Children of God

Out of the 184 times child/children is used in the NT

there is __ on how to be a child of God

there is __ verses that teach us about being children on God

the rest are of when Jesus was a child and times Jesus healed a child, the children of Israel, and commands for fathers and mothers.

Jesus LOVES kids!

Matthew 18:5 NKJV

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

5 times in NT it says that Jesus sat a child beside Him

Matthew 19:13 NKJV

13 Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them.

3 things we will look at today

1. how to be a child of God

2. what does a child of God do

3. what does a child of God receive

How to be a Child of God

Mark 10:15 NKJV

15 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”

John 1:12 NKJV

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

Matthew 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.

chosen by God (Rom 9:

Romans 9:7–11 NLT

7 Being descendants of Abraham doesn’t make them truly Abraham’s children. For the Scriptures say, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted,” though Abraham had other children, too. 8 This means that Abraham’s physical descendants are not necessarily children of God. Only the children of the promise are considered to be Abraham’s children. 9 For God had promised, “I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” 10 This son was our ancestor Isaac. When he married Rebekah, she gave birth to twins. 11 But before they were born, before they had done anything good or bad, she received a message from God. (This message shows that God chooses people according to his own purposes;

Jesus became like us to die for us

Hebrews 2:13–17 NLT

13 He also said, “I will put my trust in him,” that is, “I and the children God has given me.” 14 Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. 15 Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying. 16 We also know that the Son did not come to help angels; he came to help the descendants of Abraham. 17 Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people.

1 John 3:1 NKJV

1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

Having the Spirit of God affirms that you are His child.

Romans 8:16 NLT

16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.

by overcoming the World

1 John 4:4 NKJV

4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

1 John 5:4 NLT

4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.

What does a Child of God do?

11 things

1. seeks Jesus

John 13:33 NKJV

33 Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you.

2. imitates Jesus

Ephesians 5:1 NKJV

1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.

3. walk in the light not darkness

Ephesians 5:8 NKJV

8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

4. is humble

Matthew 18:4 NKJV

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

not afraid of making mistakes, is aware of limitations but still does it,

is satisfied with simplicity

is not trying to impress others for personal gain

5. Obedient

1 Peter 1:14–15 NKJV

14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,

6. doesn't complain or fight

Philippians 2:14–15 NKJV

14 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

7. abides in Jesus

1 John 2:28 NKJV

28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.

8. doesn't sin

1 John 2:1 NKJV

1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

9. practices righteousness

1 John 3:7 NKJV

7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.

1 John 3:10 NKJV

10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.

10. Keeps self from idols

1 John 5:21 NKJV

21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

11. Loves in action and in truth

1 John 3:18 NKJV

18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

What does a Child of God get?

7 things

forgiven sins

1 John 2:12 NKJV

12 I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.

receives good things from God

Matthew 7:11 NKJV

11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

Matthew 15:26 (NKJV)

26 But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”

freedom

Romans 8:21 NLT

21 the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay.

Galatians 4:31 NKJV

31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.

Discipleship by Paul

Galatians 4:19 NKJV

19 My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you,

warnings from Paul

1 Corinthians 4:14 NKJV

14 I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you.

1 warning:

Ephesians 4:14 NKJV

14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,

We will be like Jesus

1 John 3:2 NKJV

2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

We have an inheritance

Romans 8:17 NKJV

17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.