ScriptureWay
  • Home
  • Site Overview
  • Author
  • Resources
    • Bible Verses About the Cross
    • Bible Verses About Eternal Life
    • Bible Verses - "I AM"s of Christ
    • Bible Verses About Sound Speech
    • Bible Verses for Times of Crisis
    • BIble Verses About Trusting in God
    • Bible Verses about Paradise
    • Bible Verses about Music
    • Test Page
    • Daily Bible Devotionals
    • Bible Study Tools
    • Whitneytunes Music Videos
    • Whitneytunes Worship Music
  • About The Way

Bible Teachings

Characteristics of a Child of God - Part 1

8/25/2019

10 Comments

 
by Whitney V. Myers
Download a printable PDF of this post.
You Will Know Them by Their Fruits - Matthew 7:16 - 123RF Photo - Used under license
You Will Know Them by Their Fruits - Matthew 7:16 - 123RF Photo - Used under license
"You will know them by their fruits." (Matthew 7:16)

"By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother." (1 John 3:10)


"For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God." (Romans 8:14)

This lesson is the second in a series on "The Children of God."  The first lesson in the series discussed "Becoming a Child of God" (Ref. 1).  Today's lesson is the first of two lessons on the Characteristics of a Child of God.
  
     Consider.  The Bible describes the children of God as having certain characteristics.  How do you know a child of God when you see one?  What are the distinguishing marks of a child of God?

A Child of God Bears Spiritual Fruit

     A child of God passes the fruit test.  Jesus said, "You will know them by their fruits.  Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?" (Matthew 7:16)  A child of God is recognized by the fruit that he or she bears.

Jesus said that in order to bear much fruit, we must abide in (remain in, stay connected to) him.  "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing " (John 15:5, Ref. 2).  Bearing spiritual fruit is the natural outgrowth of being attached to the vine, Jesus Christ.

The Apostle Paul describes the fruit of the Spirit as "
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23).

The first characteristic of a child of God is a person who is bearing spiritual fruit.  


A Child of God Practices Obedience, Righteousness, and Godliness

     A child of God practices obedience, righteousness, and godliness:
  • Obedience - A child of God obeys and does God's will.  In the parable of the two sons, the son who did go to work in the vineyard did the will of his father (Matthew 21:28-31).  Note the difference between doing God's will and rebelling against or refusing to do God's will.  Jesus emphasized the importance of doing God's will when he said, "For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother" (Matthew 12:50).  Obeying God's will is essential for our relationship with Jesus and our heavenly Father.

  • Righteousness - A child of God practices righteousness and does not willfully, habitually sin.  1 John 3:10 says, "By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God ..."  Practicing righteousness means doing what is deemed right by the Lord, i.e. what is approved in His eyes (HELPS-Word studies, Ref. 3).  1 John 3:9 illustrates what it means to practice righteousness.  "No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God" (1 John 3:9, italics added).

  • Godliness - The Apostle Paul instructs his spiritual son, Timothy, "Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness" (1 Timothy 4:7).  The Greek word for discipline is gumnazó, which means train oneself with full effort (Ref. 4).  The English words "gym" and "gymnasium" come from this same root.  The Greek word for godliness is eusebeia, which means piety (reverence) toward God.  Eusebeia also means devotion (Ref. 5).  In the same way that an athlete trains with full effort in a gym, every child of God should train with full effort in reverence and devotion towards God.

A Child of God is Led by the Spirit

     When we are a child of God, the Holy Spirit is our guide for life (Romans 8:14).  The Holy Spirit guides us into all the truth and helps us understand the scriptures (John 16:13, John 14:26, Ref. 6).  The Holy Spirit helps us to put to death the deeds of the flesh (Romans 8:13).  The Holy Spirit guides us in making decisions (James 1:5), what to do (Acts 10:19-20), and where to go (Acts 16:6-10).  A child of God has an active, dynamic relationship with God, and follows the leading of the Holy Spirit in his/her life. 

     Apply.  Are you exhibiting the distinguishing characteristics of a child of God?  Consider the main points in this lesson:
  • Are you bearing spiritual fruit?
  • Are you obeying and doing God's will in all matters?
  • Are you practicing righteousness, and not practicing willful sin?
  • Are you training with full effort in your devotion to God?
  • Are you seeking and receiving the Holy Spirit's guidance as you study the scriptures and make personal decisions?

     In the next lesson (Ref. 7), we will continue our study of the Characteristics of a Child of God.

Related Topics
"Becoming a Child of God" (John 1:12-13)
"Characteristics of a Child of God - Part 2" (Matthew 5:16)
"Our Adoption as God's Children" (Galatians 4:4-5)

References
1.  http://www.ScriptureWay.com/home/becoming-a-child-of-god
2.  http://www.ScriptureWay.com/home/jesus-is-the-true-vine
3.  https://biblehub.com/greek/1343.htm
4.  https://biblehub.com/greek/1128.htm
5.  https://biblehub.com/greek/2150.htm
6.  http://www.ScriptureWay.com/home/the-spirit-of-truth 
7.  http://www.ScriptureWay.com/home/characteristics-of-a-child-of-god-part-2
10 Comments

    Daily Bible Verse

    (Click the link above)

    Author

    Mr. Whitney V. Myers.  Christian.  For more information, please visit the Author Page.

