LESSON 25
Formed For God’s Family
1.goal
We will learn that we were formed for God’s family.
2.Introduction
Hebrews 2:10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
1 John 3:1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
God wants a family, and He created you to be apart of it. This is God’s second purpose for your life, which He planned before you were born. The entire Bible is the story of God’s building a family who will love Him, honor Him, and reign with Him forever. It says, “Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.” (Ephesians 1:5)
Ephesians 1:5His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure. (NLT)
Because God is love, He treasures relationships. His very nature is relational, and He identifies Himself in family terms: Father, Son, and Spirit. The Trinity is God’s relationship to Himself. It’s the perfect pattern for relational harmony, and we should study its implications.
God has always existed in loving relationship to Himself, so He has never been lonely. He didn’t need a family – He desired one, so He devised a plan to create us, bring us into His family, and share with us all He has. This gives God great pleasure.
James 1:18In His goodness He chose to make us His own children by giving us His true word. And we, out of all creation, became His choice possession. (NLT)
3.QUESTION
How should family members relate to each other?
- CONTENT
God wants all men to be saved and join His family.
1 Timothy 2:4 (God) who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (NKJV)
The invitation to be part of God’s family is universal, but there is one condition: faith in Jesus. The Bible says, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:26) Your spiritual family is even more important than your physical family because it will last forever. Our families on earth are wonderful gifts from God, but they are temporary and fragile, often broken by divorce, distance, growing old, and inevitably, death. On the other hand, our spiritual family – our relationship to other believers – will continue throughout eternity. It is a much stronger union, a more permanent bond, than blood relationships. Whenever Paul would stop to consider God’s eternal purpose for us together, he would break out into praise: “When I think of the wisdom and scope of His plan I fall down on my knees and pray to the Father of all the great family of God – some of them already in heaven and some down here on earth.” (Ephesians 3:14-15 LB)
Benefits of being in God’s family
The moment you were spiritually born into God’s family, you were given some astounding birthday gifts: the family name, the family likeness, family privileges, family intimate access, and the family inheritance! The Bible says, “Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” (Galatians 4:7) Since you are His child, everything He has belongs to you.
The New Testament gives great emphasis to our rich “inheritance.” It tells us, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19) As children of God we get to share in the family fortune. Here on earth we are given “the riches … of his grace … kindness … patience … glory … wisdom … power … and mercy.” (Ephesians 1:7; Romans 2:4; 9:23; 11:33; Ephesians 3:16; 2:4) But in eternity we will inherit even more.
Ephesians 1:7In Him we have redemption (deliverance and salvation) through His blood, the remission (forgiveness) of our offenses (shortcomings and trespasses), in accordance with the riches and the generosity of His gracious favor, (AMP)
Romans 2:4Or are you [so blind as to] trifle with and presume upon and despise and underestimate the wealth of His kindness and forbearance and long-suffering patience? Are you unmindful or actually ignorant [of the fact] that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repent (to change your mind and inner man to accept God's will)? (AMP)
Romans 9:23And [what if] He thus purposes to make known and show the wealth of His glory in [dealing with] the vessels (objects) of His mercy which He has prepared beforehand for glory, (AMP)
Romans 11:33Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unfathomable (inscrutable, unsearchable) are His judgments (His decisions)! And how untraceable (mysterious, undiscoverable) are His ways (His methods, His paths)! (AMP)
Ephesians 3:16May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality]. (AMP)
Ephesians 2:4But God--so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us, (AMP)
Paul said, “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.”(Ephesians 1:18)
Ephesians 1:18I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the wonderful future He has promised to those He called. I want you to realize what a rich and glorious inheritance He has given to His people. (NLT)
What exactly does that inheritance include? First, we will get to be with God forever. Second, we will be completely changed to be like Christ. Third, we will be freed from all pain, death, and suffering. Fourth, we will be rewarded and reassigned positions of service. Fifth, we will get to share in Christ’s glory. What an inheritance! You are far richer than you realize.
The Bible says, “To an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.” (1 Peter 1:4NKJV)
1 Peter 1:4For God has reserved a priceless inheritance for His children. It is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.(NLT)
This means that your eternal inheritance is priceless, pure, permanent, and protected. No one can take it from you; it can’t be destroyed by war, a poor economy, or a nature disaster. This eternal inheritance, not retirement, is what you should be looking forward to and working for. Paul says, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:23-24) Retirement is a short-sighted goal. You should be living in light of eternity.
5.DISCUSSION QUESTION
How can I start treating other believers like members of my own family?
6.Memorized Scripture
Ephesians 1:5His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure. (NLT)
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