Let’s explore this belief that ALL people are “children of God”. Normally, I am led to provide the most powerful verses on any given subject toward the end of a sermon or study. However, that is not the case this time. The question we are dealing with today is this: Are ALL people children of God?
Romans 9:8 “That is, THEY WHICH ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE FLESH, THESE ARE NOT THE CHILDREN OF GOD: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.”
In fact, verses 6-8 all serve to tell us that not all can be considered a child of God!
Romans 9:6-8 “Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For THEY ARE NOT ALL ISRAEL, WHICH ARE OF ISRAEL: NEITHER, BECAUSE THEY ARE THE SEED OF ABRAHAM, ARE THEY ALL CHILDREN: but, IN ISAAC SHALL THY SEED BE CALLED. That is, THEY WHICH ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE FLESH, THESE ARE NOT THE CHILDREN OF GOD: but THE CHILDREN OF THE PROMISE ARE COUNTED FOR THE SEED.”
If you will remember, the physical nation of Israel has fallen from the grace of God, but spiritual Israel (real, Biblical Christians) has been saved.
Though I personally believe that Romans 9:8 is sufficient to clear up the “all are children of God” lie, I also know that one verse does not make a proper doctrine. As per the mandate set forth by the prophet Isaiah …
Isaiah 28:9-10 “Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:”
Let’s see what else is said in the Word of God on this subject.
Galatians 3:26 “For YE ARE ALL THE CHILDREN OF GOD BY FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS.”
I honestly don’t know why people who defend the belief that “all people are children of God” even use this verse as it is clearly stated in this verse, there is only one group in all of humanity who can appropriately be called “children of God” … those whose faith is in Jesus Christ … Christians!
Just to make it clear, no, the Bible is not talking about those who BELIEVE in Christ … God is talking about those who HOLD THE FAITH of Jesus Christ and are obedient toward His every command!
Once more, belief is not enough. If it were enough to simply believe in Christ in order to be saved, then Satan and His demons would go to Heaven! Demons have no problem believing in God!
Matthew 8:29 “And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?”
Mark 3:11 “And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.”
James 2:19 “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”
The reason Satan and his angels earned a casting down from Heaven is the same reason billions will never make it to Heaven, and it has nothing to do with belief … it is because of DISOBEDIENCE toward faith!
Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers: for THEY shall be called the children of God.”
As many know, this verse has been taken out of context so completely by worldly Christians in order to justify violence and murder. A peacemaker is defined as someone who promotes peace. Pacific: tending to diminish or put an end to conflict; appeasing; of peaceful nature; of a peaceful character; not warlike; not quarrelsome. A Christians would never do violence at all.
Luke 3:14 “And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, DO VIOLENCE TO NO MAN, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.”
Therefore, a peacemaker is one who declares the truth of God’s Word, never commits any violence upon any man at any time for any reason and makes peace by bringing souls to Christ. These are those who can be called “children of God”.
Also, these Christians don’t even think violent thoughts because Jesus told us that thinking sin is committing sin. These Christians have minds that also think on peace.
Matthew 5:27-28 “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That WHOSOEVER LOOKETH ON A WOMAN TO LUST AFTER HER HATH COMMITTED ADULTERY WITH HER ALREADY IN HIS HEART.”
Mark 10:24 “And THE DISCIPLES were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and SAITH UNTO THEM, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!”
Notice who Jesus is speaking to in this verse. As the Lord is speaking to His disciples, He addresses them as His children! Why? Because His disciples are those who have forsaken the pleasures and false satisfaction the world offers so they can follow Christ! Exactly as the saints of God would do today!
Ephesians 5:1 “BE YE THEREFORE FOLLOWERS OF GOD, AS DEAR CHILDREN;”
Who are the “dear children” of God? Those who follow Him. Not just the parts people like or cherry-picked or agree with either. The children of God follow every Word of God!
Who are NOT the children of God?
Ephesians 5:6 “Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the CHILDREN OF DISOBEDIENCE.”
Colossians 3:6 “For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the CHILDREN OF DISOBEDIENCE:”
Since Satan was the first to disobey God, we are considered children of Satan himself when we live in disobedience. Ephesians 5:6 even says that the wrath of God is upon the “children of disobedience”.
1 John 3:10 “In this THE CHILDREN OF GOD are manifest, and THE CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.”
Here, we see very clearly that there is no possible way it can be claimed that all people are children of God. It really can’t get clearer than a single confirming verse which makes clear distinction between children of God and children of Satan.
