Who is a Child of God? 7 Unique Attributes

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Who is a child of God? This question has rumbled through the ages and shaken the very heart and soul as people search to find who they are spiritually. God, in creating, has signed His masterpiece of Himself in each of us one very special way.

This revelation of our identity as sons of God is multidimensional in nature: His Spirit-led life, a heart of forgiveness, passionate seeking of truth, and fruit that affects others. Just as a little child would naturally reflect the nature of his parents, even so does one who is embracing his divine sonship begin to reflect the nature of his heavenly Father.

It describes seven critical characteristics of God’s child that will enable us to understand the theology of divine sonship and some very practical, everyday manifestations of that sacred relationship. May these insights light the path to embracing your identity as God’s beloved child, whether you are just starting to explore your spiritual journey or aim to grow more deeply in your knowledge.

Understanding Divine Sonship

Can you recall the favorite memory of your childhood with your loving parent?. That warmth, that security, that sense of belonging — that’s but a shadow of what our heavenly Father offers. The question as to who constitutes a child of God finds its deepest answer in the pages of Scripture. John 1:12-13 says, “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”

I can still recall sitting with my grandfather, listening as he read the Bible-always his worn hands, worn smooth by years of turning its pages. He’d tell me often, “Every word in here shows us who we are and whose we are.” This truth seems to carry itself along through those kinds of passages, like Romans 8:16, where it says, “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”

There is, within this understanding of divine sonship, a profound tension that has surprised many. In one sense, every human being bears the image of God-in Genesis 1:27, reflecting aspects of their Creator-so much so that God’s fingerprints are on all of humanity, as if an artist signs a masterpiece. Yet, how one understands who a child of God is in its fullest sense reveals a spiritual reality.

Acts 17:28 reminds us, “we are all His offspring” in creation terms, but the New Testament does introduce a radical new order. In faith in Christ, we come into a particular, personal sonship that reconfigures our spiritual DNA. As Galatians 3:26 says explicitly, “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.”

This is not a distinction of exclusion but of invitation. The offer of particular sonship sits with open adoption papers, ready to be signed by all. Jesus himself said we must be “born again” in John 3:3 to enter God’s kingdom; this spiritual rebirth moves us from general creation into specific relation.

The Adoption Process

Adoption, being the metaphor, captures poignantly God’s heart in making us His children. This is not a casual arrangement but rather a deliberate, costly choice. Ephesians 1:5 says He “predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.” Understanding who is a child of God becomes rather deep in perspective when the intentionality of divine adoption is grasped.

Once, my friend Sarah-a very skilled adoption attorney-shared the ways that process fundamentally changes identity itself, not just legal status. Likewise, our spiritual adoption changes everything about who we are and how we live. Romans 8:15 describes this beautiful transition: “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.”

The basis of this adoption is both an immediate legal standing and a progressive relational growth-the instant we receive Christ, we are fully and legally His children. Still, as in any family relationship, it grows over time as the family spends time together. Galatians 4:6-7 captures this reality: “Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.’ So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.”

And this is the process that continues as we learn to live as beloved children, laying down old orphan mentalities and picking up our new identity. It’s a wonder that 1 John 3:1 puts into words: “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” Not merely theological truth, but an invitation into the deepest belonging our hearts have ever known.

1. Led by the Spirit

Is it ever a marvel to you to see a little child following his parent through a busy mall? Instinctively, there is a trust, even a natural bent, in the child to follow his parent. This, indeed, is a beautiful illustration of how, as children of God, we are to be led by His Spirit. Romans 8:14 reads, “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”

That is what happened in my own life: wresting with a huge career decision, logically from the world’s perspective it was one way, but just that gentle, constant tugging in another direction-the fact that understanding who is a child of God helped me understand this wasn’t just intuition; it was the Holy Spirit leading. Just like Jesus promised in John 16:13, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.”

Spirit-led means spiritual sensitivity in development. It is tuning our heart to recognize His voice amidst the noise of life. Just as a radio finds its frequency, we learn to differentiate His leading through prayer, Scripture, and that inner witness spoken about in Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

2. Heart of Forgiveness

I once heard a deep story of a survivor of the Holocaust who had forgiven her captors. When asked how she did this, she simply said, “Because my Father forgave me first.” Understanding who is from God means embracing His nature of forgiveness. Matthew 6:14-15 gives emphasis on this critical aspect of our spiritual DNA: “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”

It’s not just an act; it’s an inheritance. See how your little children can forgive and move on without carrying any baggage; that’s the heart your Father wants for you. Colossians 3:13 says, “Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” It does not say the hurt would just vanish but that you release others from the debt they owed you.

