The Truth is …
We are not all children of God.
During a recent conversation, a friend was telling me about several acquaintances who were struggling with some things. She wasn’t sure they were Christ followers but then she said,
“But we’re all children of God, right?”
Unfortunately, no.
We were all created by God and are loved by Him, but only those who have been adopted are His children.
It is not a universal status that we come into by physical birth but a supernatural gift from God that we are given through faith in Jesus. Galatians 3:26 tells us we are sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
The word “adoption” is used in Galatians 4:4 and Ephesians 1:5 to describe what happens to us through Jesus. We are transferred from outside God’s family, into God’s family. We then enter into an intimate parent/child relationship with Him that we did not have before.
It is a stunning act of grace on God’s part.
So for those of us who are children of God, full out party! There is nothing more fabulous. But we must bear in mind and take seriously our responsibility to share that Truth with those who are not.