What It Truly Means To Be A Child Of God (3)

:Study Heading: “What It Means To TRULY Be A Child Of God: Know Who You Truly Are!”

Dec. 8, 2025

2 Tim. 2:15(KJV)- “Study to shew thyself approved unto God…”

1 Jn. 4:1(NKJV)-“…test the spirits…” -Connect The Dots Remember: “Selah”-Pause and Meditate!

EVERY WORD OF THE WORD OF GOD IS VITAL, CRITICAL, AND IMPORTANT!

Notes:

John 1:12-13(NKJV)- But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 Who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

-As I reading this Scripture, the question came to me, because, every word that God says is important and I started to ask, why is the word, “But” in there?

Let’s look at the verse preceding these 2 verses.

John 1:11(NKJV)- He came to His own and His own did not receive Him.

Who is the “He” that John is speaking of? The answer: Christ! John is speaking about Christ.

Now, who were His own, and why were they called His own?

- Matt. 15:24(NKJV)- But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

John is talking about Christ’s own at that time being the nation of Israel.

They did not receive Christ. They ultimately rejected Him. But, because of the Love of God, He gave another opportunity for anyone.

Again, the Scripture: John 1:12-13(NKJV)- But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

Now, let’s see what the Holy Spirit teaches us about what it truly means, to be a child of God!

* But as many as received Him,… That word, “Received”, in Greek, is: ἔλαβον “elabon” meaning: receive; take; get hold; have offered; seize; remove; accept; be amazed; assay; attain; bring; when I call; catch; come on (× unto); forget; have; hold; obtain; receive (× after); take (away, up)

According to the context of the Scripture, the best words to use would be, “receive, take up, and accept”

Yet specifically, accept is best.

(ὅσος Meaning: whatever; as many as)

* He gave… That word, “Gave”, in Greek is: ἔδωκεν “edōken” meaning: give; grant; give; adventure; bestow; bring forth; commit; deliver (up); grant; hinder; make; minister; number; offer; have power;

The words that best fit, would be, “give, grant, and bestow”

Them the right… Why them there? Because, the Scripture is very explicit when John said, to these specific people God would offer them the right to become His children. Why? Because, simply, God is willing to accept those who accept Him!

* That word, “Right”, in Greek is: ἐξουσίαν “exousian” meaning: authority; power; ability; privilege; force; capacity; competency; freedom; mastery; influence; authority; jurisdiction; liberty; power; right; strength.

The right words for the context of the Scripture would be, “authority, power, ability, and privilege.”

C.T.D. (TSK)

Matt. 10:40(NKJV)- “He who receives you, receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.

Revelation from the Holy Spirit: But as many as received Him(Jesus Christ: God the Son), to them He(God the Father) gave the right to become children of God( the right to become His children: God the Father), to those who believe in His name:(those who believe in the name of Jesus, in the name of God the Son.)

Now, in part 2 of this Study of what it means to be a child of God, let’s return back the 12th verse of the 1st chapter of John, and then go to the 13th verse.

Let’s look again and see what more the Holy Spirit gives revelation to us about concerning this Scripture.

John 1:12(NKJV)- But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.

* -to become…that word, “Become” in Greek is: γενέσθαι “genesthai” meaning: be; become; take place; cause to be; gen; -erate; become; come into being; arise; be assembled; be (-come, -fall, -have self); be brought (to pass); (be)

According to the context of what and how the Scripture says it, the best word to use, though it being plain and simple, would be, “to be”.

* Therefore, the God the Father, has given us the privilege, to not just become His children, but to literally BE His children!

* Children of God…, that word, “Children”, in Greek is: τέκνα “tekna” meaning: child; child; produced; daughter; son.

For certain people, I must reiterate(emphasize) this point.

Gen. 1:27 (NKJV)- So God created man in His own image, and in the image of God He created him; MALE AND FEMALE He created them.

There is no such thing as an, “in-between child of God or a homosexual Christian”. You are either male or female, there is no other!

Nevertheless, back to the Scripture.

