spirit of God. If God is truly your Father, then He is going to change you so that you begin to look like Him.
In verse 15, it states that the Holy Spirit leads them into a close personal relationship with the Father. The Child of God cries “Abba Father”. The word “Abba” means “Daddy”. This is an expression of intimacy and love. This intimate relationship is only possible when the child of God obeys the Holy Spirit. Jesus said in John 14:23, “If a man loves me, he will keep my words.” Then Jesus told us what would happen next. What happens? He said, “My Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” Obedience to the Spirit brings a real relationship with the Father, but this is only possible for the true Child of God.
In verses 16 and 17, Paul told us two ways a genuine child of God is confirmed by the Spirit. The first way is this: “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” This verse means that only God can make Himself real to you. Jesus said in John 14:20, “At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.” When the Spirit of Christ is inside of you He becomes real to you. You become under the inspiration and influence of the Holy Spirit. That influence is noticed. You start to notice changes in your life. You see that things have changed in comparison with the past. That is the first way He confirms to you that you are His child.
The second way to know that the Spirit confirms you are a child of God is found in verse 17. It says that you will suffer with Him. This suffering with Christ is directly the result of people recognizing Christ in you and hating you as a result. Jesus said in John 15:21, “But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not Him that sent me.” This suffering with Christ is directly a result of the work of the Holy Spirit within you. The more you become like Christ, the more you will suffer with Him. The hateful treatment you receive from those who hate Christ, is yet another confirmation by the Holy Spirit that you are truly a child of God.
There are two conditions to becoming a Child of God. They are, receiving Jesus and believing Jesus. John 1:12 states, “But to all who received him, who BELIEVE in his name, he gave authority to become children of God.”
So are you a child of God? How can you know that you are a child of God? If you are a child of God you have the Spirit of Christ within you. He makes His presence known by leading you out of the bondage of sin. Then he leads you into a personal relationship with the Father and He verifies that you are His child by making Himself real to you. He also confirms that you are His child when you suffer for His name’s sake.
Can you truly answer that question now? Are you His child? Did you know that if you are not, you can still become part of His family?
Remember: When the Bible talks about God’s children, it means people who have a relationship with God because of their believing in Him and trusting in Him for salvation. If you do not have a relationship with him or are not trusting in him for salvation, you are not his child.
About the Author: Mrs. Marilyn Hodge owns and operates the Wellness Centre and the Wellness Centre Multi-purpose Facility in the Farrington, Anguilla. The Centre offers Counselling Services by Appointment Only and has now published Positive Living Volume 2. Contact information: 476-3517 or email: marilynb@anguillanet.com. www.facebook.com/axawellnesscentre
