Identity as Sons and Daughters of God in Christianity

The concept of believers as "sons and daughters of God" in Christianity is rooted in the New Testament, signifying a profound relational identity established through adoption into God's family ^[1]. This identity is distinct from the unique Sonship of Jesus Christ, yet it is entirely dependent upon it.

The Sonship of Jesus Christ

Central to understanding the identity of believers as children of God is the unique and eternal Sonship of Jesus Christ. The New Testament frequently refers to Jesus as the "Son of God," a title that appears thirty-seven times ^[1]. This designation underscores His divine nature and His intimate relationship with God the Father ^[2]. For instance, John's Gospel emphasizes that Jesus is God, existing from the beginning, and through Him all things were created ^{[2, 7]}. The apostle Paul describes Christ as the "image of God" and the "firstborn over all creation," through whom all things were made and sustained ^{[2, 11]}.

The Sonship of Christ is not merely a title but reflects His inherent divinity and pre-existence. Prophecies in the Old Testament, such as Psalm 2:7, foretold His identity as the Son of God, a prophecy fulfilled in the New Testament ^{[4, 13]}. The incarnation, where Christ took on human nature while retaining His divine person, is a mystery of godliness that reveals His dual nature as both God and man ^{[6, 9]}. His divine Sonship was declared and made evident through His power, demonstrated in creation, providence, and His resurrection ^{[8, 13]}. The confession that "Jesus is the Son of God" is a fundamental article of Christian faith, signifying belief in His divine person and His role as Savior ^{[3, 5, 10]}.

Adoption into God's Family

While Jesus is the eternal and unique Son of God by nature, believers become "sons of God" through adoption ^[1]. This adoption is a gracious act by which God brings individuals into a new relationship with Himself. The apostle Paul frequently highlights this theme, particularly in his letters. In Romans 8:14, he states, "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God." He further elaborates in Galatians 4:5-6 that God sent His Son "so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!'" ^[1]. This indicates that adoption is not merely a legal status but involves an inward spiritual transformation, marked by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

The concept of "putting on Christ" through baptism is also linked to this adoptive sonship. As Jamieson, Fausset & Brown explain on Galatians 3:27, "By baptism ye have put on Christ; and therefore, He being the Son of God, ye become sons by adoption, by virtue of His Sonship by generation" ^[12]. This suggests that through union with Christ, believers partake in the benefits of His Sonship, becoming heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17).

The First Epistle of John also emphasizes this identity, stating, "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are" (1 John 3:1) ^[1]. This passage highlights the immense love of God in granting such a status to believers. It also points to a future realization of this identity, noting that "what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is" (1 John 3:2).

Historical and Theological Nuances

The phrase "sons of God" has appeared in various contexts throughout biblical history. In the Old Testament, it was used to denote the pious descendants of Seth (Genesis 6:2, 4) and was also applied to angels (Job 1:6; 38:7) ^[1]. Hosea 1:10 uses the phrase to describe the gracious relationship between God and His people ^[1]. However, in the New Testament, the primary emphasis shifts to the spiritual adoption of believers through Christ.

The distinction between Christ's unique Sonship and the adopted sonship of believers is crucial. Christ is the Son of God by nature, eternally begotten of the Father ^[13]. Believers, on the other hand, become children of God through grace, by faith in Jesus Christ. This distinction is vital to maintaining the orthodox understanding of Christ's divinity while affirming the new identity of believers.

The confession of Jesus as the Son of God was a critical test of faith in the early church ^[10]. This confession is not a mere intellectual assent but a recognition of Jesus' divine person and His salvific work. As John Gill notes on 1 John 4:15, this confession acknowledges Jesus as "the only begotten of the Father; that he is not a mere man... but a divine person, equal with the Father" ^[10]. This understanding underpins the entire Christian doctrine of salvation and the believer's relationship with God.