* To those who believe… that word, “Believe,” is: πιστεύουσιν “pisteuousin” meaning: believe; have faith; credit; entrust; believe (-r); commit (to trust; put in trust with

* According to context, the best words are, “have faith, put trust in.”

* In His name:… that word, “Name”, in Greek is: ὄνομα “onoma” meaning: name; person; name; authority; character; called; (+ sur-) name (-d

* The best words here to use would be, “name, and authority.”

Now, that we have seen what the original Greek translation says, let’s see what the Scripture says!

CTD (TSK)

Matt. 18:5(NKJV)- “Whoever receives one little child like this in My name, receives Me.

According to what the Scripture says, let’s ask these questions, and see what the Holy Spirit says, and gives us revelation on.

1. What did Jesus mean by this?

2. Why does Christ specifically mention, …“one little child”…?

3. How are we to receive one little child in His name?

4. What did Jesus mean when He said, “like this…”?

5. How does this connect the dots with Jn. 1:12?

* Let’s look at the surrounding text on this verse.

Matthew 18:1-5 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.

* “At that time…” At what time?

Mark 9:33-37(NKJV)- 33 Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, “What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?” 34 But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest. 35 And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” 36 Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.” 

* As Jesus and His disciples were traveling to Capernaum, we see here that, that is when the disciples were going back and forth about who was going to be the greatest.

* Therefore, “ At that time,” or (KJV)-“ At that same time”

At what time? At that time when Jesus and the disciples were going into Capernaum…

Luke 9:46-48- 46 Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest. 47 And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a little child and set him by Him, 48 and said to them, “Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great.” 

That word, “time”, in Greek is, ὥρᾳ “hōra” meaning: hour; day; instant; season; short; [even-] tide; (high) time

According to the context of the Scripture, the best words for this would be, “hour, and day.”

* As I was having a vision of this Scripture, Matthew 18:1-5, the Holy Spirit began to have me read this Scripture differently.

The way the Holy Spirit had me to read it, after having the vision of Jesus talking to the disciples was like this:

Matthew 18:1-5, Mark 9:33, & Luke 9:47

At that time (While they were traveling/coming into Capernaum) the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

(Silence/pause= selah)

2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, (having him on His side) 3 and said, “Assuredly,

I say to you,

unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

(Pause/silence, the disciples say nothing at that moment.)

(Jesus continues):

4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

5 Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.

“The disciples came to Jesus,...”

Q. Who are the disciples?

A. The disciples are the group of people that followed Jesus, and listened to His teachings.

Fact: The word disciple is used 268 times in the Bible.

So, what is a disciple, or what does it mean?

Disciple: is one who diligently studies the Word of God, one who follows Christ, who imitates the Word of God. A disciple is also one who learns from the Word of God.

Think about Jesus disciples, Mt. 28:19-20 (NKJV)- 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you;…

Christ commanded the disciples teach others to obey the commandments and teaching that He gave them, while He here with them.

A disciple is a child of God. How is that? Because, to be a disciple means to also be (as I stated before) and imitator.

Revelation From The Holy Spirit: As I was meditating and doing my research, I went to this Scripture.

Mt. 7:21(NKJV)- “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 

I asked the Holy Spirit a question, what is the will of the Father? And He took me here, and said this to me as I was meditating.

Remember the parable of the two sons?

Matthew 21:28-31(KJV1900)- 28 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. 29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. 30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. 31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? 

What was the will of the father in this parable?

The parable symbolizes us as children of God. When God tells us to do something, often times we do not want to do them. And in doing so, what do we do? We don’t do it, or we tell God, “I don’t want to do that.” Yet, just just like this first son, we many times repent, which means, to turn away from your wrong. When the son repented, then he did what his father asked him to do. He did the will of his father. And what was the will of his father? Going to work in his vineyard. To do what he told him. The will of Our Heavenly Father, is to do what He said in His Word. As children of God, we are to obey the Word of God, rather than just saying we will do it, and not.

* A disciple of Christ, is a doer of the Word of God.

Lk. 11:28

Yet, to continue.

