"He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 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." (John 1:10-13)

Notice that those who receive Jesus have a right to become children of God. In the state of Tennessee, as in most states, when a person turns sixteen, the state grants them the right to become licensed automobile drivers. Just because they are sixteen does not automatically confer the privilege of driving upon them. There are certain conditions that must be met to take advantage of their right. They must pass the state's written exam. They must pass the state's driving exam. They must pay a certain fee to obtain their driver's license.

Just as a person who turns sixteen has the right to become a licensed driver, the person who receives Jesus, has a right to become a child of God. Just as the one who wishes to become a licensed driver must meet certain conditions, the one who receives the Lord must meet certain conditions to become a child of God.

Those conditions are: receiving Jesus (believing in Him; this condition is already met in John 1:12), repenting of one's sins (Acts 2:38), confessing the Lord (Rom. 10:9-10), and being baptized into Christ (Gal. 3:26-27).