Paternity tests are done for a variety of reasons, most commonly to prove who a biological father is in child custody or child support battles. These tests also help determine rightful heirs to a will. Additionally, adopted children sometimes are desperate to know who their biological father is. Technology today can help narrow down the search through DNA databases. Unfortunately, few people ask the question, “Is God my father?” Yet this is one of the most important questions that we should know the answer to.
While a Biblical paternity test is not done through blood or a cheek swab, it is nonetheless accurate. Furthermore, it helps us know if we have been adopted by God, and determines if we are heirs to all that is His.
God as a father verses
The Bible talks about God being a father. Here are a few of them.
“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God … ” 1 John 3:1 ESV
” … you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” Romans 8:15
“And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:18
“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12
“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” Romans 8:14
God wants us to think of Him as our caring, loving father. We can cry out to Him as a child would, saying ” Abba Father”. This is a term of endearment in the Greek language, like saying “papa”.
Unfortunately, this beautiful mental picture has been marred by human fathers who were abusive, absent, or preoccupied with other things. But don’t let that scare you off. Knowing God as a loving father is possible even for those whose relationship was a disaster with their human father.
Is God my Father?
You may wonder why anyone would ask the question “is God is my father?” Here is something Jesus said that should make us all want to be sure of the answer.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21
Many people consider themselves “good people”, giving to charities, going to church, helping the poor. Likewise, the people Jesus was speaking to in Matthew 7:21 considered themselves “good”. As a result, we can do all kinds of things FOR God, and not really KNOW God, or be His child.
This verse was not included in the Bible so we would always be guessing about our relationship with God. He wants us to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that we belong to Him.
“But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” John 20:31
Our eternal destiny is wrapped up in a Biblical paternity test. We need to know that we are children of God. He wants us to know. Furthermore, we will have peace of mind when we settle this question once and for all.
God the father quotes
“Children never look exactly like their parents, but resemblances are always found.” Dr. David Jeremiah
When my mother was alive, she used to talk with her hands moving. I never realized until she was gone that I do many of the same hand motions. Additionally, I use some of the same verbal expressions that she used. My lips and smile are like my dad’s.
Likewise, when we are part of the family of God, we start acting like Jesus. As a result, our lives gradually display more love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These character qualities are called the “fruit of the spirit” because they come from the Spirit of God living in us.
“No man can prove that he is a child of God without showing the family likeness.” John Blanchard, author, and evangelist (1932 – 2021)
I took a DNA test and God is my father
From Medline Plus, “DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the hereditary material in humans and almost all other organisms. Nearly every cell in a person’s body has the same DNA.” This is NOT the kind of DNA test we are talking about.
For our purposes, DNA stands for “Do Not Assume” you are a child of God.
The Biblical Paternity Test
So are you ready to take the test? Great. Let’s get started.
Test Question One
Do I love Jesus?
- Do I want to spend time with Him?
- Does He hold the most important place in my life?
- When others mock His name, does it hurt me?
“Jesus said to them, ‘If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here.’ ” John 8:42
Test Question Two
Do I want to learn more about God and what He wants?
- Do I want to read the Bible?
- Is it my desire to listen to Biblical teaching about God? (Church, Bible study groups, Radio, etc.)
“Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.” John 8:47
Test Question Three
Do I want to do what God wants me to do?
- Is part of my prayers asking God to help me do what he wants?
- Do I feel bad when I don’t do what He wants and ask for forgiveness?
- When God shows me that what I am doing is wrong, do I want to change it, or do I willfully and deliberately refuse to change and keep on doing the same things?
This is talking about when God is not our father. “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. … there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:42
This is talking about when God is our father. “If you love me you will keep my commandments.” John 15:14
Test Question Four
Do I believe the Bible is God’s truth for us?
- Is knowing the truth important to me?
“But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.” John 8:45.
“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32
Test Question Five
Have I believed that Jesus is God and put my trust in Him to forgive my sins?
“ But to all who did receive him (Jesus), who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12 (explanation added)
“If we confess our sins He is faithful to forgive our sins.” 1John 1:9
Evaluation of the Biblical paternitiy test
So how did you do?
If you are having a hard time answering yes to the first 4 questions, it is probably because you have not done what question 5 talks about. That is where we need to start.
We can’t love Jesus or do any of the other parts if we have not accepted Him into our lives. Jesus said,
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
It is through Jesus that we can become children of God and we can know that God is our father.
If you don’t know Jesus, you probably have questions. The people at Chat About Jesus have answers. You can text, call, or chat with them online any time of the day or night.
Final thoughts
Is God my Father? This is one of the most important questions we can ever answer.
Do not assume (DNA).
Do not assume that you are a child of God. When Jesus walked this earth many people were wrong in their assumptions. Jesus gave them the Biblical paternity test and He wants you to take it too. Why? Because Jesus wants us to be part of the family of God.
So is God your father? He wants to be. The choice is yours. I pray you will respond to God’s invitation to be His child. It is the best choice you could ever make.