Family of God

Hebrews 1:1-4 Amplified Bible (AMP)

God’s Final Word in His Son

1 God, having spoken to the fathers long ago in [the voices and writings of] the prophets in many separate revelations [each of which set forth a portion of the truth], and in many ways, 2 has in these last days spoken [with finality] to us in [the person of One who is by His character and nature] His Son [namely Jesus], whom He appointed heir and lawful owner of all things, through whom also He created the universe [that is, the universe as a space-time-matter
continuum]. 3 The Son is the radiance and only expression of the glory of [our awesome] God [reflecting God’s [a]Shekinah glory, the Light-being, the brilliant light of the divine], and the exact representation and perfect imprint of His [Father’s] essence, and upholdingand maintaining and propelling all things [the entire physical and spiritual universe] by His powerful word [carrying the universe along to its predetermined goal]. When He [Himself and no other] had [by offering Himself on the cross as a sacrifice for sin] accomplished

purification from sins and established our freedom from guilt, He sat down [revealing His completed work] at the right hand of the Majesty on high [revealing His Divine authority], 4 having become as much superior to angels, since He has inherited a more

excellent and glorious [b]name than they [that is, Son—the name above all names].

This familial term indicates God regards Jesus as a family member. Born-again believers are told that we, too, are members of this family

Romans 9:8 Amplified Bible (AMP)
8 That is, it is not the children of the body [Abraham’s natural descendants] who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are counted as [Abraham’s true] descendants.

1 John 3:1-2 Amplified Bible (AMP)

Children of God Love One Another

3 See what an incredible quality of love the Father has shown to us, that we would [be permitted to] be named and called and counted the children of God! And so we are! For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, we are [even here and] now children of God, and it is not yet made clear what we will be [after His coming]. We know that when He comes andis revealed, we will [as His children] be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is [in all His glory].

How do we become a part of this family of God? When we hear the

gospel, confess our sins, and place our faith and trust in Jesus Christ,

we are at that moment born into God’s kingdom as His children and

become heirs with Him for eternity

Romans 8:14-17 Amplified Bible (AMP)
14 For all who are allowing themselves to be led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery

leading again to fear [of God’s judgment], but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons [the Spirit producing sonship] by which we [joyfully] cry, “[a]Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself
testifies and confirms together with our spirit [assuring us] that we [believers] are children of God. 17 And if [we are His] children, [then we are His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His spiritual blessing and inheritance], if indeed we share in His suffering so that we may also share in His glory.

While Jesus Christ is referred to as the only begotten Son of God,

believers are referred to as children born into God’s family who need

to grow and mature in our faith

Ephesians 4:11-16 Amplified Bible (AMP)

11 And [His gifts to the church were varied and] He Himself appointed some as apostles [special messengers, representatives], some as prophets [who speak a new message from God to the people], some as evangelists [who spread the good news of salvation], and some as pastors and teachers [to shepherd and guide and instruct], 12 [and He did this] to fully equip and perfect the saints (God’s people) for works of service, to build up the body of Christ [the church]; 13 until we all reach oneness in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, [growing spiritually] to become a mature believer, reaching to the measure of the fullness of Christ [manifesting His spiritual completeness and exercising our spiritual gifts in unity].14 So that we are no longer children [spiritually immature], tossed back and forth [like ships on a stormy sea] and carried about by every wind of [shifting] doctrine, by the cunning and trickery of [unscrupulous] men, by the deceitful scheming of people ready to do anything [for personal profit]. 15 But speaking the truth in love [in all things—both our speech and our lives expressing His truth], let us grow up in all things into Him [following His example] who is the Head—Christ. 16 From Him the

whole body [the church, in all its various parts], joined and
knitted firmlytogether by what every joint supplies, when each part is working properly, causes the body to grow and mature, building itself up [a]in [unselfish] love.

Galatians 4:4-7 Amplified Bible (AMP)
4 But when [in God’s plan] the proper time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the [regulations of the]
Law, 5 so that He might redeemand liberate those who were under the Law, that we [who believe] might be adopted as sons [as God’s children with all rights as fully grown members of a family]. 6 And because you [really] are [His] sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, [a]“Abba! Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave (bond-servant), but a son; and if a son, then also an heir through [the gracious act of] God [through Christ].

God’s infinite grace and mercy are revealed

Ephesians 1:5-6 Amplified Bible (AMP)
5 He predestined and lovingly planned for us to be adopted to Himself as [His own] children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the kind intention and good pleasure of His will— 6 to the praise of His glorious grace and favor, which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved [His Son, Jesus Christ].

He redeems sinners, whom He has “adopted as his sons through

Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise

of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he

loves.”

