Born of God

John 1:12-13 (NKJV)

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Being born again is a confusing idea for many people. John makes it clear here that we are not talking about a natural birth but a supernatural one. This verse speaks of receiving Jesus. To receive something means that something has been offered; in this case it is Jesus Himself who is offered. The receiving is the same thing as believing in His name. His name is His authority which gives you a right or a power to become a child of God. A child has special privileges: he can ask for things from his father, he can expect his father's provision and protection, most of all his love. Of course a child can also expect to be disciplined from time to time as part of his upbringing.

So even though we are not talking about a natural birth here, which seems to strain the comparison, everything else about being a child is a beautiful and wonderful picture of what it truly means to be a child of God.