Sometimes, it's easy to say terms like we are the sons and daughters of God or the children of God and not consider what that actually means. If God is Word and Spirit, then we are children of a Spirit. Sons and daughters of a God. (The One True God!) The connection to God as our Heavenly Father goes deeper than surface words. To be born of God is to be born of His Word and Spirit.
Question
What does it mean to be born of God?
Answer
You have your beginning in God, who is Word and Spirit. You are created in His image and likeness. You are the radiance of His glory and the exact imprint of His nature. God is your Father; therefore, you look and act like Him.
Explanation
To get a good perception of this, I want to look at the apostle John's writings on this matter. His teachings focus heavily on this idea, and in His first epistle, you can easily overlook the depths of this teaching.
To say John is very direct in his writings is an understatement. As a true son of God and apostle, he is in your face with his conclusions of what a true child of God is and should be in manifestation. His explanation of what it means to be born of God is the answer we need to understand this great mystery.
John reveals what it means to be born of God by revealing two things. First, he reveals who and what God is. Second, he reveals that those born of God will become what they are born of and will look and act like it in manifestation.
If Jesus is the first example of one born of God, then it's easy to see what a true Son born of God looks like. When you see Him, you see the Father. He is the very definition of one who is born of God. Let's look closer at Him by looking at all those who come after Him.
The true children of God are the offspring of God. They reflect God's image in Jesus Christ and directly resemble God Himself. To say God is light is to say we are light and walk in the light. And because He is light, we are born of Him; we are born of light. To say you have fellowship with the light but walk in darkness makes you a liar.
John continues by saying that if we say we are of God, then we should act in the same manner as God. Our likeness and manifestation will tell the story of who our Father is, just like a tree is known by its fruit. Let's look at John's statements concerning what you look and act like when born of God.
"Everyone who practices righteousness has been born of Him."
"Everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning."
"Whoever loves has been born of God."
"Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God."
Notice that our manifestation is directly tied to our birth. God is righteous; therefore, we practice righteousness. God does not sin; thus, we, who are born of Him, do not keep on sinning. God is love; therefore, we love. God gave us Jesus Christ; thus, we believe in Him because we are born of Him.
John's forthrightness in telling us the truth does not allow us to speak of ourselves falsely. If you follow the apostle John, you cannot say you are one thing and act like another. If you say you are of God, your life and witness will tell the truth of who your Father is.
When you reach chapter 4 of John's first epistle, you understand better why he says, "Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world."
We can only imagine how many mockers and false imitators were in John's day, but if I know the spirit of antichrist, it was a lot. We, too, must be on watch to give honor to our Father and be what He has birthed us to be. By following John's teachings we will also try every spirit and not be deceived by the false prophets who lead us astray.
What to do
Test the spirit by looking at its manifestation. Those who are led by the Spirit are the sons of God and will act like a son of God.
Scriptural references
1 John 1:5-7; 1 John 2:29; 1 John 3:6-10; 1 John 4:1, 7-11; 1 John 5:1-5; 1 John 5:18
Comments