Being a part of God’s family goes beyond the difficulties we face in our earthly family situations. As the chosen ones of God, we receive the peace, rights, blessings, and benefits that are part of being His cherished children. The paramount aim for God is to bring our sinful selves into harmony with Him, enabling us to find redemption and secure eternal life.
God always intended to provide a means for us to return to him. When we turn to Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we become part of the family of God and are called “Children of God.
Contents
What Is The Family Of God According To The Bible?
The Nation Of Israel
For you are a people holy to the Lord, your God. The Lord, your God, has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.
— Deuteronomy 7:6
God called Abraham to follow him and establish a nation that would populate the whole earth with his chosen people. He appointed the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob for a holy and special mission and purpose. The nation of Israel was established to serve as a model nation, as part of the family of God for the rest of humanity, and to fulfill God’s promise on Earth.
God established his covenant with the Israelites and handed them his laws and ordinances to guide them in a righteous way of life with God as their master and creator. God also bestowed on them their rightful blessings as the chosen people and a part of the family of God. Most importantly, it is from their seed that the Messiah, Jesus Christ, will emerge to redeem all of humanity.
The Adopted Children Of God
He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.
— Ephesians 1:5
The Fall of Mankind was brought about by the sins and disobedience of our first parents, Adam and Eve. This led to the forfeiture of our perfection and immortality. We turned into the lost sheep of God, and we now experience sin, pain, suffering, and death.
But God is love, and he redeems sinners through faith, prayer, and repentance. Because of his abounding grace and benevolence, he sent his one and only begotten Son to save humanity and bring us back to be part of the family of God. The incarnation and death of our Messiah, Jesus Christ, brought about the redemption of mankind and the glorious opportunity to gain eternal life.
God chose Israel to be his special people[1]. But Jesus arrived on Earth to save Jews and Gentiles. Through the atoning work of Jesus Christ, we have been adopted into the family of God.
What Does It Mean To Be Part Of The Family Of God?
Right To Be Called Children Of God
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
— John 1:12
God created every human being. But when Adam and Eve sinned, we lost our birthright as part of the family of God. We have also forfeited the blessings, peace, and pious relationship that God wanted to have with us. But through the incarnation, sacrifice, and death of Christ on the cross, we gained the privilege of redemption by God.
All believers who accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior gain the right to be family members in God’s family. Because of our faith in Jesus Christ, we are accepted for who we are and forgiven of our sins. We also gain the blessings and benefits of being God’s children. Most importantly, we are anointed with the power of the Holy Spirit to guide us in our lives and make us more spiritually close to our good Father.
Belonging To A Wonderful Family
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male or female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
— Galatians 3:28
As human beings, we all want to belong to a loving and caring family. Essentially, we do not want to live alone. God established his kingdom and family in the world above our earthly families. Every Christian on Earth is part of the wonderful family of God.
As Christians, we know that we are eternally loved by our Almighty God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. God’s children born in California, London, China, or other parts of the world are part of the people of the Heavenly Father. God loves his family; he does not discriminate against age, gender, race, or culture. Moreover, all members of this royal family are equal.
What Is The Purpose Of God’s Family?
- We Experience God’s Love. Being part of God’s family means knowing and experiencing the love of God. God’s children born in love can also call him “Daddy,” which is equivalent to the Aramaic word “Abba.”
- We Are Recipients Of His Blessings. As members of God’s family, we receive and enjoy provisions from God. This means having our needs met because we learned how to ask him in prayer for our daily wants.
- We Participate In The Great Commission. When we become Christians, we are automatically charged with the duty to propagate the gospel. Matthew 28:18 reads: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
- We Are Here For A Reason. God created us. When we were still sinners, our aims in life were all anchored on the love of the self and of the world. But having a righteous purpose in this life carries eternal significance.
How Is The Family Of God Supposed To Act?
Liberation From The Shackles Of Sin
The Spirit you received does not make you slaves so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And to him, we cry, “Abba Father.”
— Romans 8:15
When we become adopted children of God, we are delivered from the yoke and slavery of Satan by the atoning sacrifice of our Savior. Because of our fallen nature, we sometimes fall into sin, but these sins do not remain in us. We have learned to pray and immediately seek forgiveness from the Lord the moment we detect any iniquity that we have committed.
Ambassadors Of Christ
We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: be reconciled to God.
— 2 Corinthians 5:20
As Christians, we are called envoys of Jesus Christ. An ambassador is a personal representative appointed by the head of state. As ambassadors of Christ, we are called and sent to earth on a special mission to represent his holiness and goodness on earth. As members of the family of God, we are tasked with fulfilling the very important mission of propagating the gospel through the Great Commission.
Is The Church The Same As The Family Of God?
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.
— Ephesians 2:19–20
Jesus Christ established the church. According to the Bible, all those who worship and gather together in the name of the Lord are members of the family of God. The Christian biological family is distinct from the church family. But, by faith, all Christians are called “Children of God.” Hence, they belong to the family of God.
Conclusion
We may experience brokenness and pain in our earthly lives with our families. Sometimes, we face deeper challenges when we undergo trials with our broken families. But we rest in faith and the assurance that, with God as our Father, we are transformed into children of God. When our identity rests in Christ, we enjoy life with joy and righteousness because we are granted holy citizenship on earth and in heaven.
As Christians, we transcend the tribulations of our earthly existence. We all belong to our biological families. But as His appointed ones, we belong to the family of God and eagerly await the return of our Messiah, Jesus Christ, to usher in the Kingdom of God.