    Posting Schedule

    I plan to provide new postings about once a month.

    Planned Topics

    (subject to change)
    1Feb23 - "Walking in Integrity" (Proverbs 20:7)

    Recent Posts

    (most recent three months)
    9Jan23 - "The Light Shines in the Darkness" (John 1:5)
    21Dec22 - "Do Not Love the World" (1 John 2:15)
    (published revised 2nd edition)
    8Nov22 - "He Restores My Soul" (Psalm 23:3)
    11Oct22 - "Adoption as Sons" (Ephesians 1:4-5, Galatians 3:26, Romans 8:15)

    Popular Posts

    (top 10)
    7Oct18 -
    "What is Eternal Life?" (John 17:3)
    25Aug19 - "Characteristics of a Child of God - Part 1" (Matthew 7:16)
    3June18 - "What Does 'The Way' Mean in the New Testament?" (Matthew 7:13-14)
    9Feb20 - "Come Now, Let Us Reason Together (Isaiah 1:18)"
    1Jul18 - "There is a Balm in Gilead" (Jeremiah 8:22)
    21Oct18 - "When Jesus Said 'Truly, Truly,' What Did He Mean?" (John 6:47)
    11Aug22 - "What is Living Water in the Bible?" (John 4:10)
    20May18 - "The Way of the Lord (Old Testament)"
    6Nov21 - "The Meaning of God's Favor" (Psalm 30:5) (Deuteronomy 5:33)
    22Apr18 - "The Remedy for a Troubled Heart (John 14:1)"

    Categories

    All
    About The Life
    About The Truth
    About The Way
    Adoption
    Advent
    Affliction
    Amen
    Angels
    Anxiety/Worry
    Athletes
    Atonement
    Attributes Of God
    Believe In Jesus - Section 1
    Believe In Jesus - Section 2
    Believe In Jesus - Section 3
    Believe In Jesus - Section 4
    Blessing
    Blood
    Bread
    Burdens
    Children Of God
    Church
    "Comes" Of God's Word
    Comfort
    Comforter/Helper
    Compassion
    Confession
    Cornerstone
    Courage
    Crisis Management
    Cross
    Defense
    Early Church
    Encouragement
    Endurance
    Eternal Life - Section 1
    Eternal Life - Section 2
    Faith - Section 1
    Faith - Section 2
    Favor
    Fear
    "Fear Nots"
    Focus On God
    Follow Jesus
    Forgiveness
    Foundation
    Friend
    Fruit
    Future Life
    Goals
    God's Care
    God's Guidance
    God's Invitations
    God's Promises
    God's Will
    Gospel
    Grace
    Hate
    Healing
    Hearing
    Heart
    Heaven
    Help
    Holy Spirit - Section 1
    Holy Spirit - Section 2
    Hope
    Hunger
    Hymn Stories - Section 1
    Hymn Stories - Section 2
    "I AM"s Of Christ - Section 1
    "I AM"s Of Christ - Section 2
    Inheritance
    Joy
    Knowing Jesus
    Knowledge
    Labor
    Life
    Life After Death
    Light And Darkness
    Listening
    Living Water
    Love
    Maturity
    Mercy
    Narrow Gate
    New Life
    Paradise/Heaven
    Peace
    Persecution
    Pharisees & Scribes
    Physician
    Power
    Prayer
    Pray To Receive Christ
    Pride
    Protection
    Ransom
    Redemption
    Refuge
    Repentance
    Rest
    Resurrection
    Righteousness
    Right Hand
    Salvation - Section 1
    Salvation - Section 2
    Savior
    Scarlet
    Second Coming
    Security
    Sheep
    Shepherd
    Silence
    Sin & Sinners
    Son Of God
    Soul And Spirit
    Sound Speech
    Spiritual Growth
    Storms
    Strength
    Struggles
    Sympathy
    Testimonies
    The Way
    The World
    Thirst
    Tree Of Life
    Trouble
    Truly Truly
    Trusting In God
    Truth
    Virgin Birth
    Water
    Way To Heaven
    Who Is Jesus? - Section 1
    Who Is Jesus? - Section 2
    Why Jesus Came
    Wisdom
    Witness

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    January 2023
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018

The ScriptureWay site provides Bible Teachings that point to Jesus.   The Bible teaches that believing in Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven. 

"I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." -- Jesus speaking in John 14:6
​

Picture

    Follow by email

Please enter your email address to receive an email notification of new posts. After you enter your email address, please then click on this "please enter" box. Within a few seconds you should see a message confirming that your information has been submitted.

Copyright 2018-2023 Whitney V. Myers

Listed in Feedspot's Top 100 Bible Study Blogs and Websites
  • Home
  • Site Overview
  • Author
  • Resources
    • Bible Verses About the Cross
    • Bible Verses About Eternal Life
    • Bible Verses - "I AM"s of Christ
    • Bible Verses About Sound Speech
    • Bible Verses for Times of Crisis
    • BIble Verses About Trusting in God
    • Bible Verses about Paradise
    • Bible Verses about Music
    • Test Page
    • Daily Bible Devotionals
    • Bible Study Tools
    • Whitneytunes Music Videos
    • Whitneytunes Worship Music
  • About The Way