God's Forever Family

God’s Forever Family

Introduction

Erma Bombeck is one of my favorite authors. Her newspaper column called At Wit’s End was full of humor and wisdom. She wrote books like “If Life is a Bowl of Cherries, What am I doing in the Pits?” and “The Grass is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank”. In one of her books she described what a family is.

“The family. We are a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another's desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms. . . and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together.”

Her words are funny — and surprisingly true. Families are quirky, complicated, and connected. And the same is true for the family of God.

Today is Family Day for Forsythe Church … worship, class, cookout, baseball - and we have a great number of people planning to participate! One of the greatest gifts God gives us is ?the invitation to belong — not just to Him, but to a family — His family.

John Stott wrote, “The church lies at the very center of the eternal purpose of God. It is not a divine afterthought. It is not an accident of history. The church is God’s new community.”

?1. The New Testament Presents the Church as a Family

The Church is “God’s Household” (1 Timothy 3:15; 1 Peter 4: 17). This reflects a change of status - out of the world, and into God’s Family. 

Ephesians 2:19 "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household"

This reflects a transformation in how we relate to one another — not as strangers, but as siblings.

Galatians 6:10 "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

God is our Father!

-We are his children when we are born again. John 1:12-13 “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”

-We are his children through the Spirit. Romans 8:15 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 by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”

-We are his children, deeply loved and claimed! 1 John 3:1 “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.”

Jesus, as the Son of God, is our brother.

Hebrews 2:11 “Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.”

Matthew 12:49-50 “Pointing to his disciples, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.’”

This makes us brothers and sisters in the same spiritual family. 

2. The Danger of Division

Like all families, there are times of struggle. Every Church in the New Testament has its struggles and hardships. Much of the content in the epistles is to correct and encourage when there has been division, judgment, legalism. Aside from the Gospel, the most pressing message of the New Testament is how we ought to live with one another. The words "one another" appear together 58 times in the New Testament. It is crucial that we know how the body is to operate, treat each other, and  cooperate in the work of the kingdom.

As Paul wrote to that congregation in Rome, there were some who did not have that family feeling! Some of the Jews felt that to be in the family of God, one had to be a Jew! Some of the Gentiles were from such corrupt backgrounds, they didn't know what to do with God's blessing! Unkindness, non-acceptance, judgmentalism, and legalism abounded!“Paul knew that church families can fracture, and so he gives practical steps to preserve unity — especially when it’s hard.” Romans 12 has several terse statements that encourage unity and strength when there are  challenges to getting along. We will look at a few from verses 17-21:

-When there is trouble, Treat your brother well, even when He doesn't return the favor (17  Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.)

-If there is a peaceful route, take it. (18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.)