BEING CHILDREN OF GOD

First published May 2009.

Another personable term describing our relationship with God is ‘children of God’.  It is used in the very comforting verse, John 1:12 (‘sons of God’ in the KJV is an inaccurate translation of the Greek word teknon):

NAU John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,

NIV John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—

KJV John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name

It is also used in the theologically encouraging verse, Rom 8: 16, 17:

NAU Romans 8:16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

NIV Romans 8:16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs– heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

KJV Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

And in the sanctifying verse of Philippians 2:15:

NAU Philippians 2:15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,

NIV Philippians 2:15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe

KJV Philippians 2:15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world

The greek word for children, teknon, is used interchangeably with Sons of God in Romans 8. But where the Greek word for Sons stressed the legitimacy of familial relationship, teknon stresses the dignity and character of one made prominent by birth. Although there is no direct physical, familial connection of believers with Mary, the mother of Jesus, there is a direct spiritual family connection of believers with Jesus by the spiritual rebirth experienced through faith in the finished work of Christ and the legal adoption into the family of God accomplished through the faith transaction.  Bottomline: Believers are in a close family relationship with the Living God that is made legitimate by God’s work in the spiritual rebirth accomplished through faith. Not only are we slaves as pointed out in previous posts, we are close members of God’s family as Sons, Daughters and Children by our faith connection with Jesus. Let us rejoice and be glad in His work.