How should a child of god behave
Characteristics of a Child of God – Part 1 – ScriptureWay – Whitney V. Myers
8/25/2019
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by Whitney V. Myers | Download a printable PDF of this post. |
You Will Know Them by Their Fruits - Matthew 7:16 - 123RF Photo - Used under license
"You will know them by their fruits." (Matthew 7:16)
"By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother." (1 John 3:10)
"For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God." (Romans 8:14)
This lesson is the second in a series on "The Children of God. " The first lesson in the series discussed "Becoming a Child of God" (Ref. 1). Today's lesson is the first of two lessons on the Characteristics of a Child of God.
Consider. The Bible describes the children of God as having certain characteristics. How do you know a child of God when you see one? What are the distinguishing marks of a child of God?
A Child of God Bears Spiritual Fruit
A child of God passes the fruit test. Jesus said, "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?" (
Matthew 7:16) A child of God is recognized by the fruit that he or she bears.
Jesus said that in order to bear much fruit, we must abide in (remain in, stay connected to) him. "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing " (John 15:5, Ref. 2). Bearing spiritual fruit is the natural outgrowth of being attached to the vine, Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Paul describes the fruit of the Spirit as "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23).
The first characteristic of a child of God is a person who is bearing spiritual fruit.
A Child of God Practices Obedience, Righteousness, and Godliness
A child of God practices obedience, righteousness, and godliness:
- Obedience - A child of God obeys and does God's will. In the parable of the two sons, the son who did go to work in the vineyard did the will of his father (Matthew 21:28-31). Note the difference between doing God's will and rebelling against or refusing to do God's will. Jesus emphasized the importance of doing God's will when he said, "For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother" (Matthew 12:50). Obeying God's will is essential for our relationship with Jesus and our heavenly Father.
- Righteousness - A child of God practices righteousness and does not willfully, habitually sin. 1 John 3:10 says, "By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God ..." Practicing righteousness means doing what is deemed right by the Lord, i.e. what is approved in His eyes (HELPS-Word studies, Ref. 3). 1 John 3:9 illustrates what it means to practice righteousness. "No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God" (1 John 3:9, italics added).
- Godliness - The Apostle Paul instructs his spiritual son, Timothy, "Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness" (1 Timothy 4:7). The Greek word for discipline is gumnazó, which means train oneself with full effort (Ref. 4). The English words "gym" and "gymnasium" come from this same root. The Greek word for godliness is eusebeia, which means piety (reverence) toward God. Eusebeia also means devotion (Ref. 5). In the same way that an athlete trains with full effort in a gym, every child of God should train with full effort in reverence and devotion towards God.
A Child of God is Led by the Spirit
When we are a child of God, the Holy Spirit is our guide for life (
Romans 8:14). The Holy Spirit guides us into all the truth and helps us understand the scriptures (
John 16:13,
John 14:26,
Ref. 6). The Holy Spirit helps us to put to death the deeds of the flesh (
Romans 8:13). The Holy Spirit guides us in making decisions (
James 1:5), what to do (
Acts 10:19-20), and where to go (
Acts 16:6-10). A child of God has an active, dynamic relationship with God, and follows the leading of the Holy Spirit in his/her life.
Apply. Are you exhibiting the distinguishing characteristics of a child of God? Consider the main points in this lesson:
- Are you bearing spiritual fruit?
- Are you obeying and doing God's will in all matters?
- Are you practicing righteousness, and not practicing willful sin?
- Are you training with full effort in your devotion to God?
- Are you seeking and receiving the Holy Spirit's guidance as you study the scriptures and make personal decisions?
In the next lesson (
Ref. 7), we will continue our study of the Characteristics of a Child of God.
Related Topics
"
" (John 1:12-13)
"
" (Matthew 5:16)
"
" (Galatians 4:4-5)
References
1. http://www.ScriptureWay.com/home/becoming-a-child-of-god
2. http://www.ScriptureWay.com/home/jesus-is-the-true-vine
3. https://biblehub.com/greek/1343.htm
4. https://biblehub.com/greek/1128.htm
5. https://biblehub.com/greek/2150.htm
6. http://www.ScriptureWay.com/home/the-spirit-of-truth
7. http://www.ScriptureWay.com/home/characteristics-of-a-child-of-god-part-2
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How To Behave Like A Christian Child Of God!
