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The church is God's household (1 Tim. 3:15). In other words,
we are members of God's family.
God said, "I will dwell in them and walk among them;
and I will be their God, and they shall be my
people. Therefore, come out from their midst and be
separate" . . . "And do not touch what is unclean; And I
will welcome you. And I will be a Father to you, and
you shall be sons and daughters to Me. . ." (2 Cor.
6:14-18).
As Christians, God is our Father, and we are His children.
We are members of His family.
Household of the Faith
Another phrase identifying God's family is "the household
of the faith."
- "So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good
to all people, and especially to those who are of the
household of the faith" (Gal. 6:10).
We are members of God's family because we are obedient
to the faith (Acts 6:7).
- Faith comes from hearing Christ's word (Rom. 10:17).
- We must obey the gospel of Christ to be saved (2 Th.
1:8; Heb. 5:9).
- When we obey the gospel, we are adopted by God and
added to the church (Gal. 3:26-4:7; Acts 2:47).
- The church is God's household --- family (1 Tim. 3:15).
When we obey God's word, in obedience to the faith, God
makes us members of His family, adopting us as His children.
Citizens of Heaven
As members of the household of God, our citizenship is in
heaven.
- "So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but
you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are
of God's household" (Eph. 2:19).
- "But God . . . made us alive together with Christ (by
grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him,
and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in
Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:4-6).
- "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which
also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ"
(Phil. 3:20).
Pillar and Support of the Truth
As God's household, we are the pillar and support of the
truth.
- "But in case I am delayed, I write so that you will
know how one ought to conduct himself in the household
of God, which is the church of the living God, the
pillar and support of the truth" (1 Tim. 3:15).
We are responsible for preaching the truth to the world,
and teaching it to every generation, as we earnestly contend
for the faith (Jude 1:3).
Everyone is Important
Just like an earthly family, each person in God's family
is important. "As a result, we are no longer to be children,
tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every
wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness
in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we
are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the
head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted
and held together by what every joint supplies, according
to the proper working of each individual part, causes the
growth of the body for the building up of itself in
love" (Eph. 4:14-16).
Everyone Has Work To Do
There is work everyone to do. Like we sing in the song,
Room In God's Kingdom, "There is work that we all can do."
Elderly members of God's family may not be able to do
the physical work they once did, but they are valuable teachers,
leading the way to God in the latter years of life.
Christians in the prime of life have many responsibilities
in the church. We don't all have the same talents and abilities,
but each one is equally important (1 Cor. 12:12-26; Eph.
4:16).
Young Christians and children are growing in the Lord.
There are many things they do in God's kingdom, while they
prepare themselves for leadership roles in the future.
As a Family. . . .
We have a special relationship as God's family, which can't
be experienced by people outside of Christ (2 Cor. 6:14-18).
The song, Bless Be The Tie, expresses this relationship:
Bless be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian
love; the fellowship of kindred minds is like to that
above.
Before our Father's throne we pour our ardent pray'rs;
our fears, our hopes, our aims are one, our comforts and
our cares.
We share our mutual woes, our mutual burdens bear; and
often for each other flows the sympathizing tear.
When we asunder part, it gives us inward pain; but we
shall still be joined in heart, and hope to meet again.
Conclusion
It's a wonderful privilege to be a member of God's family.
When it comes to judgment, we'll be judged first (1 Pet.
4:17), then in whatever capacity ordained by God, we'll
judge the world and the angels (1 Cor. 6:2-3).
Let's carefully examine ourselves to ensure we're walking
in a manner worthy of our calling, so we don't come short
of the grace of God (Eph. 4:1; Heb. 12:15). We are God's
family!
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