HOW TO KNOW IF YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD

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The Holy Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, consistently and clearly illustrates that there are two distinct kinds of people in this world: the children of God and the children of the devil or the sheep and the goats mentioned in Matthew 25:32-33. This profound division can be traced back to various foundational scriptural references that distinctly separate all of humanity into these two spiritual categories:

1. Genesis chapter 6 speaks of the “Sons of God” and the “Daughters of men,” highlighting an early distinction.

2. Matthew 25:31-46 vividly portrays the final judgment where all humanity will be definitively divided into sheep and goats, symbolizing the saved (children of God) and the unsaved (children of the devil).

3. Matthew 13:24-30 presents the crucial parable of the wheat and the tares, where the wheat represents the true children of God, and the tares (weeds) represent those who ultimately belong to the devil and his kingdom.

Just like I have stated above, there are two kinds of people in this world: the sheep and the goats. But to further describe them, this is their current state:

1. People with a serpentine (fallen) nature but are seed of God (Sheep)– These are individuals who, despite their inherited fallen Adamic nature, also carry the divine seed of God within them. And because of this seed, they are predestined for spiritual regeneration and eternal life. Isaiah 65:23 speaks prophetically to this truth:

“They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them.”

2. People who are not seed of God fully also controlled by their serpentine nature (Goats)– These individuals, tragically, do not possess the seed of God and are entirely governed by the flesh and the influence of the enemy. They will live out their natural lives, but without the inherent potential for spiritual regeneration or eternal life with God. That’s why they are called the goats.

The children of God are likened to sheep, precious in His sight, while the children of the devil are symbolized as goats, destined for judgment. According to John 10:11, the Lord Jesus Himself declares that as the Good Shepherd, He only lays down His life for the sheep. It is clear that He only saved the sheep and not the goats:

John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.“

But it is not enough for us just to be saved. We need to be born again. Those sheep that are still not born-again, whose hearts are primarily occupied by external influences, who are driven by worldly activities, and who do not exhibit the discernible life and fruit of the Holy Spirit are still in desperate need of the indwelling of Christ (born-again experience). Only through the life-giving work of our Lord Jesus Christ and the quickening power of His Spirit can they be made alive in spirit and experientially become the children of God. Sadly, this is only true to the sheep alone and not to the goats.

Being a child of God has nothing to do by one’s physical lineage, earthly heritage, or genetics, but is solely dependent on one’s seed. The Apostle Paul, in Romans 9:8, explains that being a “sheep” or a “goat” in God’s eyes is not about physical heredity, but about one’s spiritual seed.

“That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.”

Even if one’s parents are devout, faithful believers, this does not automatically guarantee that their children born in this world will also be children of God. They should possess the seed of God. Or even if you are born in the lineage of unbelievers, it doesn’t also guarantee that you are not a seed of God.

Romans 8:9-16 also teaches us that possessing the Spirit of Christ (being born-again) will automatically mean you are a child of God.

“Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” (Romans 8:9b).

This is because only the seed of God can be indwelt by the Spirit of Christ. They are the only ones who can possess Him. Without the indwelling Spirit of Christ, you cannot be considered His child. This is a crucial and non-negotiable distinction. As to the children of the flesh (goats), no matter their earthly ancestry or religious efforts might be, they cannot be the children of God unless they are the seed of God. As Romans 9:8-16 powerfully emphasizes, God, in His sovereignty, is the one who decides who will carry His divine seed; it is not according to human effort, merit, or heritage.

Initially, it may seem impossible to definitively know if you are a child of God, as no human being can truly discern this by mere external observation or human wisdom—not even your parents, your pastor, or the most seasoned spiritual leaders. Only the Lord can discern those who are His seed from those who are not. The primary reason for this is that before spiritual regeneration (the new birth), both the predestined children of God and the children of the devil appear remarkably similar in many outward aspects.

Both groups are born into this world with spiritually dead spirits and, consequently, lack inherent eternal life. Even prominent biblical figures like Moses, David, Adam, Abraham, or Paul, before they were quickened and regenerated by God’s Spirit, had spiritually dead spirits due to the Adamic fall.

This is precisely why all, including those who are the seed of God, desperately need the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation and to regenerate their spirit. This is clearly stated in the beloved verse, John 3:16. Even though the true children of God carry His divine seed within them from before the foundation of the world, they still must experience spiritual quickening through faith in Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:1).

All of humanity originally came from God, created in His image and after His likeness (Genesis 1:26-27). However, due to the tragic fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, all humans born in this world, inherited a fallen nature and are spiritually dead, which means their spirits cannot access or receive anything spiritual from God. This spiritual death necessitates divine regeneration through Christ Jesus for anyone to be restored to fellowship with God.

Romans 9:8-16, along with other scriptures, strongly suggests that this spiritual death is what separates unregenerate humans from God’s life-giving presence. The condition of spiritual death is universal and affects all mankind, regardless of whether they are seed of God or not.

Romans 8:5-8 “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.“

An unregenerated person (did not experience being born-again) is someone whose life is fundamentally governed by the flesh and its desires. Romans 8:5-8 speaks plainly of those who live according to the flesh as being hostile toward God, unable to submit to His law, and ultimately, unable to please Him. Such individuals may be outwardly religious or even heavily involved in many external church activities or good works, but without genuine spiritual regeneration, their efforts are in vain in terms of eternal life and true fellowship with God.

Ultimately, the crucial question of whether you are a child of God hinges entirely on your seed and spiritual regeneration—whether you have been truly born-again by the Spirit of God. While no human can know for absolute certain the eternal destiny of another, except the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, the Bible gives us clear signs of genuine regeneration. These include a life that is increasingly governed by the Holy Spirit rather than the desires of the flesh.

To be a child of God is to be born of the Spirit, to be supernaturally transformed in heart and mind, and to be progressively growing in conformity to the image of Christ, all by His grace and for His glory. Amen.