* They “came” to Jesus. That word came in Greek is: προσῆλθον =“prosēlthon” meaning: approach; come up; come; to approach; to come; to come forward; to go to; to occupy oneself with; to agree with; to draw near.

According to the text, the best understanding of this word would be, “approach, come forward to, and to go to.”

Now, why did they all specifically come to Jesus? Because, knowing that Christ was the all-knowing rabbi that as Peter said,

John 6:68-69(NKJV)- 68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 Also we have come to believe that You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

therefore, they knew to ask Jesus this question.

What was that question?

“Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

what did they mean by who would be the greatest?

* The word, “greatest”, in Greek is: μείζων “meizōn” =meaning: great; loud; great; large; important; great one

Look at this, they are going to Jesus about a question that they were arguing over. wondering who would be greater who, or who would be more important than the other.

Homiletical Point: Is this not like some of us as children of God? arguing over many petty things such as, wondering who will be more superior than another? We can understand that as children of God, we are all joint-heirs with Christ. Therefore, we all have the ability to be great, because we have the Holy Spirit to give us the power so that we may be great, and triumphant in Christ Jesus. yet, in desiring to be great, as Jesus said, you MUST FIRST be a servant.

* SERVE FIRST, AND LEAD LATER.

Mt. 18:3(NKJV)- 3 and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

in looking at the context of this Scripture here, there is another Scripture that we ought to see, and meditate upon in comparison with Mt. 18:5, and see what the Holy Spirit tells us, and gives us revelation on.

Mt. 18:3(NKJV)- 3 and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

Revelation From the Holy Spirit: Holy Spirit gave this Revelation, which was this. Jesus said in the latter part of Lk. 9:48, … and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me.

CTD: Mt. 18:3- ...unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

Holy Spirit said this in this Revelation: Going back to John 1:12, when we accept (receive) Christ, we receive the Father, who sent Him. Yet, in receiving Christ, we also receive the right to become (converted as) little children (of God) so that we may be able to enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Revelation From the Holy Spirit: In using the Study assistant, More additional revelation that the Holy Spirit revealed to me was this: Mt.18:5, when we receive a child in Jesus’ Name, we are receiving Him, yet also, better symbolization of this is one another. Did not Jesus say, a new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. As I have loved you, so you also love one another. Jn. 13:33-35. So therefore, when we love and receive our brothers and sisters in Christ, we are actually loving and receiving Christ Himself. And in doing so, we are receiving the Father.

Col. 2:6- As you therefore have recieved Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.

* “As you…” The Lord through Paul is talking to us. personally, the Lord, through Paul is talking to me. and he is saying:

* “… have recieved…” that word “recieved" in the Greek this time according to the text is: παρελάβετε “parelabete” meaning: take with; take along; take; to take; to take with; to receive; to accept; to take to oneself take with; take along; take

Along side with John 1:12, that word recieved in the Greek means to accept.

According to what the Scripture says, and the Revelation that the Holy Spirit revealed to us, when we recieved Christ, we were given by God the Father, the right, the authority, the power, the ability, the privilege to become, children of God. therefore, Paul in other words is telling us, you are children of God, through your acceptance of Christ Jesus, now as children of God,

* “… so walk in Him.”

* No, walking in Christ Jesus can be a questionable subject. What does it mean to walk in Christ? The Lord gives us the definition of what that word means.

* The word “walk” in the Greek is: περιπατεῖτε “peripateo” meaning: walk, live, to conduct oneself, to live or behave in a specified manner.

Simply put: As a child of God, you MUST LIVE A CERTIAN WAY.

* You can not live like the world, while being a child of God. Why?

* Simple: James 4:4 - 4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

* This also shows that a child of God must act a certain way.

* Micah 4:2-   Many nations shall come and say,

“Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,

To the house of the God of Jacob;

He will teach us His ways,

And we shall walk in His paths.”

* As children of God, we are heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ. (Rom. 8:17) If we are joint-heirs with Christ, that means we are one with Christ, and if we are one with Christ, that means we are to conform more into His image, and not the world’s.

* If you do not know Christ, how then are you able to walk and talk like Christ?