Is Every Person Automatically Considered a Child of God?
One of the hardest realizations I've ever had
I used to think that every person is automatically considered as a child of God. Weren’t we all created by Him? And were we not made in God’s very image?
One day, however, a certain realization just helped me understand many things in a whole new light.
What if we’re not all God’s children?
Let’s look at some of the Bible verses that can hint to us that not every person may be considered a child of God:
“He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn’t recognise him. He came to his own, and those who were his own didn’t receive him. But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
- John 1:10–13, WEBBE
The above verse implies that only those who received Jesus have been given the right to become God’s children.
“But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law, that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as children. And because you are children, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, ‘Abba,* Father!’ So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” — Galatians 4:4–7, WEBBE
Before the saving work of Jesus Christ, we were merely servants at best, not children of God. When Christ came to redeem us, we were given the chance to be for adoption as His children.
If we consider what Jesus said to some of the Jews, particularly the Pharisees, we’d even be more alarmed:
“Therefore Jesus said to them, ‘If God were your father, you would love me, for I came out and have come from God. For I haven’t come of myself, but he sent me. Why don’t you understand my speech? Because you can’t hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn’t stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you don’t believe me. Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? He who is of God hears the words of God. For this cause you don’t hear, because you are not of God.’”
- John 8:42–48, WEBBE
“Jesus answered them, ‘I told you, and you don’t believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name, these testify about me. But you don’t believe, because you are not of my sheep, as I told you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father who has given them to me is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.’”
- John 10:25–30, WEBBE
Not only were they excluded from being God’s children. They were even called as children of the devil, their true father!
“He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seeds are the children of the Kingdom, and the darnel weeds are the children of the evil one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. As therefore the darnel weeds are gathered up and burnt with fire; so will it be at the end of this age.” - Matthew 13:37-40, WEBBE
“Most certainly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the bondservant of sin. A bondservant doesn’t live in the house forever. A son remains forever. If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” — John 8:34–36, WEBBE
Now I understand better one of the most difficult set of Bible verses I ever encountered.
When Jesus talked to the Canaanite woman and implied that she belonged to a people considered as dogs instead of children, He was merely stating a very hard truth to swallow.
“But she came and worshipped him, saying, ‘Lord, help me.’
But he answered, ‘It is not appropriate to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.’
But she said, ‘Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.’
Then Jesus answered her, ‘Woman, great is your faith! Be it done to you even as you desire’ And her daughter was healed from that hour.”
- Matthew 15:25–28, WEBBE
Jesus then, wasn’t insulting the woman for the sake of mocking her or belittling her.
He was merely telling the truth of her situation, a truth that may even prompt her to change and to be saved, to be among God’s children!
And indeed, this challenge that both humbled her and revealed her faith brought healing to the woman’s child!
God’s love for all
We may not be His children outright because of our sins, but let this not make us believe that God doesn’t love us. He is Love Himself. How could we will anything but our good?
In the diary of St. Faustina, we find a dialogue with Jesus where He told her how sad He is for the loss of each soul:
“The Lord said to me, The loss of each soul plunges Me into mortal sadness. You always console Me when you pray for sinners. The prayer most pleasing to Me is prayer for the conversion of sinners. Know, My daughter, that this prayer is always heard and answered.” (Divine Mercy In My Soul, 1397)
Even in the Bible, despite all the oppositions He encountered, Jesus still felt sorrow over the misery of people:
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I would have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you would not!” — Matthew 23:37, WEBBE
To compare Himself to a hen gathering her chicks is to have us see how God wanted to claim all of us as His children. It is not Him who abandoned us. It is the people who do not want to be His!
Having been made in God’s image, and being being created by God, all human beings, in a certain way are God’s children. But just like children who have been rebellious and wayward, many of us have been the ones to cut off our ties with God. Many do not want to be His children, and for such people, they cannot inherit God’s kingdom because they refuse to. They are self-condemned.
We must keep in mind, however, that despite all that, Jesus died not just for some, but for all. He suffered everything so that He may offer salvation to all mankind. He opens the door for us to be set free and to be adopted as God’s own children.
“Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him.’
Jesus answered him, ‘Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born anew, * he can’t see God’s Kingdom.’
Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?’
Jesus answered, ‘Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and Spirit, he can’t enter into God’s Kingdom.’”
- John 3:1–5, WEBBE
Baptism is birth into the new life in Christ. In accordance with the Lord’s will, it is necessary for salvation, as is the Church herself, which we enter by Baptism. — CCC, no. 1277
Jesus has opened for us the doors of heaven. He Himself is the way! Will we accept His invitation to be sons and daughters of God?
“Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.’” — Acts 2:38–39, WEBBE
And for those who have been set free from sin, to those who are already children of God, won’t this truth be a source of incomparable joy within you? To be able to call God you Father, and to stand before Him in the spirit of love, what greater happiness could there be?
“May you be content knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.” — St. Teresa of Avila
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God. For you didn’t receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, ‘Abba!† Father!’
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God; 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 with him.”
- Romans 8:14-17, WEBBE
“See how great a love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God!” — 1 John 3:2, WEBBE
In the Parable of the Prodigal Son, the father has two children. One stayed with him but one went away, squandering his inheritance. When he came back, his father welcomed him with open arms and told his elder son:
‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But it was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for this, your brother, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.” (Luke 15:31-32, WEBBE)
You may also want to read:
Why Must Jesus Cry?
We’ve been too familiar with God’s wrath. As sinners, we fear God’s justice.
It is His mercy that we must learn about more. Mercy that comes from His Love. After all, God is Love.