I still recall hurt from someone who hurt me so badly. The bitterness gnawed on me until I realized that holding onto unforgiveness was literally like taking poison and hoping the other person would die. Through prayer and surrender, I learned forgiveness is less for the other person than it is about freeing ourselves to experience God’s peace.

3. Pursuit of Truth

The search for truth, much like my nephew and his never-ending “why” questions, represents an unquenchable, pure curiosity that parallels how we should pursue God’s truth. A child of God naturally hungers for spiritual understanding, much as David expressed in Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”

It’s not an abstract pursuit. Of course, it gets personal as we reflect upon who is the child of God, for real truth-seekers are transformed. As John 8:32 says, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Allow the Word of God to come into your whole being and break some of those preconceived notions that reshape your view of the world.

My personal journey into the Scriptures started off with dutiful reading and slowly transformed into passionate exploration. Like any treasure hunter with his new gems, the more I study it, the more I find out about our Father’s character and His plans concerning us. The Bible itself says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

4. Fruit-bearing Life

Now, consider a healthy apple tree; it doesn’t labor to give off apples. Rather, it bears in season as a natural product of being an apple tree. Likewise, when we understand who is a child of God, the bearing of spiritual fruit is less about striving and more about abiding. Jesus made this unmistakable in John 15:5 when He said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.”

The fruits of the Spirit shown in Galatians 5:22-23-love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control-become palpable in our lives as we remain connected to our source. I have been seeing this fruit in my life, and in those areas wherein I used to struggle much. What once required conscious effort now flows easier, as I have learned to abide in Christ.

This fruit-bearing life affects not only ourselves but also others around us. Just as one fruit tree can bring shade, beauty, and nourishment to many, so too do our changed lives serve as a witness to God’s gracious work in us. Matthew 5:16 reminds us, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

5. Spirit of Love

Love is not something we do; it’s who we are. 1 John 4:7 says, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” It’s this supernatural love that distinguishes those who really understand who a child of God is. It’s not the shallow love of this world, but a deep, self-sacrificing love-an echo of the heart of our Father.

I can be stilled in an instant, sitting with a friend when words are woefully inadequate in a dark hour. Love is presence, bearing the pain, holding space for healing. Jesus’s love demonstrated this, and to this he invites us. That is what 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 so eloquently described as the qualities of love-patient, kind, not envious or boastful, not self-seeking or easily angered.

It is in knowing the love of God for us that our own capacity to love increases. For, as with an overflowing cup, we are only able to give out of what we have received. As John 13:35 says, the way people will know we are Christ’s disciples is by our love for one another. Love restores relationships, heals hurts, and spans divides that nothing else can span.

6. Faith-filled Living

Faith is the heartbeat in our relationship with God Himself. It says in Hebrews 11:6, “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” The reality of this statement hits particularly close to home when we understand who a child of God is and what comes with that heritage of faith. Just as a child would never think twice about jumping into the arms of their parent, trusting them to catch him, so too are we to trust our heavenly Father with the same innocent abandon.

My faith was tried in the face of an impossible situation. The circumstances yelled “impossible,” but the promises of God whispered “trust Me.” My anchor was 2 Corinthians 5:7, “For we live by faith, not by sight.” Through this experience, I learned that faith isn’t the absence of doubt; it’s a choice to trust despite your doubt.

Living by faith is when we step out while not seeing the whole path, but knowing our Father holds the map. James 2:17 reminds us that “faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” Every act of obedience will strengthen the muscles of our faith and enlarge our trust in God’s faithfulness.

7. Heart of Worship

True worship involves so much more than Sunday services or musical tastes. It’s a lifestyle that overflows from knowing who the child of God is and responding with thanksgiving and praise to His love. Psalm 29:2 invites, “Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.”

I have found worship in very uninexpected places: taking a walk in nature, serving others, and even simply being in quiet contemplation of God’s goodness. Romans 12:1 describes this all-encompassing worship: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship.”

And so, worship will be the natural response to His presence and goodness in our lives. Even as David danced before the Lord with all his might, so too will true worship flow from the heart that has been captured by God’s love. It is not about performance but an expression of our love and devotion to the One who first loved us.

Conclusion

This walk as a child of God is less about perfection than about embracing a transformational relationship with our heavenly Father. The more we grow in understanding and giving expression to these seven traits, the more naturally His character will be reflected in our daily lifestyles. Keep in mind, being a child of God is not about meeting criteria; it’s about embracing and living in the reality of His love and guidance given unconditionally.