Are you a believing Christian by word of mouth or by your fruits? Or are you a Christian just because you go to church? Christ stated clearly that you will know them by their fruits. Therefore, if you are a believing Christian, you’re to behave like one. This post tells you how to behave like a Christian O child of God.
You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them – Matthew 7:16-20 (NKJV).
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks – Luke 6:45 (NKJV).
IntroductionA person is not known as a ‘Christian’ just by his or her religion. Rather a true Christian is known by his or her fruits. Therefore, bring forth fruit that depicts you as a Christian if you’re one. The disciples were first called Christians because they were behaving like Christ. So also, people will acknowledge you as a true Christian when you behave like Christ.
Who Is A Christian?A true Christian is a person who has accepted Christ as his or her Lord and personal saviour and behaves like Him. That is, the person is a born-again child of God and does what pleases the Father as Jesus did.
How To Know A ChristianHe or she is known by his or her words and actions. This is because from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Luke 6:45). And as a man thinks so is he (Proverbs 23:7). Therefore, you’re known as a believer and disciple of Christ by your lifestyle.
How To Behave Like A ChristianAccording to Romans 12:9-21, there are certain things you need to do as a lifestyle if you’re a Christian. These include:
- Love without hypocrisy.
- Abhor what is evil.
- Cling to what is good.
- Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.
- Don’t lag in diligence.
- Be fervent in spirit.
- Serve the Lord with all of you and all that belongs to you.
- Rejoice in hope.
- Be patient in tribulation.
- Continue steadfastly in prayer.
- Ensure to distribute to the needs of the saints.
- Be given to hospitality.
- Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
- Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another.
- Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble.
- Do not be wise in your own opinion.
- Repay no one evil for evil.
- Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
- As much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
- Do not avenge yourselves, but rather let God avenge for you.
- Feed your enemy and give him a drink.
- Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
It’s not enough to declare that you’re a Christian. Rather, go further to show it by behaving like one. Truly, by your fruits, everyone will know that you are a follower of Christ. Therefore, learn how to behave like a Christian o child of God and do likewise today.
Jesus is Lord!
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Where in the Bible does it say that I am a child of God?
The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 8:14 one of the main characteristics of the true children of God: "As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the children of God." Those who lead a life guided by His Spirit are the children of God.
GOD'S CREATION: John 1:3 All things were created through Him, and without Him nothing was created. The text is clear and teaches that everything was created by God, that is, we are all God's creation, but nowhere in the biblical text does it say that we are all his children, in fact, the verses later answer this.
The Son of God is a theological concept used in the Jewish and Christian religions to refer to a person who has a direct and intimate relationship with a deity. However, the characteristics and meanings of this expression differ greatly in both religious traditions.
According to the Bible, I am who I am is the phrase God would have given in response when Moses asked him by name. This story is found in Exodus, the second book of the Bible, which tells of the deliverance of the Jewish people who were enslaved by the Egyptians. … And God answered Moses: I am who I am.
That is, at all times of our lives, we must behave worthy of the calling to which we are called. Paul shows us in Ephesians 5 aspects of walking God's children: walking in grace, walking in truth, walking in love, walking in light, and walking in spirit.
In other words, to qualify to be a child of God, it is necessary to believe in Jesus Christ and accept him as our personal Savior; But in order to show that we are really born of God, it is necessary to stop practicing sin, that is, sin should no longer reign in us, that is, it should not ...
For in six days YHWH created heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; so YHWH blessed the Sabbath and made it holy.
God's grace is a virtue by which God can give something without anything in return, since there is nothing a person can do to achieve this. God's grace comes through faith and acceptance of the sacrifice that Jesus offered to mankind.
A Christian bears witness to Jesus Christ, and the ultimate form of this witness of love for a person or commitment to a cause is to lay down one's life for him. For this reason, martyrdom is the highest form of witness; Martyr is a Greek word meaning witness.
The word CLEARLY says that we are joint heirs with Christ: “if we suffer with Him, so we shall be glorified with Him.” If we want to be partakers of the Glory of Christ, we already know what we must do, He has already done it.
And this is a book that expresses the faith of the people. The Old Testament expresses, first of all, the faith of the Israeli people in Yahweh (God) as the Savior of the people, and it is expressed in the narrative of the history of Israel, interpreted from faith (Deut. 6, 21-23).
“So if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things are gone; Here, they are all new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 I am in Christ and Christ is in me, and therefore I create and show my neighbor the fruits of my relationship with Him: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, self-control, superiority.
