How does one become a “son” of God?

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:12,13)

In another thread titled “Children of God and thier birth” this passage (along with the two preceding verses) was posted at the top of the OP. But it was not explained or exegeted. So I suggested to the poster that he should explain it. But I do not think he understood what I meant. Therefore I will take it phrase by phrase to show show how one becomes a “son” or child of God . (In the NT “son” is used for both men and women).

1. But as many as received him... even to them that believe on his name
Those two thoughts go together since in order to receive Christ as Lord and Savior one must first “believe on His name” and at the samee time repent. What does it mean to “receive Him”? Revelation 3:20 tells us what it means: Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

And what does it mean to “believe on His” name. It means to believe wholeheartedly that (a) Christ is God who became sinless Man to die for my sins, (b) the sufferings, the death, and the shed blood of Christ were a full payment for the penalty for my sins and the sins of the whole world, and (c) that Christ rose again for my justification (salvation) and has now been declared as both Lord and Christ by God.

2. to them gave he power
That word "power" can also be translated as authority. So what power and what authority does God give to the child of God? Primarily it is power to resist the world, the flesh and the devil. The Bible says to those who are children of God “sin shall not have dominion over you”. And the Bible also says “Resist the devil and he will flee from you”. The Bible also says that we are not to love the world, neither the things that are in the world, and we can do all of this through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

3. to become the sons of God
Becoming a son or child of God is supernatural and spiritual. And the one who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ immediately becomes a child of God through the New Birth. This will be discussed below.

4. Which were born
This is a direct reference to the New Birth. Christ said that in order to see and enter the Kingdom of God, one must be “born again” (John 3:3-7). This is not an option but an imperative. So how is one born again? Jesus gave us the answer in John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, Verily I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

So there are two key elements which generate the New Birth -- “water” and “the Spirit”. The water mentioned here is not ordinary water, but is used as a metaphor for the Gospel (which is the Word of God). The Spirit mentioned here is the Holy Spirit, and it is the Holy Spirit who regenerates a sinner and makes him or her a child of God. When the Gospel is preached it is meant to generate saving faith in Christ, and when a sinner truly believes the Gospel and repents, the gift of the Holy Spirit is given to that person. The Spirit in turn regenerates the sinner and makes that person a child of God, and a new creature or creation in Christ.

5. not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man,
This clause is telling us that there is nothing natural, fleshly, or under human control in the New Birth. It is totally supernatural.

6. but of God.
Which brings us to the truth that it is God the Holy Spirit who is the only one who can regenerate or give the sinner the New Birth. Thus we have "born of God", "born of the Spirit" and "born from above" all in the NT. Therefore it is internal and supernatural, but the effects of the New Birth will be external and seen in the life of the believer. There must be a total transformation of everything through the New Birth.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.


He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
‭‭John‬ ‭1:1-5, 10-13‬ ‭KJV‬

“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
‭‭John‬ ‭3:3, 5-6‬ ‭

“Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭3:21-22‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins,

and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭2:38‬ ‭

“but these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God;


and that believing ye might have life through his name.”
‭‭John‬ ‭20:31‬ ‭KJV‬‬

When a child is born they havent done a thing they are alwrwwdy a full fleshed legitimate son or daughter before they draw a breath on tbier own .

but this child grows up and later this child has responsabilities freedoms as they mature they have the power of freedom and choice . They have always been a son even before they could run the family business or work the family farm

there’s a time when absolutely nothing is required of an infant they don’t later however have to earn the right to be a son they are born a son from the moment they are born it’s who they are now . This doesn’t mean the ghild doesn’t have to learn as they are raised by thier father and it doesn’t mean they are held captive by him they can go away if they choose but , they are still sin because they were born a son

sons and daughters of God are like sons and daughters here you raise them protect them teach them love them . But in the end each person grows up and makes thoer own choices based on what you taught them and what they received and learned also on this world

some children never learn and they grow up to become criminals or wayward lost children who never return home but when a son dies of a drug overdose ,

the father who instructed him in the right ways and to never take drugs and who paid for his recovery and always offered every help known , the loving father isn’t at fault because his son used the freedom of humans to choose life or death to choose death and go against his wise words tbat lead to life ….

