How do we know we are the children of God? How can we be sure that we belong to God? By the way, not all human beings are children of God. Yes, God created all human beings, but not every one of them is a child of God. How? Just because a carpenter made a chair doesn’t mean that that chair is the carpenter’s child. It has no life in it. So are people. Just because God made them doesn’t mean that they are children of God. They have no life in them unless God gave them life through faith in Jesus Christ.

So, what is the evidence that we are God’s children? That, we are one with other believers. It is impossible that we belong to God but don’t belong to His body, the church.

Jesus prayed, “Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.” John 17:11

What is the evidence that God has kept us in His name (which is another way of saying that we belong to Him)? That, we are one with one another.

It will not do to think, “I love God. I read His word daily. I just don’t belong to any church.” The Bible says that you lie to yourself when you think that. “If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.” (1 John 4:20)

“But I don’t hate them. I just don’t care for them!” you say. When the Bible says “hate,” it means that you don’t care for them. That, you don’t associate with them… 

What do you do when you just don’t love God’s church? You can’t make yourself love something. Repent. Ask God. And lead your heart and DO what is right by belonging to a church. Don’t wait until you feel like belonging. That is in God’s will. Therefore, He will give you the love for His body, the church. 

PH