ARE YOU A CHILD OF GOD?

There are nine verses in the Bible that contain the phrase "the children of God.  They are:

"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God" (Mt. 5:9).

"Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection" (Lk. 20:36).

"And not for that nation only, but that also He should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad" (Jn. 11:52).

"The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God" (Rom. 8:16).

"Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God" (Rom. 8:21).

"...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" (Rom. 9:8).

"For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.  For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Gal. 3:26).

"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" (1 Jn. 3:10).

"By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep His Commandments" (1 Jn. 5:2).

What do these nine verses tell us about being a child of God?  We are to seek to make peace.  We will not experience death (the second death - Rev. 2:11; 20:6, 14; 21:8).  Both Jewish believers and Gentile believers will be gathered together to Him.  We have an inner assurance of our relationship with the Father.  Creation will be released from bondage into the liberty God's children have.  Our relationship to God is based upon our faith in God's promises.  We are children of God by faith in Jesus Christ.  We know we are God's child if we seek to do God's will, and if we love the brethren.  We know God's will because we know His Commandments.

"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is"

(1 Jn. 3:2)!