In Deuteronomy 7:6 God tells me that I am "his special treasure." In Philippians 4:8, God tells me to think of all that is "true, noble, just, pure, and charming," the great truths that come to you from God, that's what He thinks of you.
Are all believing children of God? And what does that mean
Posted By: Anna Grebenyuk 4545 Views Children of God, David Schrock, Oren Lev Ari, Smith Wigglesworth, Son of God, Shane Pruit
The Church is God's family, and we are His children. But what does it mean to be a child of God? Can all Christians call themselves that and does this apply to people who have not yet repented?
David Schrock, blogger and pastor of Occoquan Bible Church in Woodbridge, Va.
:Belonging to God's kingdom can also be seen in the family context. We are not just citizens of God's kingdom. We are sons of God . The local church is a “family of faith,” so church membership should also be described in family terms.
If we are children of God (John 1:12), then we are brothers and sisters to each other. Some, because of following Christ, lose their families, but everyone, following Christ, gains a church family - brothers and sisters (Matt. 19:29; Mark 3:34-35).
For this reason, the apostles often used family terminology (Tit. 2:1-8; 1 John 2:12-14) and called Christians to family relationships (1 Tim. 5:1-2). The local church is "the house of God" (1 Tim. 3:15). Church membership is thus membership in God's family.
Oren Lev Ari, Senior Pastor of the King of Great Glory Messianic Congregation (Melech Kavod Rav) in Jerusalem, Israel.
Charitable Foundation "Line of Life":
After we accepted Jesus Christ as Lord, we became children of God and our relationship with God is now similar to the relationship between a father and children.
“For you are all sons of God by faith in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:26).
Not all people on earth are children of God, but only those who believe in Jesus Christ. The fact that we are children of God is the result of God's wonderful love that He shows us. God wants us to know His love.
“so that you, rooted and established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Eph. 3:18- 19).
Christians who do not have the revelation of God's fatherhood act like slaves to God—not out of love, but out of obligation. It is especially difficult to accept God's Fatherhood for those who, for whatever reason, have been deprived of communion with an earthly father. If you worry about a lot and care, it means that you have not yet fully understood God's Fatherhood.
But when we know that God is our Father who will never leave us, we begin to trust and rely on Him in all life situations. Like earthly parents, our loving Heavenly Father provides us with what we need, answers our prayer requests, and comforts and helps us. The Lord also teaches and disciplines us.
Dr. Shane Pruitt, Publicist, Director of Texas Convention Southern Baptist Mission:
Although the Lord created us all, we are not all His. Only those who repent of their sins, believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and receive the Holy Spirit can call God their Father.
“…but received the Spirit of adoption, by which we cry: “Abba, Father!” This very Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are the children of God” (Romans 8:15-16).
"For you are all sons of God by faith in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:26).
Smith Wigglesworth, from Experiencing God's Power Today:
“So that we may be called and be children of God. The world does not know us because it did not know Him” (1 John 3:1).
The world does not know us as His sons. The world should not know us as its own. Even being in the world, we must be above what it carries in itself. I want each of us to examine himself, whether he is a son, whether he can adequately bear this honorary name . After you are convinced that this is the case, be strong in God and believe that everything will work out. But first, be sure to examine yourself to see if you are in the Father (see 2 Cor. 13:5). The greatest blessing you will receive is that the proclaimed Word of Life will create within you an even stronger desire to cling to God. If you abide in the Father, as the Spirit says in His Word, you will have a great thirst for God, for His holiness and righteousness. For He wants to reveal to you today that you must be clean, because He is clean (see 1 John 3:3). Do not stumble in the Word of God. If Jesus says something and the Word opens up to your understanding, don't back down. Believe that God is much bigger than you and bigger than your heart (see 1 John 3:20), bigger than your mind. He can establish you in righteousness even when everything is contrary to your judgment and understanding. God blots out our crimes, separating us from them with thick clouds, and our sins and iniquities will no longer be remembered to us (see Isaiah 43:25).
“So that we may be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1). How can we live? Live like the children of God live. The power of a child of God must be greater than the power of the enemy (see Luke 10:19). God's child must behave according to his calling (see Eph. 5:1-4). The children of God are to "refrain from all things" (1 Cor. 9:25). God's child must be like his Master, full of tenderness and compassion, full of "mercy" (Col. 3:12), and must excel in every way. God has much more to say about you than you can say about yourself.