The regenerated man is a child of God. The implications of this are staggering. "But to all who received Him, who believed in His name, he gave power 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".1
By faith we become children. God is the Giver of life. Life is in His Son. This process is one of adoption: "that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying Abba! Father!".2
As in all aspects of 'bearing fruit,' God's is the initiator and producer; not man. We can no more produce a regenerated child than we can cause a seed to sprout. We are born of the Spirit, and not of the flesh.3 As proclaimers, our obligation is to scatter seed. When the seed is regenerated it gives off new life.
"Children of God" is a common expression in both the Old and New Testaments. It is based on the relationship between parents and children, and in general describes God's affection for His own, and their dependence on Him and moral likeness to Him. Thus, as God's children we assume a likeness to our Parent:
1. Children of Wisdom 4
2. Children of Obedience 5
(1 Peter 1:14)
3. Children of Light 6
4. Children of Glory 7
5. Children of Truth 8
6. Children of Love 9
7. Children of Promise 10
Children of God are like God.
We can further determine our sonship by seeing regenerated lives take on Christ-like attitudes: 11
1. We become 'poor in spirit', as one who realizes their spiritual poverty.
2. We 'mourn', feeling this poverty, we seek after God.
3. We 'become meek', a quiet and gentle spirit.
4. We 'hunger and thirst for righteousness', a desire to be holy.
5. We become 'merciful', a desire to pardon and forgive.
6. We desire 'to be pure in heart', an inward desire to be pure like God.
7. We become 'peacemakers', a desire to reconcile and bring unity.
8. We become 'persecuted for righteousness', or suffering in our new life in opposition to the world system.
9. We become 'reviled and persecuted', slandered for our suffering for righteousness.
10. We 'rejoice', realizing our hope is in Christ and our reward is in heaven.
We must try to understand that as a child of God we encounter every blessing, suffering, attitude, action and emotion of Christ.
1. John 1:12
2. Galatians 4:6
3. Romans 8:9
4. Matthew 11:19, Luke 7:35, 1 Corinthians 1:21
5. 1 Peter 1:14
6. Ephesians 5:8
7. 1 John 3:2-3
8. 2 John 4
9. 1 John 3:1
10. Acts 2:39, Galatians 4:28, Romans 8:14-18
11. Matthew 5:1-12, Luke 6:20-49