At this point, the question which needs to be asked and answered is this: okay, so not everyone is considered a child of God … how do we become children of God? Answer: we get adopted! Why would we need to be adopted? How does that work?
The first part in understanding the answer to these questions is realizing that, because of our sins, we have by choice, abandoned God. It has been our own sins which have caused us to not be God’s children.
Isaiah 64:6 “But WE ARE ALL AS AN UNCLEAN THING, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and OUR INIQUITIES, LIKE THE WIND, HAVE TAKEN US AWAY.”
Ephesians 2:12 “That at that time YE WERE WITHOUT CHRIST, BEING ALIENS FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OF ISRAEL, AND STRANGERS FROM THE COVENANTS OF PROMISE, HAVING NO HOPE, AND WITHOUT GOD IN THE WORLD:”
Ephesians 4:18 “Having the understanding darkened, being ALIENATED FROM THE LIFE OF GOD THROUGH THE IGNORANCE THAT IS IN THEM, BECAUSE OF THE BLINDNESS OF THEIR HEART:”
Colossians 1:21 “And you, that were sometime ALIENATED AND ENEMIES IN YOUR MIND BY WICKED WORKS, yet now hath he reconciled”
When we choose God and His truth, and obey His every word, we become His children. When we choose the lies of Satan, Satan is our father, and we are his children! I can already hear the scoffing of those who would disagree with such a statement. If anyone ever scoffs at you for making this claim, just show them the following verse where Jesus Himself declare this claim to be true!
John 8:44 “YE ARE OF YOUR FATHER THE DEVIL, and THE LUSTS OF YOUR FATHER YE WILL DO. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”
Just think of what adoption is: it is choosing a child, who is not ours, nor belongs to us, and making them our own. In our homes they are safe, protected, and above all things … loved. Are these not the very same things which God offers to all who answer His call and choose Him?
Romans 8:15 “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but YE HAVE RECEIVED THE SPIRIT OF ADOPTION, WHEREBY WE CRY, ABBA, FATHER.”
Romans 8:23 “And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, WAITING FOR THE ADOPTION, to wit, THE REDEMPTION OF OUR BODY.”
John 6:44 “No man can come to me, except THE FATHER WHICH HATH SENT ME DRAW HIM: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
Remember how Christians are considered spiritual Israel?
Romans 9:4 “Who are Israelites; TO WHOM PERTAINETH THE ADOPTION, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;”
Jesus came that we might be rescued out of the hand of the enemy. He came that we may receive redemption from the sins we have chosen and become sons and daughters of God.
Galatians 4:4-5 “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, TO REDEEM THEM THAT WERE UNDER THE LAW, THAT WE MIGHT RECEIVE THE ADOPTION OF SONS.”
It is only through submission at the feet of Christ that we have ANY chance at redemption … and adoption.
The idea that all people are children of God is a heinous and devious lie. Since Satan is the father of lies, why would he implant the thought that all people are children of God into the minds of every so-called Christian?
It is because telling people this lie is a very “feel good” kind of lie. Moreover, this lie that all are children of God cultivates a very destructive mindset. Those who know they are in sin, or find out they are in sin, and believe they are a child of God at the same time, tend to all think the same things: “I’m a child of God, this isn’t a sin!” Or “I’m a child of God, He wouldn’t punish me for something this small!” Or some other statement which is not in line with the Bible. The ultimate example of this mindset can be found in the unBiblical doctrine of “once saved, always saved” which is also known as “once under grace, always under grace”. Please see my YouTube channel for the video titled, “once saved, always saved” https://youtu.be/Vg3cwF6WJKE
But those who understand that they can very quickly lose their place as a child of God because of sin are more likely to hate their sin and run to God. And THAT is why the “all are children of God” lie exists. It does not allow for the confrontation of sin and, in turn, allows for a rejection of redemption and salvation.
If anyone continues to believe that all people are God’s children after knowing the truth, just show them these words which Jesus Christ Himself spoke …
John 8:47 “He that is of God heareth God’s words: YE THEREFORE HEAR THEM NOT, BECAUSE YE ARE NOT OF GOD.”
And also consider these words which the Holy Spirit spoke through the apostle John …
1 John 4:2-6 “Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.”
There is a clear distinction between those who are of God, and those who are not of God … those who are His children, and those who are not.
Yes, all of us are creations of God … but to be child of God is a different story entirely because it is a choice to be His son or daughter.
This subject we have just confronted is sure to make people uncomfortable, angry, and sad. But I will repeat something I have said before … It is better to have the truth that hurts then heals, than to have the lie that comforts then kills.
4 and 7 Ministry 