The identity as sons and daughters of God carries significant implications for Christian life. It implies a new relationship of intimacy and access to God as Father, as well as a shared inheritance with Christ. It also calls believers to live in a manner consistent with their divine parentage, reflecting the character of God in their lives. The knowledge that "the Son of God is come" and has given believers "an understanding" to know the true God is foundational to receiving eternal life through Him ^[14].

Sources

Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Son of God — The plural, "sons of God," is used (Gen. 6:2, 4) to denote the pious descendants of Seth. In Job 1:6; 38:7 this name is applied to the angels. Hosea uses the phrase (1:10) to designate the gracious relation in which men stand to God. In the New Testament this phrase frequently denotes the relation into which we are brought to God by adoption (Rom. 8:14, 19; 2 Cor. 6:18; Gal. 4:5, 6; Phil. 2:15; 1 John 3:1, 2). It occurs thirty-seven times in the New Testament as the distinctive title of our Saviour. He does not bear this title in consequence of his mirac”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Excellency and Glory of Christ, The — As God -- Joh 1:1-5; Php 2:6,9,10. As the Son of God -- Mt 3:17; Heb 1:6,8. As one with the Father -- Joh 10:30,38. As the First-born -- Col 1:15,18. As the First-begotten -- Heb 1:6. As Lord of lords, &c -- Re 17:14. As the image of God -- Col 1:15; Heb 1:3. As creator -- Joh 1:3; Col 1:16; Heb 1:2. As the Blessed of God -- Ps 45:2. As Mediator -- 1Ti 2:5; Heb 8:6. As Prophet -- De 18:15,16; Ac 3:22. As Priest -- Ps 110:4; Heb 4:15. As King -- Isa 6:1-5; Joh 12:41. As Judge -- Mt 16:27; 25:31,33. As Shepherd -- Isa 40:10,11; Joh”
I John “I John 4:15 (Geneva1599) — Whosoeuer confesseth that Iesus is the Sone of God, in him dwelleth God, and he in God.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prophecies Respecting Christ — As the Son of God -- Ps 2:7. Fulfilled. -- Lu 1:32,35. As the seed of the woman -- Ge 3:15. Fulfilled. -- Ga 4:4. As the seed of Abraham -- Ge 17:7; 22:18. Fulfilled. -- Ga 3:16. As the seed of Isaac -- Ge 21:12. Fulfilled. -- Heb 11:17-19. As the seed of David -- Ps 132:11; Jer 23:5. Fulfilled. -- Ac 13:23; Ro 1:3. His coming at a set time -- Ge 49:10; Da 9:24,25. Fulfilled. -- Lu 2:1. His being born a virgin -- Isa 7:14. Fulfilled. -- Mt 1:22,23; Lu 2:7. His being called Immanuel -- Isa 7:14. Fulfilled. -- Mt 1:22,23. His being born i”
John “John 20:31 (Tyndale) — These are written that ye myght beleve that Iesus is Christ the sonne of God and that in belevynge ye myght have lyfe thorowe his name.”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Incarnation — That act of grace whereby Christ took our human nature into union with his Divine Person, became man. Christ is both God and man. Human attributes and actions are predicated of him, and he of whom they are predicated is God. A Divine Person was united to a human nature (Acts 20:28; Rom. 8:32; 1 Cor. 2:8; Heb. 2:11-14; 1 Tim. 3:16; Gal. 4:4, etc.). The union is hypostatical, i.e., is personal; the two natures are not mixed or confounded, and it is perpetual.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Christ is God — As Jehovah -- Isa 40:3; Mt 3:3. As Jehovah of glory -- Ps 24:7,10; 1Co 2:8; Jas 2:1. As Jehovah, our RIGHTEOUSNESS -- Jer 23:5,6; 1Co 1:30. As Jehovah, above all -- Ps 97:9; Joh 3:31. As Jehovah, the First and the Last -- Isa 44:6; Re 1:17; Isa 48:12-16; Re 22:13. As Jehovah's Fellow and Equal -- Zec 13:7; Php 2:6. As Jehovah of Hosts -- Isa 6:1-3; Joh 12:41; Isa 8:13,14; 1Pe 2:8. As Jehovah, the Shepherd -- Isa 40:11; Heb 13:20. As Jehovah, for whose glory all things were created -- Pr 16:4; Col 1:16. As Jehovah, the Messenger of the covenant -- Mal ”
Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 1:4: And declared to be the Son of God,.... Not made as he is said to be before, when his incarnation is spoken of; nor did he begin to be the Son of God, when he was made of the seed of David, but he, the Son of God, who existed as such, from everlasting, was manifested in the flesh, or human nature: and this his divine sonship, and proper deity, are declared and made evident, with, or "by" his power; which has appeared in the creation of all things out of nothing; in upholding all things in their beings; in the government of the world, and works of Providence; in the ”
