The Family of God

Introduction:

A.                In the beginning – the family of man

*   “It is not good for man to be alone”

*   What God has joined together

*   Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. 

B.                The Spiritual Family of God - Ephesians 5:21-33

*   Must compare it to the family of man to understand value

*   The Family of God:  church, the kingdom, the body, the bride; instituted, established, and purchased with His blood.

*   The first, and only, institution ordained by God for his spiritual kingdom.  Matthew 16:18, “upon this rock”

I. The Purpose of the Family

A.    Relationship

*   We are by nature, by design, by creation, by the will of God, by any measure you can think of, social creatures. 

*   Acts 2 The infant church met together daily for fellowship, study, worship, and encouragement. 

*   Spiritual weakness comes from failure to assemble.

*   Families allow every kind of distraction, to relationships.

(Community)

*   This sometimes tends to be blood families.  Abraham to Jesus

*   Futurists predict a trend toward cocooning.  Internet

*   This is contrary to the most basic human need for community

*   The word “church” is “ekklesia”





(Acceptance)

*   Luke 15 the prodigal son. 

B.    Protection

*   Just as the clan provided protection so also does God’s Family

*   Hebrews 10:25 Assemble together. 

C.    Procreation

*   The family is the vehicle for populating the earth. 

*   The Spiritual Family is the vehicle for growing spiritual children.  Matthew 28:18:19

 

II. Family Membership

A.    Physical birth gets us into our earthly family.  No choice.

*   Our Spiritual Family is fully a matter of our choice.

 

B.    By birth AND adoption.  Duel citizenship.

 

*   John 3, Nicodemus born again

 

*   Romans 8:15, we are adopted children.

 

*   Greek law in the time of the Apostle Paul: Natural born children could be disowned, but an adopted child could not.

 

*   Deuteronomy 21:18-21 Stubborn, rebellious son stoned.

 

*   “Abba Father”? 

III. But the Family is not perfect

*   We didn’t grow up with perfect families.  The Family of God is not perfect either.

*   Friend thinking about giving up on the church.  He went to Calvary and died for it.



IV. Benefits of being in the Family of God  (Ephesians 1:3 – 5)

*   Relationship (common purpose with men and God)

*   Community  (fellowship)

*   Encouragement  (exhortation)

*   Acceptance (encouragement)

*   Protection   (security)

*   Procreation (need to reproduce)

*   Inheritance (joint heirs with Christ)

*   Hope

V. How do we become part of the Family of God?

 

Faith            John 3:16 “God so loved the world that He gave”

John 8:24 “except you believe you will die in your sins.”

                   Hebrews 11:6 “it is impossible to please God without faith.”

Repentance Luke 13:1-5 “except you repent you will also perish”

                   II Peter 3:9 “God not slow about His promises, but patient – repent”  

Confession   Matthew 10:32-33 “confess me before men and I will confess you”

                   Romans 10:9-10 “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord”

Baptism       Matthew 28:18 – 19 “go teach and baptize”

                   Acts 2:38 “repent and be baptized everyone of you”

                   Romans 6:3-4 “when you became Christians – baptized – buried

Galatians 3:26-27 “we have been united with Christ in baptism – no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female. All are one in Christ”

Conclusion:

When you stand before God and He asks, “Why were you not a part of My Family?  I wanted you to be so badly that I came to earth and paid the adoption fee with blood.”  What will your answer be?