Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

What does it mean to be a child of God? A child of God is a member of God’s family, with all the advantages and privileges membership entails. Although the Bible makes it clear in many places that every human being who has ever existed is a creation of God, not everyone is a child of God. Simply naturally coming into existence is not sufficient to become a child of God. Rather, one must be born a second time; one must be “born again,” (John 3:3). In the words of our verses for today, to become a child of God, one must be “born of God.”

What does it mean to be born of God? The reference is not to natural birth, but to spiritual birth. In order to be born of God, there must be a change of spiritual motivation and direction in a person’s life. Apart from this change, people are children of the devil (John 8:44), rather than children of God. The second birth occurs when the Holy Spirit of God enters a person’s life and changes the spiritual motivation and direction of that person (John 3:5-8). Instead of following and imitating the devil, they begin to follow and imitate God (Ephesians 5:1), like a child with his father.

How does one become a child of God? According to our verses for today, one must receive Jesus, and one must believe in His name. God’s plan for reconciling the children of the devil unto Himself and making them His own children required the virgin birth, sinless life, sacrificial death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17-19). When we receive Jesus, when we believe in who He is and what He accomplished for us, we receive in turn the right to become God’s children.

What are the advantages of being a child of God? There are too many of them to mention. In summary, one receives the right to abundant and eternal life in God’s family. One forever receives the right to talk to God and relate to God as a good and loving father.

If you have received Jesus, then you are someone very special. You are a child of God. You have been adopted into His family.

By John Huisman, Friend of Bible League International