1 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Timothy 3:16: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness,.... What follows is so, the incarnation of Christ, his birth of a virgin, the union of the two natures, divine and human, in his person; this is a mystery, which though revealed, and so to be believed, is not to be discerned nor accounted for, nor the modus of it to be comprehended by reason: and it is a great one, next, if not equal, to the doctrine of a trinity of persons in the divine essence; and is a mystery of godliness, which tends to encourage internal and external religion, powerful and practical g”
1 John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 John 4:15: Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God,.... The only begotten of the Father; that he is not a mere man, as the Jews, and Ebion and Cerinthus said, but a divine person, equal with the Father; which contains all that relates to the dignity of his person, and his fitness for his office as a Saviour, and which was the test of faith in those times, and the grand article of belief: not that a bare assent to this had what followed annexed to it; for the devils believed and owned that Jesus was the Son of God; and so might, and did, unregenerate persons, as the ”
Colossians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Colossians 1:15: They who have experienced in themselves "redemption" (Col 1:14), know Christ in the glorious character here described, as above the highest angels to whom the false teachers (Col 2:18) taught worship was to be paid. Paul describes Him: (1) in relation to God and creation (Col 1:15-17); (2) in relation to the Church (Col 1:18-20). As the former regards Him as the Creator (Col 1:15-16) and the Sustainer (Col 1:17) of the natural world; so the latter, as the source and stay of the new moral creation. image--exact likeness and perfect Representative.”
Galatians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Galatians 3:27: baptized into Christ-- (Rom 6:3). have put on Christ--Ye did, in that very act of being baptized into Christ, put on, or clothe yourselves with, Christ: so the Greek expresses. Christ is to you the toga virilis (the Roman garment of the full-grown man, assumed when ceasing to be a child) [BENGEL]. GATAKER defines a Christian, "One who has put on Christ." The argument is, By baptism ye have put on Christ; and therefore, He being the Son of God, ye become sons by adoption, by virtue of His Sonship by generation. This proves that baptism, where it an”
Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 1:5: For--substantiating His having "obtained a more excellent name than the angels." unto which--A frequent argument in this Epistle is derived from the silence of Scripture (Heb 1:13; Heb 2:16; Heb 7:3, Heb 7:14) [BENGEL]. this day have I begotten thee-- (Psa 2:7). Fulfilled at the resurrection of Jesus, whereby the Father "declared," that is, made manifest His divine Sonship, heretofore veiled by His humiliation (Act 13:33; Rom 1:4). Christ has a fourfold right to the title "Son of God"; (1) By generation, as begotten of God; (2) By commission, as se”
1 John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 John 5:20: We know that the Son of God is come - In the flesh, and has made his soul an offering for sin; and hath given us an understanding - a more eminent degree of light than we ever enjoyed before; for as he lay in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him unto us; and he hath besides given us a spiritual understanding, that we may know him who is true, even the True God, and get eternal life from him through his Son, In whom we are by faith, as the branches in the vine, deriving all our knowledge, light, life, love, and fruitfulness from him. And it is through this r”

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