Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  7000 God's people  »  7100 Titles of the people of God  »  7115 children of God

Israel and the church are the chief objects of God's fatherly love. People become God's children through faith and are then encouraged by Scripture to imitate their heavenly Father in their daily living.

Human beings as God's children

Genesis 1:27; Genesis 6:2,4; Psalm 82:6; Malachi 2:10; Luke 3:38; Ephesians 3:14

Israel as God's children

Hosea 11:1 See also Exodus 4:22-23; Psalm 73:15; Psalm 80:15; Isaiah 43:6; Isaiah 63:16; Jeremiah 31:20; Romans 9:4

Israel as God's rebellious children

Isaiah 1:2 See also Deuteronomy 32:5,20; Isaiah 30:1,9; Jeremiah 3:4-5; Jeremiah 4:22; Ezekiel 20:21

God's son

Promises of God's son

2 Samuel 7:12-14 pp 1 Chronicles 17:11-13 These words referred originally to David's son, Solomon, but in the NT they are applied to Jesus Christ. See also 1 Chronicles 22:10; 1 C 6; Psalm 2:7; Psalm 89:26-27

Jesus Christ as God's son

Hebrews 1:5 See also Matthew 3:17 pp Mark 1:11 pp Luke 3:22; Luke 1:32; Acts 13:33; Romans 1:4

Jesus Christ's followers as God's children

Matthew 9:2 pp Mark 2:5; Matthew 9:22 pp Mark 5:34 pp Luke 8:48

Becoming God's children through faith in Jesus Christ

Becoming God's children by new birth

John 1:12-13 See also John 12:36; Romans 9:8; Galatians 3:26; 1 John 5:1

Becoming God's children by adoption

Ephesians 1:5 See also Romans 8:23 This adoption will be fully realised in the future; Galatians 4:4-5

Becoming God's children by the Spirit

Romans 8:15 See also Galatians 4:6

God's dealings with his children

God loves his children

1 John 3:1 See also Deuteronomy 1:31; Psalm 103:13; Ephesians 5:1

God disciplines his children

Deuteronomy 8:5 See also Proverbs 3:11-12; Hebrews 12:5-10

God does not abandon his children

Hosea 1:10 God had previously (Hos 1:9) announced his judgment that Israel would be his people no longer. See also Deuteronomy 31:6,8; Joshua 1:5; Hebrews 13:5; Jeremiah 31:9; Malachi 3:17; Luke 15:24; Romans 9:26

Behaviour expected of God's children

God's children imitate their heavenly Father

Ephesians 5:1 See also Matthew 5:48; Luke 6:36

God's children live by the Father's standards

Philippians 2:15 See also Leviticus 11:44-45; Deuteronomy 14:1-2; Matthew 5:9,44-45 pp Luke 6:35-36; Romans 8:14; 2 Corinthians 6:17-18; 1 Peter 1:14-16; 1 John 3:10

The privileges and blessings of being God's children

God's children are eternally secure

John 8:35 See also Romans 8:16,21; 1 John 5:19

The needs of God's children are always supplied

Matthew 7:9-11 pp Luke 11:11-13 See also Matthew 6:25-32 pp Luke 12:22-30 needs for the present life; Luke 20:36; Romans 8:23 promises for the life to come

God's children have a sure inheritance

Revelation 21:7 See also Jeremiah 3:19; Romans 8:17-19; Galatians 4:7; 1 John 3:2

See also

1040  God, fatherhood
1085  God, love of
2218  Christ, Son of God
5701  heir
6608  adoption
6658  freedom
7140  people of God
8020  faith
8104  assurance
8230  discipline
8266  holiness
8449  imitating