Ezekiel Kimosop Supporter

What are the marks of a true child of God?

1 John 5:1 etc. Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.

The true marks of a child of God are outlined in Scripture. A child of God is a person who has turned from sinful disobedience to Christ. They have been transformed from a sinful vessel. 2 Timothy 2:21 says "Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work" (NKJV). 

The child of God has been transformed by God so that the old sinful nature has been replaced by a new life of obedience to God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). 

The believer has also been adopted into God's family of faith and therefore numbered among God's holy people.

John 1:12-13 says "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." (NKJV). 

1 Peter 2:9 says "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." (NKJV). 

This text of Scripture affirms that believers have been sanctified by God and set apart as a royal priesthood in God's kingdom. They minister before God and lead men to God. They should therefore glorify God by their manner of living. 

There is a clear demarcation between God's covenant people and the people of this sinful world. That distinction should always be maintained by God's children. 2 Corinthians 6:14-16 says, "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God..." (NKJV). 

God desires that as His children continue to grow in Christ, their discernment of their spiritual identity and destiny continues to manifest in their lives. 

A true child of God is therefore marked out by what Scripture teaches concerning them. They have put on Christ. 

This is not to suggest or imply that believers can attain sinless perfection on earth. They will fail God's divine standards from time to time because they live in a sinful world. However, by the leading of the Holy Spirit and the revelation of Scripture, believers can discern when they cross the red line and would readily repent of sin and turn to the Lord with sincere hearts. 

The people of this sinful world are described as "sons of disobedience" because they are trapped in sinful rebellion and have no capacity to submit to God until they repent of sin and turn to Christ. 

Ephesians 2:2 says, "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience." (NKJV)

Colossians 3:5-7 says "Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them." (NKJV). 

Finally, every child of God earnestly looks forward to the soon coming of Jesus Christ when they will be united with Christ and with God forever (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17).

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Mark Vestal Supporter Proud of nothing of myself. Freed by Christ who did it all!

You can only know by their testimony. If they proclaim that Christ died for their sins, was buried, but rose again on day three (1 Cor 15:1-4), they are most assuredly a "child of God".

If they believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, but have yet to believe that Christ also died for their sins, I have hope that their faith alone in Him has justified them, and has "made" them also "the righteousness of God" (2 Cor 5:21).

2 Cor 11:3
"But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."

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Jack Gutknecht Supporter Arizona Bible College graduate and Dallas Seminary graduate

1. Believes that Jesuss is the Christ — 1 John 5:1

TLB
If you believe that Jesus is the Christ—that he is God’s Son and your Savior—then you are a child of God. And all who love the Father love his children too.

MOUNCE
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves · · his child.

Key words in 1 John are "believe(s)," "born of God," "Jesus," "God," "love(s)"

2. Does righteousness — 1 John 2:29

One of the characteristics of God’s children is here:
“Everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him” (1 John 2:29 NASB).

3. Keeps His commandments — 1 John 2:3

1 John 2:32
"And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments." (ESV)

4. Does not practice sin — 1 John 3:9

“We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren” (1 John 3:14 NASB).

5. Is hated by the world — 1 John 3:13

"Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you." (ESV)

6. Loves the brethren — 1 John 3:14
“We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren” (1 John 3:14 NASB).

7. Overcomes the world — 1 John 5:4
“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world” (1 John 5:4).

Archibald A. Naismith--barebones outline

If you bear these “birthmarks,” you can say with confidence that you are a child of God.

When Sir James Simpson, the discoverer of chloroform, was on his deathbed, a friend asked him, “Sir, what are your speculations?”

Simpson replied, “Speculations! I have no speculations! ‘For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day."

A. A. Naismith. & Warren Wiersbe

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