“Children of God” is
a title given in the New Testament
to all who have received Jesus Christ by faith.
It describes the intimate family relationship
believers have with God the Father
through the new birth and adoption.
This identity is one of the highest privileges
of the Christian life.
The New Testament clearly teaches that those who believe in Jesus become children of God:
“But to all who did receive him, 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.” (John 1:12-13)
Other key passages include:
This relationship is made possible through the new birth (John 3:3-8) and the Spirit of adoption (Romans 8:15).
Being children of God means:
This status is not earned by good works but is received by grace through faith in Jesus.
In the New Testament, the terms “children of God” and “sons of God” are closely related and often used interchangeably. “Children” (Greek: tekna) emphasizes the relational and familial aspect of being born into God’s family, while “sons” (Greek: huioi) often carries the additional idea of legal standing, maturity, and inheritance. Both terms highlight the incredible privilege of belonging to God through Christ.
Being called a child of God is one of the most precious truths in Scripture. It speaks of intimacy, security, love, and belonging. This identity should shape how believers see themselves, how they relate to God, and how they live in the world. As children of God, we are called to walk in a manner worthy of our Father and to reflect His character to others.
Entry compiled for the JESUSaves.com Bible Glossary. Optimized for wiki.js Visual Editor.