𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐨𝐝: 𝐀 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲, 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

We’ve all heard the familiar call: “Pray this prayer and ask Jesus into your heart.” It’s part of what many call the Roman Road to Salvation—a set of verses from Paul’s letter to the Romans that emphasize sin, grace, and faith in Yeshua. The message is often simple: acknowledge your sin, believe in Yeshua, confess with your mouth, and—just like that—you’re saved.

𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐭?

Many people have prayed this prayer in a moment of conviction, yet found themselves years later wondering, What now? They expected transformation, but instead, they wrestled with the same struggles. The problem isn’t that the Roman Road is wrong. It’s that it tells only part of the story.

If we want to understand what it means to truly become a child of G-d, we need to go back to the words of Yeshua Himself. He didn’t hand out a prayer formula. Instead, He laid out a path—a journey that begins with spiritual emptiness and ends in divine sonship. That journey is found in the Beatitudes.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐬: 𝐀 𝐌𝐢𝐱𝐞𝐝 𝐌𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧

When Yeshua stood on the mountain teaching the Beatitudes (Matt. 5:3–10), His audience was likely a mix of Jews and Gentiles. In this, the moment echoed another mountain scene—when Moses delivered the Ten Words (Commandments) to Israel at Sinai. That gathering wasn’t just Israelites; it included a mixed multitude (Exod. 12:38)—Egyptians, other foreigners, and those who had joined themselves to Israel.

Yeshua, like Moses before Him, was giving instructions on how to live as G-d’s people. But rather than starting with laws, He began with a heart transformation. This was the roadmap to becoming a true child of G-d.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩

𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟏: 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐆-𝐝

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven." (Matt. 5:3)

The first step isn’t strength—it’s emptiness. Becoming a child of G-d starts with recognizing our spiritual poverty. We have nothing to offer, no righteousness of our own. It is only when we admit our need that we can receive the Kingdom.

𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟐: 𝐌𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." (Matt. 5:4)

Once we see our need, we mourn—not just for our personal failures, but for the brokenness of the world. This is not self-pity; it’s an ache for restoration. And the comfort we receive? It’s G-d Himself drawing near to heal and redeem.

𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟑: 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐆-𝐝’𝐬 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." (Matt. 5:5)

In a world that tells us to seize power, Yeshua calls us to surrender. Meekness isn’t weakness—it’s controlled strength. It’s knowing that G-d fights our battles, so we don’t have to grasp for control.

𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟒: 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐇𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." (Matt. 5:6)

Spiritual hunger is a sign of life. When we begin to crave righteousness—not just for ourselves, but for the world around us—G-d meets that hunger. He fills us, teaching us His ways through His Torah and His Spirit.

𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟓: 𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐲

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy." (Matt. 5:7)

Having received G-d’s kindness, we now extend it to others. This is a sign of true transformation. If we have been forgiven, how can we withhold forgiveness? If we have received kindness, how can we be cold-hearted?

𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟔: 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see G-d." (Matt. 5:8)

To be pure in heart is to be undivided in devotion. When we remove distractions, idols, and selfish motives, we begin to perceive G-d’s presence more clearly. We don’t just believe—we see.

𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟕: 𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of G-d." (Matt. 5:9)

Now comes the moment of sonship. The child of G-d isn’t just one who receives peace; he brings it. He becomes an agent of reconciliation, healing divisions, and restoring relationships. Why? Because that is the very nature of the Father. When we take on this role, we bear His likeness.

𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟖: 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven." (Matt. 5:10)

The journey circles back to where it began—the Kingdom of Heaven. The world resists righteousness, but the child of G-d stands firm. Persecution doesn’t prove we’re wrong; it proves we’re following in the footsteps of Yeshua.

𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆-𝐝, 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐡

So how do we know if we are truly becoming children of G-d? The answer is simple: we love Him and keep His commandments (John 14:15). Not out of obligation, but out of transformation.

The Torah was given to train us in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16). It teaches us how to love G-d and love our neighbor. When we study, when we obey, when we grow—we are not earning our place in the family. We are simply walking in the path of the Son.

Paul said, "Study to show yourself approved unto G-d, a workman who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Tim. 2:15) Becoming a child of G-d isn’t a one-time decision; it’s a lifelong pursuit. It’s studying, growing, surrendering, and transforming.

Yeshua didn’t give the Beatitudes as a set of random blessings. He gave them as a roadmap. A roadmap that starts with brokenness and ends in sonship.

So if you’re asking, “How do I become a child of G-d?”—the answer isn’t found in a single prayer. It’s found in a transformed life. One step at a time. One act of faith at a time. Until the world looks at you and sees the likeness of the Father Himself.

Because that’s what it truly means to be a son or daughter of the King.