becoming a son of god is by faith when you hear and act upon the promise of remission of sins and receiving the spirit of Gods son in your heart being baptized on his name that you believe in there will no way to do the right works and then later become a son you have to be born of God his way to be his son

“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭3:26-29‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Thats how you “become “ your born

this stuff brother is for after your born , so we can mature and grow up from babes

“For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭5:12-14‬ ‭

at here are new born babes they are children as much as the eldest son alive today the older has done alot in his fathers work the new born hasn’t done a thing but be born and held and loved and spoken over and blessed d claimed and named and adored by the parent until later when he begins learning and growing up into a man but he’s born by way of faith hearing what he said about it believing and acting ……


“ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. “

The son of God jesus who we call lord , go we’re called to hear his word and live ,

called to get baptized into his name,

we claim to be saved by his mediation and intercession

we even some of us call him our lord and our God

the only way to be born of God is to hear what he said about being born of God in the gospel and accept and believe it’s simplicity , then as any person who’s being rn does later we begin to learn and grow our capacity to be good productive people

were former sinners who’ve been given a persons of grace and a deposit of Gods holt spirit in order to change our sinfulness into righteousness and faithfulness we do t have to become perfect before God will claim is as his children we have to believe him and then not pretend we aren’t going to be judged and held responsible we will be

god calls us his children who believe and he instructs is like a loving father equips is to live forever but we have to listen to him still and choose when we grow up it’s w lifelong process based on a promise the promise called the gospel

John 1:11 - 13

Isaiah 45:22 + Revelation 3:20

Titus 3

4 But when the kindness of EL our Savior and His love toward mankind appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to His mercy, He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 Whom He poured out on us richly through Yeshua the Messiah our Savior; 7 that being justified by His grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Titus 3:4-5

Beautiful. Thank you very much. Lovely expression with bubbles and stars. And the waterfall too. Almost missed that.

when we become believers in God, Jesus & the Holy Spirit as born again Christians, we are adopted into God's family. we are heirs with Christ.

Romans 8:15-16

Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.(2 Timothy 2:19).

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity(Matthew 7:21-23).

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God(Romans 8:14).

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.(Romans 8:9).

But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law(Galatians 5:18).

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts(Galatians 5:16-26).

Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it(1 Corinthians 10:12-13).

lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth(1 Timothy 3:4-7).

A son of God is a person led of the Spirit which a Spirit led life will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh for they have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts, and they show the ways of the Spirit and not the flesh, and God will not allow them to be tempted above what they are able, and will give them an escape from the temptation so they can bear it.

So there is no excuse but a Spirit led life will not sin.

A person is a son of God if they are led of the Spirit but if they have sin in their life they are not getting rid of then they are not a son of God for they are not led of the Spirit.

A Spirit led life is not under the law because they are not sinning therefore the law cannot touch them for prosecution.

Every time a Christian sins they forfeit repentance and must not want the sin anymore for it to be off their record.

Some people have a from of godliness but do not allow the Spirit to lead them because they want to enjoy sin, and then say they are right with God which is why the Bible says they are ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries(Hebrews 10:26-27).

If a person holds on to sin then the blood of Christ cannot wash it away for God will not take away a sin we hold on to.

There are millions of people claiming Christianity that hold on to sin especially in the loving money, and material things, which you can see openly their lifestyle, and then believe they are right by God but they are not led of the Spirit so then they are not a son of God.

Do not be deceived.

We might sin after we are saved but we have to get rid of the sin by not wanting it anymore, and move forward in the Spirit.

God knows the heart and knows if you are sincere in getting rid of the sin because some people repent of it but know they will do it again, but only repent of it when they sin but that is not repentance.

comforting, everlasting!

Not sure why we just have to tell others what God really said. I am reminded again why I love pictures so much. Some have so much LIFE in them.

Because there are many false teachers who MISREPRESENT what God has really said. Also many are not familiar with the Scriptures. And there may be other reasons.

'If we sin willfully, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins.'

The context is of ANIMAL sacrifice.

It's a verse to Hebrew believers who were going back to old ways and sacrificing animals to try and please God. So when they sinned, they would offer a sacrifice of a bull or goat.

That was done away with under the New Covenant with Jesus as the ultimate lamb. No more animal sacrifice required.

So if we sin willfully now...what do we do? Not try and offer up a sacrifice of a an animal to God..but pray to Jesus to restore close relationship.