How Can I Become a Child of God

Creation

God tells us in His word, the Bible, that He created the heavens and the earth. He made the plants and animals. He also made the first people, Adam and Eve. God made them in His image (like Him in many ways) to have a special relationship with Him. They were also commanded to lovingly rule over the rest of the creatures on the earth. Everything God created was "very good".

Then God saw everything He made, and indeed it was very good. Genesis 1:31

Corruption

God wanted people to love and obey Him. But Adam and Eve disobeyed a command from their Creator. Disobedience is called sin. Their sin separated them from a holy and perfect God. The punishment for sin is death. God judged Adam and Eve, and the creation. Their special relationship with God and with each other was broken. But God promised them that He would one day provide a solution to this problem of sin.

Through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin. Romans 5:12

Catastrophe

Adam and Eve had many children. Each child was born a sinner. And so everyone disobeyed God. God was not pleased with their great wickedness. To punish their disobedience, God sent a catastrophic flood that covered the earth. God saved Noah and his family (and animals and birds) on the Ark. All the rest perished. After the Flood, God promised to never again destroy the whole world with water. But people continue to sin, so God will one day punish the world with fire (2 Peter 3:3–7). Only those who have a right relationship with God—His children—will be saved from this future judgment.

God destroyed all living things which were on the face of the ground. . . . Only Noah and those who were with him in the Ark remained alive. Genesis 7:23

Confusion

Noah’s children and grandchildren disobeyed God after the Flood. God caused them to scatter from the Tower of Babel all over the earth by confusing their language. From these families, all the people groups of the world have come. But no matter where we live or what shade of skin color we have, we are all part of Adam and Eve’s family. We are all disobedient to God. We all deserve to be separated from God forever. So we all need to be restored to a right relationship with God—to become part of God’s family.

Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth. Genesis 11:9

Christ

God loves us very much and made a way for us to become His children. God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to earth. Jesus was both fully God and fully human! While Jesus was growing up, He was always obedient to His heavenly Father. He never sinned. He was perfect. But we are not. Jesus told people how they could have a right relationship with God and become His children.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Cross

God said that death was the punishment for sin. We each must die. For us to live forever with our Creator, someone perfect must die in our place. Jesus never did anything wrong, but as part of God’s plan, Jesus was put to death on a cross. He was punished for our sins and buried in a grave. But Jesus did not stay in the grave. God raised Him from the dead. He is alive! He made a way for us to have a right relationship with God and to become part of His family.

Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and . . . was buried, and . . . rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. 1 Corinthians 15:3–4

Consummation

God will create a new heavens and a new earth for His children. This new place will be “very good.” There will be no sin or death in that beautiful place. If we are part of His family, we will live in that wonderful place forever with our Creator!

Do you want to be part of God’s family? Becoming a true child of God is the most important thing that can ever happen to you.

There shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. Revelation 21:4

How can I become a child of God?

If you repent (are sorry for and turn from your sin) and trust in Jesus’s death for you, you can become a child of God! Do you understand that you are a sinner? Do you admit that you have disobeyed God’s commands? God says, “Do not lie.” Have you ever told a lie? God says, “Honor your parents.” Have you ever disobeyed your parents? Because you are a sinner, you deserve to be separated from God forever. Are you sorry for disobeying God?

All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

Do you believe that Jesus lived a perfect life, died on the cross, and rose the perfect sacrifice (punishment) for your sin? Do you want to love and obey God forever?

If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

You can pray (talk) to God and tell Him you are sorry for your sin. Tell Him you believe Jesus was punished for your sin, and you want to love and obey Him. Would you like to do this now?

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name. John 1:12

You will still be a child of your parents, but you will also be part of God’s family!

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! 1 John 3:1