Are We Really God’s Children? Understanding the Bible’s View of Adam and Humanity

In Luke 3:38, Adam is called “the son of God.” This title isn’t about divine status, it emphasizes that Adam was directly created by God, without human parents, highlighting a unique origin and relationship. In Luke’s genealogy of Jesus, every person is listed as the child of their parent, tracing the line all the way back to Adam, who is listed as God’s own. So, the Bible itself acknowledges that God isn’t just Adam’s Creator, He’s also his Father in a meaningful way.

But does that extend beyond Adam? Is all humanity considered God's children? The answer is supported throughout Scripture.

In Acts 17:28–29, Paul tells a crowd in Athens, “For in Him we live and move and have our being… For we are also His offspring.” Paul wasn’t speaking only to believers; he was addressing all people, highlighting that every human being is dependent on God for existence. This language of "offspring" implies more than mere creation; it suggests a familial connection.

Hebrews 12:9 calls God “the Father of spirits,” which shows His role as the source of our spiritual nature as well as our physical lives. This implies a deeper, personal involvement with each human life, beyond simply being a cosmic architect.

Malachi 2:10 asks, “Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us?” Here, fatherhood and creation are presented together. God isn’t portrayed as a distant engineer but as a relational Father who formed us for connection.

Genesis 1:26–27 tells us we are made in God’s image, which is a trait not shared with animals or any other part of creation. This “family resemblance” marks humanity as distinct and special, not only biologically but spiritually and relationally.

Deuteronomy 32:6 reinforces this theme: “Is He not your Father, who bought you? Has He not made you and established you?” God is not only a Creator but also a sustainer and redeemer, which are roles that reflect ongoing care, like that of a loving parent.

Isaiah 64:8 blends imagery: “But now, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter…” Even as God molds us, He does so not as a cold craftsman, but as a Father shaping His children with purpose and care.

These verses and others show that being God's children isn't just metaphorical. When we say Adam, and by extension, all people are God’s children, we are affirming a truth supported by both the language and logic of the Bible.

This relationship, however, was damaged by sin. Jesus, sometimes called the “Second Adam,” steps in to restore what was lost. Adam reflects our original connection with God, while Jesus opens the way to restore it. Through Him, anyone can be brought back into that family relationship.

And this restoration is emphasized throughout the New Testament, where believers are repeatedly described not just as creations, but as sons, daughters, and heirs, which are terms that reflect a deeper covenantal bond.

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.”Belief in Jesus grants a new, relational status: not just created by God, but adopted as His children.

Romans 8:14-17 – “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God... The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ...”Christians are not only adopted but made heirs, sharing in Christ’s inheritance.

Galatians 3:26-29 – “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus... there is neither Jew nor Greek... for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”Faith in Jesus unites all believers into a spiritual family, without distinction.

Galatians 4:4-7 – “God sent forth His Son... to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons... you are no longer a slave but a son...”Redemption leads to adoption, which changes both status and inheritance.

Ephesians 1:5 – “He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will.”God’s plan from the beginning was not just to create, but to adopt, that is to bring people into His family.

Ephesians 2:19 – “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.”

This is family language. God’s people form a household, His own.

1 John 3:1-2 – “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are...”Being a child of God is a present reality for believers, not just a hope for the future.

Hebrews 2:11-12 – “He is not ashamed to call them brothers...”Jesus Himself calls believers His brothers, which places them in the same family under God.

2 Corinthians 6:18 – “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me, says the Lord Almighty.”God’s promise is inclusive because both men and women are welcomed into this restored family.

So, what does it mean to be a child of God? It means being created in His image, sustained by His care, and invited into a relationship made whole through Jesus. This isn’t just poetic or theological, it’s a truth grounded in Scripture and affirmed through careful study and logical inference.