Comparison Analysis of Children of God, Children of Love, and Children of Light

 

Comparison Analysis of Children of God, Children of Love, and Children of Light

1 John 3:1 "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are"

John 1:12-13 "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God"

Ephesians 5:1 "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children"

1 John 4:7 "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God"

Ephesians 5:8 "For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light"

1 Thessalonians 5:5 "For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness" 

Aspect	Children of God	Children of Love	Children of Light
Meaning	Born of God, possessing God's life and nature, true offspring of God	Living in God's love and manifesting God's love	Illuminated by God's light and able to reflect God's light
Distinction	Emphasizes identity and the essence of life, the basic identity of Christians	Emphasizes living and practicing in love, displaying characteristics similar to God	Emphasizes moral behavior and testimony, displaying a life separate from darkness
Examples	Born-again believers Those who accept Jesus as Savior Those indwelt by the Holy Spirit	Believers who love one another Believers willing to forgive others Believers who sacrifice for others with God's love	Believers who practice truth and reject darkness Those who expose and reject dark deeds Those who shine as lights in the world
Application	Recognizing one's identity Enjoying intimate relationship with God Living out the dignity of God's children Entering into the inheritance of God's children	Imitating God's love Walking in love Practicing sacrificial love Demonstrating God's love to the world	Discerning good and evil Maintaining holy living Rejecting works of darkness Being light in the world
Interrelationship	Foundational Identity - Being children of God is the most basic identity upon which the other two identities are built	Life Practice - Being children of love is the expression and practice of God's children in the dimension of love	Life Testimony - Being children of light is the expression of God's children in behavior and testimony
Detailed Related Scriptures	Romans 8:14-17 "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God...fellow heirs with Christ" Galatians 4:6-7 "And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!' So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God" 1 John 3:2 "Beloved, we are God's children now, and 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"	John 13:34-35 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" Ephesians 5:2 "And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God" Colossians 3:12-14 "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience...And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony"	Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world...let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven" 1 John 1:5-7 "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all...But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin" Philippians 2:15 "That you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world"

 

Conclusion:

From biblical teachings, we can see that "Children of God," "Children of Love," and "Children of Light" describe different aspects of believers' spiritual reality. These three identities are actually coherent and complementary:

• "Children of God" is our basic identity, indicating that we are born of God and have God's life and nature
• "Children of Love" is the practice and expression of God's children in the dimension of love
• "Children of Light" is the expression of God's children in behavior and testimony

When we understand and live out these three identities, we can more fully manifest God's attributes and image. Because God is both love and light, we as His children are called to walk in love and reflect His light.

 

*Please refer to the July 2024 Anaheim, California, USA training Experiencing, Enjoying and Manifesting Christ (II) Week 23 God’s Children Walk in Love and Light