Are we all children of God, or are only Christians God's children?
We are all created by God, but we are not all God's children (1 Corinthians 8:6; Romans 11:36; Colossians 1:16). Perhaps no Scripture verse better makes this point than John 1:12–13, which states, " But to all who did receive him [Jesus], who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God."
It is not natural descent, but regeneration that makes one a child of God (John 3:5–8). By nature, because of the fall of Adam and Eve, we are born in sin and are therefore children of wrath, disobedience, and the Devil (Psalm 51:5; Ephesians 2:3). However, God did not leave us in that deplorable state. Instead, because of His great love for us, God sent His only begotten Son to pay the ransom our sins required (Matthew 20:28; 1 Timothy 2:5–6). Those who believe in Jesus Christ and trust in Him alone for forgiveness and salvation receive the Spirit of adoption (Romans 8:15, 23; Galatians 4:5–7; Ephesians 1:5). Those who have the Spirit are the children of God. And those who have been regenerated by the Spirit and have become children of God will show evidence of their adoption by way of a transformed mind and life (Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 1 John 3:9; 4:7; 5:1, 4, 18).
If everyone was a child of God from birth then neither the sacrifice of Christ nor adoption by God would be necessary. The truth is that only those who have been born again, born of the Spirit by believing in Jesus Christ, are the children of God. Only those who can call Jesus Lord and Savior can call God "Abba Father" (Galatians 4:6–7). Therefore, although we are all creations of God only only those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ (i.e., Christians) are God's children.
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