Growing up, I loved stories about ordinary people discovering they were actually royalty. You know the kind – where a seemingly average person suddenly learns they’re the long-lost heir to a magnificent kingdom.
These stories arrest the mind of our imaginations, yet there’s an even greater reality beyond any fairy story: you are, as a believer in Jesus Christ, literally a son of God.
It is neither religious rhetoric nor a comforting metaphor, but a profound spiritual reality that changes everything about who you are and how you live.
Let’s consider what it really means to be one the sons of God and why this truth can revolutionize your life.
Key Takeaways
- Being a son of God is a present reality, not just a future hope.
- This identity gives us unprecedented access to God as our Father.
- We have real spiritual authority and inheritance through our sonship; living as sons should affect our behavior and relationship with God.
- The best is yet to come – we will be fully like Christ when He appears.
The Biblical Foundation of Divine Sonship
Jesus: The Prototype Son
Before we enter into this discussion about our identity as sons of God, it is necessary to understand Jesus’ unique role.
In John’s Gospel, Jesus is referred to as the “only begotten Son” – but that was about to change dramatically. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus became what Scripture calls “the firstborn among many brethren” Romans 8:29.
Think of it this way: Jesus was like a divine prototype. He showed what the true son of God looked like in action. Then through His sacrifice, He provided the means for others to become part of God’s family.
As Jesus himself said after His resurrection:
“I ascend unto My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.” – John 20:17 (KJV)
Notice the powerful shift: He didn’t say “My Father” alone, but “My Father and your Father.” It was the revolutionary declaration of our new spiritual status.
More Than a Title: Understanding True Sonship
The Nature of Our Relationship
To be a son of God is more than a flattering title to you; it’s your spiritual DNA translation. As the Bible says:
“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 (NKJV)
This goes far beyond the old covenant relationship where people were servants of God. We’ve been promoted from staff to family. Paul writes:
“For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father’.” – Romans 8:15 (NKJV)
The term “Abba” is a very intimate term – it is like saying “Daddy.” Imagine having that sort of personal, close relationship with the Creator of the universe!
Common Misconceptions
Being a son of God does not mean that we are becoming gods. It is not about deification; it is about relationship and inheritance.
In the same way as the human son shares his father’s nature but remains distinct from his father, so we share God’s spiritual nature and remain His created beings.
The Practical Impact of Knowing Your Identity
Personal Transformation
It changes everything when one understands their identity as sons of God:
- Confidence in Prayer: You’re coming before, not a removed deity, but your loving Father.
- Authority in Spiritual Warfare: Sons carry their Father’s authority.
- Higher Standards of Living: As John writes, “everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself.” – 1 John 3:3 (NKJV)
- Supernatural Inheritance: We’re “joint heirs with Christ.” – Romans 8:17 (NKJV)
Kingdom Impact
The whole creation is waiting for something remarkable:
“For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.” – Romans 8:19 (NKJV)
The Future Dimension: What We Will Become
While we’re sons of God now, there’s still more to come:
“Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” – 1 John 3:2 (NKJV)
Conclusion
You’re not trying to become a son of God; if you’ve received Christ, you already are one. What is important is learning to live from it rather than for it.
The more this becomes a reality in your mind – who you are – the more you will naturally move into becoming all that God has made you to be.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Are angels the sons of God?
A. Although in the Old Testament, angels are sometimes referred to as “sons of God” (Job 1:6), it is clear from the New Testament that the sonship given to believers is unique, not shared even by angels. We are joint-heirs with Christ, a position not granted to angels.
Q. Does “sons of God” include women?
A. Absolutely! “Sons” is a word of position and inheritance, not gender. All men and women who are in Christ stand on the same footing as sons of God in this spiritual application.
Q. How do I know whether I am a son of God?
A. The Bible makes several clear indicators:
- You have received Jesus Christ. (John 1:12)
- You are led by God’s Spirit. (Romans 8:14)
- You have an inner witness of the Spirit. (Romans 8:16)
- You receive God’s paternal discipline. (Hebrews 12:7)
Q. What is the difference between being God’s creation and God’s son?
A. While everything God created is His creation, only those who receive Christ become His sons. It is a unique relationship involving inheritance, authority, and family privileges not held by general creation.
Q. How should this truth impact my daily life?
A. Understanding your identity as a son of God should:
- Increase your confidence to pray more.
- Motivate you toward holy living.
- Your resistance to sin is strengthened.
- Trust in God’s provision is deepened.
- Your spiritual authority empowered.
