Children of God by faith
The first of these, and the foundation of all the rest, is faith. So Saint Paul: "You are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:26). So Saint John: "To them he gave power" (the word means right, or privilege, and might rather be translated that way) "to become the sons of God, even to those who believe on his name" (John 1:12). They were born when they believed, "not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh," (John 1:13) not by natural generation, "nor of the will of man," like those children adopted by men, in whom no inward change is thereby wrought, "but of God."
And again, in his general letter: "Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God" (1 John 5:1).
1771 text
I. 1. The first of these (and the foundation of all the rest) is faith. So St. Paul, Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. So St. John, To them gave he power (ἐξουσίαν· right or privilege, it might rather be translated) to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, when they believed, (not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, not by natural generation, nor of the will of man, like those children adopted by men, in whom no inward change is thereby wrought,) but of God. And again in his general epistle Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God.