Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. Romans 8:12-17

Are you a Child of God? There is a false teaching that is popular today, stating everyone is a Child of God, don’t be deceived brethren, this is not the case. We are all made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) However we have become enemies of God because of our sin (Romans 5:10) We have been separated from God, because of our sin (Isaiah 59:2) and the only way we can be reconciled back to God is through Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20)

As the Apostle Paul says here, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “if you live after the flesh, you shall die” Unless you are Born Again (John 3:3) you are spiritually dead, you are not a Child of God but an enemy of God. This is why the Son of God became flesh (John 1:14) and died for your sins on the cross, to reconcile you back to our Father in Heaven. Teaching people they are children of God, while still dead in their sins, is a great heresy and it nullifies the cross of Christ!

“But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” Jesus said unless you are Born Again, you will not see the Kingdom of God (John 3:3) Through Christ you will live, because Christ already died for you! Without the blood of Christ there is no hope for you, you are an enemy of God who is dead in your sins. But there is “Good News” and that is the gospel message, without understanding the bad news, you can’t understand the good news, that through Christ you can be saved! As Paul states here “Those who are led by the Spirit of God are Children of God”

The Apostle Paul never said everyone is a child of God, Paul said you must be led by the Holy Spirit, you must be washed by the blood of the lamb (Revelation 7:14) “but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons and daughters by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” (v15) You are no longer enemies of God, but you have been adopted as Gods children, not only that we can call God Abba our Father. Think about how powerful this is, you were an enemy of God and now you can call God your Father. You are a Child of God through Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:26)

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, (v16) The Holy Spirit seals us (Ephesians 1:13) and testifies for us that we are Children of God , heirs with Christ (v17) Thank you Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen!