Are You A Child of God?

It's been quite a while since I stepped into the vestibule of my home church, Shiloh Baptist in York, PA, took the stairs to the balcony and sat where I knew I'd be able to see the Pastor clearly. But in all of the years I've been away there is one memory that keeps coming back to me. Not every single Sunday but on occasion there was a song the choir sang as they made their way into the sanctuary. I don't remember all of the lyrics. In fact, the only words I do remember are the ones that are the most important - "To be God's children you must be born again!"
So many times I have heard people say that we're all God's children, referring to each and every human being, and every time I hear it I am so saddened that these people really believe they're speaking the truth. What's more disappointing is that there are Christians who seem to believe we are all God's children and not too long ago I was reading "Christian fiction" and a Christian character said those very words. This statement is not the truth.

Holy Bible (New Living Translation)
John 1:6-13 God sent John the Baptist to tell everyone about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. John himself was not the light; he was only a witness to the light. The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was going to come into the world. But although the world was made through Him, the world didn't recognize Him when He came. Even in His own land and among His own people, He was not accepted. But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn! This is not a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan- this rebirth comes from God.
John 11:52 It was a prediction that Jesus' death would be not for Israel only, but for the gathering together of all the children of God scattered around the world.
1 John 3:1 See how very much our heavenly Father loves us, for He allows us to be called His children, and we really are! But the people who belong to this world don't know God, so they don't understand that we are His children.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.
Romans 10:9 For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.
Romans 3:22 We are made right in God's sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done.
Romans 8:16 For his Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us that we are God's children.

Every human being was created by God (Colossians 1:16) and He loves all of us (John 3:16) but the only way to be a child of God, to be adopted into His eternal family (Romans 8:15), to have the Spirit of God (also known as the third person of the Trinity or the Holy Spirit) live in you - God does not live in everybody, so please don't believe that lie - is to believe in His Son, Jesus Christ, and accept Him as your personal Lord and Savior. This is what's called being saved or being reborn or born again; it's a spiritual rebirth. So, are you a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ, a true believer? Are you a child of God? If so, praise the Lord! If not, please take to heart all that you have read and consider surrendering your life to Jesus, who died on the cross for your sins and mine.