Children inevitably display the characteristics of their parents, and this principle explains humanity's spiritual condition. Pride originated in Satan, who exalted himself above his Creator and became king over all the children of pride. The term children is symbolic, indicating those who share their spiritual parent's traits rather than literal offspring. Before God's intervention, all were children of Satan, displaying his conspiratorial nature, self-exaltation, and enmity toward God, which Jesus confirmed when He told the Pharisees they were of their father the Devil. Through adoption, however, God becomes Father, and the Holy Spirit witnesses this changed parentage. Those led by God's Spirit increasingly manifest His nature through the fruit of the Spirit, revealing genuine children of God rather than mere rule-keepers. Also see sermons and articles about 'Children, Showing Parents' Characteristics'.
  • John 8:44
    You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
     
  • John 8:38-42
    I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father." They answered and said to Him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham. But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. You do the deeds of your father." Then they said to Him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God." Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me.
     
  • Romans 8:14-16
    For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
     
  • Ephesians 2:2-3
    in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
     
  • Job 41:34
    He beholds every high thing;
    He is king over all the children of pride.'
     
  • 1 John 3:2
    Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
     
  • Genesis 1:26
    Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
     
  • Amos 4:2
    The Lord GOD has sworn by His holiness:
    "Behold, the days shall come upon you
    When He will take you away with fishhooks,
    And your posterity with fishhooks.

     


Related Scriptures

  • Isaiah 1:2-3
    Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth!
    For the LORD has spoken:
    “ I have nourished and brought up children,
    And they have rebelled against Me;
    The ox knows its owner
    And the donkey its master’s crib;
    But Israel does not know,
    My people do not consider.”