Becoming a child of God can happen in only one way: We must receive a new heart.
Jesus said that we must be born again in order to enter the Kingdom of God. He said very specifically, "You must be born of water and the Spirit." (John 3:3-6)
Ezekiel prophesied this occurrence in the Old Testament. As a prophet of God, he declared God's promise: "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit with in you. I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them."(Ezekiel 36:26-27)
The prophets Jeremiah and Isaiah made it clear why a heart transplant has to take place. "A man's heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked." (Jeremiah 17:9) "Our righteousness is as filthy rags."(Isaiah 64:6)
The Apostle Paul states clearly, "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. Old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new." (II Corinthians 5:17) Paul explains further that none of our attempts to earn heaven will ever cover up the sinful nature inherent within each of us. Nor can our good works even begin to compare to the holiness of God. (Romans 3:19-23)
Therefore, God offered a once-and-for-all solution: the death of Jesus on the cross as payment for our sins AND a complete DNA change: sin-riddled heart and dead spirit replaced with pure heart and spirit breathed alive by the indwelling presence of the Spirit of God inside us upon the moment of rebirth. (Ephesians 2:1-5)
Jesus promised to those who embrace Him, speaking of Himself and the Father, "We will come to them and make our home in them." (John 14:23) He declared irrevocably, "The Spirit of truth...dwells with you and will be in you." (John 14:17) The Apostle Paul declares the same truth after Jesus' resurrection, "Having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance." (Ephesians 1:13-14)
This heart transplant guarantees a new identity: Child of God (Romans 8:15-16). The Apostle John, who lived longer than any of the other disciples, rejoices in this amazing identity change: "How great the Father's love that He has lavished on us that we should be called children of God!" (I John 3:1)
Here then is Daddy's heart: That everyone who cries out for the mercy and covering of the Cross will receive a complete heart transplant! Jesus paid for it with His own life. The Holy Spirit performs the surgery and remains within us as the Absolute Guarantor that the surgery "took". He executes a complete coup on the enemy: delivering us out of the Kingdom of Darkness into the Kingdom of Light! (Colossians 1:13)
How amazing that the Father took full custody the moment, we said, "I want You in me!" He didn't just temporarily set up house to see if we mean it, which would put us back under the works of the law, because now it'd be dependent on our actions again instead of simply our cry for His mercy (Galatians 3:3). Rather, as soon as that cry for mercy bursts from the heart, He snaps His fingers and says, "Done! It is finished! The whole price was paid for every sin past, present, and future, and I'm never backing out of our deal. I'm taking that old sinful heart out right now--this instant--and giving you a brand new one. And I'm thrilled to live within you and begin the process of renewing your soul, so that your will, mind, and emotions will grow to reflect My new nature in you." (Romans 12:1-2).
I know there are some people who debate whether a person can lose this new identity, this new heart, and one's place in God's family. After all, there are many Scriptures that urge us to examine ourselves to make sure we are truly in the faith (II Corinthians 13:5). Paul spends several chapters in his epistle to the Romans explaining why we must not continue deliberately sinning, saying that it's not a big deal because we receive God's payment and forgiveness. His payment was His own life!!! (Romans 6) Not only was the payment extremely high and must be received with deepest humility and gratitude, but purposefully sinning brings us back under its power. Refusing to submit to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, who will always lead us into Godliness and holiness, opens us back up to the torment of the enemy within our souls (Matthew 18:33-34, I Timothy 1:20).
These verses give severe warning and appeal to our new spiritual DNA. Unbelievers must receive a revelation from the Holy Spirit to turn from self-righteous sufficiency to full dependence upon the redemptive work of Christ (II Corinthians 4:3-4). Scripture also warn us as believers not begin to think we need to earn continual infilling of the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul writes the entire letter to the Galatians to combat that heresy. We receive the Holy Spirit by pure grace, and He remains of His own great love for us--Praise God!!!
We humbly yield our lives to Him, and never is our efforts the cause of our salvation, godliness, giftings, or empowering. Obedience and salvation are both EFFECTS of the new identity we have as Children of God!!!
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