Test Your Knowledge of God
Are all people God’s creation?
Yes, every person is part of God’s creation. Genesis 1:27, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”
Are all people God’s children?
No, all people are not God’s children. God’s Word teaches us that those who go their own way (against God) are children of the devil. Acts 13:10, “…O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?”
Who are God’s children?
God’s children are those who are born of the Spirit into his family. John 3:5-6, “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” God makes it clear that to be His child your faith must be in His Son Jesus Christ. Galatians 3:26, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”
What difference does it make if I’m a child of God or not?
It makes an eternal difference. A child of God is one who is accepted of God and desires to obey His Word. But those who go their own way are known as children of disobedience. A child of disobedience has no relationship with God. They walk the way of the world and follow the ways of Satan (the prince of this world until the Lord’s return). Children of disobedience are dead in their sins. They have this life to live in the flesh, and then everlasting punishment. But for children of God, they have been changed (made alive or quickened) by the power of God. They are given eternal life with God by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:2, “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)”
Why does God describe “children of disobedience” also as “children of wrath”?
God’s wrath or judgment unto eternal damnation is upon all those who are not His own. Children of wrath have not God’s mercy or salvation. They are condemned to eternal suffering because they will not obey God’s righteous ways. They refuse to hear and obey His Gospel. II Thessalonians 1:8-9, “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;”
Why would God condemn people for just being themselves?
Our condemnation came because Adam (the first man) transgressed or sinned against God. He disobeyed and ate of the tree that was forbidden. Such an act may seem minor to us, but that only proves how depraved and backward we have become. Because we are sinners by nature we gladly tolerate and accept a sinful way, but God is holy and perfectly righteous. He is also just, and will judge all sin. Adam’s disobedient act caused God to curse him with death. Romans 5:12, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” Sin and death will not continue forever, it will be destroyed one day in God’s judgment. And if we are found sinners in the sight of God then we will also be judged. God hates sin, but he loves the sinner. His desire is for all to come to repentance and faith in His Son (Jesus Christ) for mercy and salvation. II Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” God hasn’t put forth final judgment yet because he is longsuffering toward us. He wants men to turn to him and from their sin and be saved.
How Can I Become A Child of God?
First be honest with yourself and God. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and condemned because of it. Close your mind from the influences of the world around you and ask the Lord for understanding. Open your mind to God’s written truth and hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is not natural for us to desire God’s righteous ways because our very nature is against Him. But because the Lord desires to forgive our sins and gain a relationship with us He has given the power of His Spirit, and light of His Word to convict our hearts unto righteousness. II Corinthians 4:3-4, “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” Read those verses again “the god of this world” (god with a little “g”) is Satan. He is the great deceiver who blinds the minds of men. The light of God’s Word is our only hope to truly see.
What Is The “Gospel Of Christ” That I Must Hear To Be Saved?
The word “Gospel” simply means “Good News”. The good news is that Almighty God sent his Son Jesus Christ (God in the flesh – John 1:1-4 and 1:14) to die on the cross to pay the sin debt of mankind. He was crucified and willingly subjected himself to death. He was buried in a tomb for 3 days and 3 nights and arose victoriously out of the grave. He conquered sin and death for all sinners and now sits at the right hand of the Father in Heaven, forever interceding for us. Romans 5:8-10, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” The good news is that you can have victory over sin and death, but only if the work and blood of Christ’s sacrifice is applied. Jesus Christ died for all sinners, but His sacrifice is not applied to your account unless you repent and through faith trust Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. Galatians 3:22, “But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.”
The Apostle Paul preached repentance and faith to all sinners. Acts 20:21, “Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Romans 5:1, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:” Peace with God means He is no longer against us. We are no longer children of wrath or disobedience, but that we have become a child of God. We have the promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ.
What must I do to be saved?
The God of the Bible tells us to cry out to him for salvation. Romans 10:9-10, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
