They are not; for of some the Lord Jesus said: "Ye are of your father the devil." John 8:44. And of all mankind the Word of God declares: "By nature the children of wrath." Eph. 2:3. It is only by means of a new and heavenly birth that those who are by nature "children of wrath" become "children of God."
1 John 3:1, R. V.
Baptism is not the new birth, for thousands upon thousands who have been baptized have not been "born of God." Their ways and their works most plainly speak for them. No ordinance, or outward rite administered by man can bring one into God's family. "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
New birth is the work of the Spirit of God. John 3:5. According to John 12:14 when one truly believes the gospel and truly receives Christ personally as Savior and confesses Him as Lord, that one is born again. This is the real beginning of Christian life.
There may be religion apart from the new birth; but it is only outward form without inward power. There may be morality and a high ideal of what a Christian ought to be; but until spiritual life is begotten in one, he is "dead in sins." Eph. 2:1. His works are "dead works." Heb. 9:14. His righteousnesses are as "filthy rags" before God.
The way in which this new birth is effected God has left in no obscurity. It is so plain that none need miss it. Let God Himself tell us how: “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God." 1 John 5:1.
“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life." John 6:47.
“Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." Gal. 3:26.
When a sinner, having learned his ruined condition before God, hears the good news of a Savior provided, a Redeemer sent, a sacrifice offered, a satisfaction accepted by God on account of sin, and that there is nothing further demanded, nothing else to be waited for since God is satisfied and Christ raised and glorified as sign and seal of His finished and accepted work on our behalf, and commits himself simply and solely to Christ, relying on what He has done, that is believing—that is faith. And to that believing soul comes LIFE, spiritual life, eternal life.
Does the reader know, is he sure that he is born of God, and is, therefore, one of His children?
“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God." Rom. 8:15, 16.