CHILD OF GOD

Reason 37

Christianity = Everyone has an opportunity to be a child of God, but everyone will not take that opportunity. Jesus died for all, but not everyone accepts His gift. (Angelina Rayno)
LDS = Everyone is a child of God.

In the Bible...
     John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

     Romans 6:10
For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.

     Hebrews 10:12
But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God,

     Romans 8:14-17
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God. 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." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs - heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. 


The children of God, are those led by the Spirit (v. 14). To be led by the Spirit, you must receive the Spirit (v. 15). After receiving the Spirit, which is the Holy Spirit, He will testify we are God's children (v. 16). How do we receive the Holy Spirit to know we are God's children?" It's simple. We must be spiritually born again, we must be born of God and then we will receive the Holy Spirit. To be born again means to understand you are a sinner (Romans 3:10 "There is none righteous, no, not one;), recognize the consequences for sin is death in hell (Genesis 2:17 and Romans 6:23), Jesus died on the cross for your sins to give you eternal life (John 3:16, Romans 6:23), accepting the gift of eternal life by making Jesus LORD and Saviour (Romans 10:9). Angelina Rayno

     John 1:12-13
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

     John 3:3-5
Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old"? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

     John 7:37-39
On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

     Luke 11:13
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?!"
          This is one of my favorite verses!!!

     1 Peter 1:23
Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,

     1 John 3
biblegateway.com/passage/1john3NKJV

Being spiritually born again is a decision of the heart that each individual must make. It's a free gift one must accept, and it has nothing to do with works or tradition, like baptism; it's all about grace from God. Also, a mother cannot make this decision for her child or a wife for her husband. All individuals must make this decision apart from another. This is the message Jesus came to give, and HE loves us all so much. He came to save the world because He loves us all!!! Angelina Rayno


The Bible clearly states we become a child of God at spiritual conversion, not at birth. This is also not about what church you are a member of; denominations are irrelevant.

     Galatians 3:26
For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

The Bible very clearly says not everyone will be a child of God. Let's compare this Biblical teaching to the LDS teaching that every faithful member of the LDS church is automatically born a Child of God.

     Hymn 301, I Am a Child of God
I am a child of God, and he has sent me here,
Has given me an earthly home with parents kind and dear.


Lead me, guide me, walk beside me, help me find the way.
Teach me all that I must do to live with him someday.


I am a child of God, and so my needs are great;
Help me to understand his words before it grows too late.


Lead me, guide me, walk beside me, help me find the way.
Teach me all that I must do to live with him someday.


I am a child of God. Rich blessings are in store;
If I but learn to do his will I'll live with him once more.


Lead me, guide me, walk beside me, help me find the way.
Teach me all that I must do to live with him someday.

     Mosiah 4:15
But ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye will teach them to love one another, and to serve one another.

     D&C 14:7
And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God.

We were all born in heaven, prior to earth, as literal spirit children of God and his wife. Jesus and Lucifer are our older brothers, Mormon Doctrine, p 589-590

It is clear the LDS church does not teach Faith and Grace alone. There was so much I had to do to live with Him someday. As a born sinner, there was no way I would ever be able to reach this impossible goal as long as I remained a faithful member of the LDS church. However, as a Christian, I am finally on my way, and it feels so wonderful!

My unanswered question was:

What would be the point of being a human on earth if we are all automatically born a child of God?

I was initially devastated when I received this answer that not everyone will be a child of God, yet overjoyed to find the truth that by Jesus dying on the cross to save me from my sins, He has given me the opportunity to accept His free gift of grace! Since leaving the LDS church, I have now become a child of God. Thank you, Jesus, for saving me!