For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named. (Ephesians 3:14-15)

A lady was approached in a parking lot by two young men from a religious organization. They asked if she attended church anywhere and about her faith. She told them she was a Baptist and attended a Baptist church to which one replied, "Oh, that's okay, we are all of children of God." Knowing some of the teachings of the church they represented and that they did not believe in the godhead of the Lord Jesus Christ, nor in his blood saving power, at her spirit's leading, in a gentle voice she replied, No, that isn't true. We are all God's creation, but we are not all God's children. She is absolutely correct. While it is true God gave life to all mankind and loves each one, this does not automatically make us His child.

While our birth into our earthly family requires no effort of our own, it is different to be born into the royal household of God. As physical birth was required for our earthly life, birth too is required for our spiritual life and to have a home in heaven. This requires a spiritual birth. And while we did not have any choice about our physical birth or our parents and family, we do have a choice about our spiritual birth and becoming a part of God's family. God extends the invitation to everyone and anyone can become a member (For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved), but not all accept his loving offer. Many decline choosing instead to remain outside His family. So then, as we become a child of our earthly parents through our physical birth, we become a child of our heavenly Father through spiritual birth. In scripture this is known as being born again, and only born again believers in Jesus are God's children, and a part of the family of God. All others, by their own choice are excluded.

Jesus answered and said unto him; verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God: Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God: That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again. (John 3:3-7)

Hereby know ye the spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is the spirit of the antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. (I John 4:2-3)

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. (I Cor. 15:50)

For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (I Cor. 15:52)

So then, how does one become born again? How does one put on incorruption and immortality? How does one become a child of God? The answer? Through placing your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. And where does one get this faith?

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17)

Faith comes through hearing the gospel that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins, and you accepting and believing in your heart that Jesus did this. By faith in the birth, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and His atonement for your sins, you are spiritually born again into the family of God, exchanging corruption (your sins) for incorruption (sinless nature of Christ) and death for immortality. You see, before you placed your faith in Christ, you were lost and dead in your sins and separated from God. But upon your acceptance of Jesus' payment for your sin, Jesus reconciled you to God and made you acceptable to Him through His righteousness which now lives in you as His child.

Even so we, when we were children, (unsaved) we were in bondage under the elements of the world: (Satan and sin) But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, that we might receive adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the spirit of His son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. (Galatians 4:3-7)

And you he made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins. (Ephesians 2:1)

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever. (I Peter 1:23)

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise and glory of His grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to his grace. (Ephesians 1:4:7)

For ye are all children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Galatians 3:26:27)

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ: and have given to us the ministry of reconciliation: to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. (2 Cor. 5:17:19)

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

And so it is written, the first Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam (Jesus) was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthly: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthly, such are they also that are earthly: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. (I Cor. 15:45-49)

For it pleased the Father that in Him all fulness dwell; and having made peace through the blood of the cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself, by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight. (Colossians 1:19-22)

As you can see now it is by faith in Jesus that we become the born again children of God. Our faith in Him also makes us brothers and sisters to all who believe in Him. Joined together by our faith in Christ, we are the family of God.

So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. (Romans 12:5)
But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. (I Cornithians 6:17)
Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. (I Cornithians 12:27)
For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. (Ephesians 5:30)
That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding; to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ. (Colossians 2:2)

I'm afraid today that in the name of diversity and inclusion, and the devilish push for acceptance for all religious faiths, (works of the antichrist) multitudes are being misled by the enemy of God. Many are told that believing in God (or Allah) is enough to make them a child of God, and to go to heaven. Some are told there are many ways to God, while others are told that God is whoever or whatever they believe, or want Him to be. This simply isn't true. These are all lies of the devil. There is only one way to God, and to be a child of God, and that is through Jesus Christ. There is no other way.

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)

Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 10:32:33)

And blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in me. (Matthew 11:6)

Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. (I John 2:22-23)

For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. (2 John 1:7)

Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed. For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. (2 John 1:9-11)

Thanks be to God for revealing the truth to us through His word; whereby through faith, we are not children of darkness, but children of light, saved by His grace.

We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. (I John 4:6)

While we may love and feel proud of our earthly family, Oh how we should glory to be a child of God and included in His exclusive family! To be a child of the Most High, The King of Kings and Lord of Lords, The Price of Peace, The great I AM, The God of Earth and Heaven, The God of Israel, The God of Hosts, The Almighty, Oh, what an honor and a privilege! And what a comfort and joy to know that when our earthly life here is ended and we approach those pearly gates, we don't have to worry about those gates not opening for us! We don't have to worry about being shut outside and excluded! Oh No, we can rejoice, we can shout for joy each day, knowing that the gates of pearl that have hid the treasures eye hath not seen nor ears heard, will open for us, and there to greet us with open arms will be Jesus, the one who saved us by His amazing grace, saying, welcome home MY CHILD, welcome home! Halleuija! Halleuija! Praise God!

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept through the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (I Peter 1:3-5)

The author, Nancye Sims, may be contacted at  .