“(for if you live according to the flesh, you will die), but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God…….The Spirit himself bears witness to our spirit that we are God’s children. And if children, then heirs (namely, heirs of God and also fellow heirs with Christ) – if indeed we suffer with him so we may also be glorified with him…….because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” Romans 8:13-14, 16-17, 29 NET https://bible.com/bible/107/rom.8.13-29.NET

What does it mean to be children of God? This is the goal of our salvation, reconciliation with Father God through the Son of God by the Spirit of God, to form the eternal family of God of whom all those who have ever loved God will participate. What does it mean to be a child of God? It means to live holy lives, to suffer for obedience, and to live as Jesus lived while He lived among us as one of us on this earth. The child of God no longer gratifies the sinful desires of the flesh but pursues the will of God by doing the work of God as found in the word of God. Sin no longer reigns in the children of God. Identifying with Jesus, sharing Him with others, and calling people to repentance and faith in the One and only True God, Jesus the Savior, will incur some hostility as it did for Jesus. Nevertheless, we are not ashamed of Him as He was unashamed to be the Son of God, so we, too, must be unashamed to identify ourselves as children of God regardless of the response of men. Suffering identifies us with Jesus when we suffer as He did for speaking God’s words and doing God’s will. This is why our Father has left us on this earth. He has not left us as orphans but given us His Holy Spirit to empower us to live godly lives and boldly testify to His love for all in Jesus the Savior. When we live godly lives as Jesus did, lifting the Name of Jesus before men as Savior, we know we are God’s children and can expect a warm welcome on that day we stand before our Father’s house to enter the room He has prepared for us.