As children of God, what do we inherit? Nothing less than the kingdom of God
Matthew 25:34 Amplified Bible (AMP)
34 “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father [you favored of God, appointed to eternal salvation], inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

1 Thessalonians 2:12 Amplified Bible (AMP)
12 to live lives [of honor, moral courage, and personal integrity] worthy of the God who [saves you and] calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

Hebrews 12:28 Amplified Bible (AMP)
28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, and offer to God pleasing service and acceptable worship with reverence and awe;

Ephesians 1:3 Amplified Bible (AMP)
3 [a]Blessed and worthy of praise be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ,

We as believers are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. These spiritual blessings are infinite, eternal, and reside in Christ, and by God’s grace we are given these blessings as His children. As earthly children we eventually inherit what our parents leave behind for us after their death. But in God’s case believers are already reaping the rewards of our inheritance by having peace with Him through the sacrifice of His Son on the cross. Other rewards of our inheritance include the gift of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit at the moment we believe in Christ

Ephesians 1:13-14 Amplified Bible (AMP)
13 In Him, you also, when you heard the word of truth, the good news of your salvation, and [as a result] believed in Him, were stamped with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit [the One promised by Christ] as owned and protected [by God]. 14 The Spirit is the [a]guarantee [the first installment, the pledge, a foretaste] of our inheritance until the redemption of God’s own [purchased] possession [His believers], to the praise of His glory.

This empowers us to live for Him in the present, and the knowledge that our salvation is secure for eternity
Hebrews 7:24-25 Amplified Bible (AMP)

24 but, on the other hand, Jesus holds His priesthood
permanently and without change, because He lives on
forever. 25 Therefore He is able also to save forever (completely, perfectly, for eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede and intervene on their behalf [with God].

Lamb of God

John 1:29 Amplified Bible (AMP)
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God[a]who takes away the sin of the world!

Redeemer

Isaiah 47:4 Amplified Bible (AMP)

4

Our Redeemer [will do all this], the LORD of hosts is His name, The Holy One of Israel.

King

Revelation 19:16 Amplified Bible (AMP)
16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name inscribed, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

Hebrews 4:14-16 Amplified Bible (AMP)
14 Inasmuch then as we [believers] have a great High Priest who has [already ascended and] passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession [of faith and cling tenaciously

to our absolute trust in Him as Savior]. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our
weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been tempted [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every respect as we are, yet without [committing any] sin. 16 Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment].

1 John 4:14 Amplified Bible (AMP)
14 We [who were with Him in person] have seen and testify [as eye- witnesses] that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.

Romans 10:9 Amplified Bible (AMP)
9 because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Hebrews 7:25 Amplified Bible (AMP)
25 Therefore He is able also to save forever (completely, perfectly, for eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede andintervene on their behalf [with God].

Hebrews 2:11-15 Amplified Bible (AMP)
11 Both Jesus who sanctifies and those who are sanctified [that is, spiritually transformed, made holy, and set apart for God’s purpose] are all from one Father; for this reason He is not ashamed to call them [a]brothers and sisters, 12 saying,

“I WILL DECLARE YOUR (the Father’s) NAME TO MY BRETHREN (believers), IN THE MIDST OF THE CONGREGATION I WILL SING YOUR PRAISE.”

13 And again [[b]He says],
“MY TRUST and CONFIDENT HOPE WILL BE PLACED IN HIM.”

And again,
“HERE I AM, I AND THE CHILDREN WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN ME.”

14 Therefore, since [these His] children share in flesh and blood [the physical nature of mankind], He Himself in a similar manner also shared in the same [physical nature, but without sin], so that through [experiencing] death He might make powerless (ineffective, impotent) him who had the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and [that He] might free all those who through [the haunting] fear of death were held in slavery throughout their lives.

Ephesians 1:5 Amplified Bible (AMP)
5 He predestined and lovingly planned for us to be adopted to Himself as [His own] children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the kind intention and good pleasure of His will—

Being a part of the family of God is the greatest blessing bestowed

upon believers and one that should drive us to our knees in humble adoration. We can never do anything to deserve it for it is His gift of

love, mercy and grace to us, yet, we are called to become sons and

daughters of the Living God

25 Just as He says in [the writings of the prophet] Hosea:

“I WILL CALL THOSE WHO WERE NOT MY PEOPLE, ‘MY PEOPLE,’

AND [I will call] HER WHO WAS NOT BELOVED, ‘BELOVED.’” 26

“AND IT SHALL BE THAT IN THE PLACE WHERE IT WAS SAID TO THEM, ‘YOU ARE NOT MY PEOPLE,’
THERE THEY SHALL BE CALLED SONS OF THE LIVING GOD.”

Matthew 6:15 Amplified Bible (AMP)

15 But if you do not forgive others [nurturing your hurt and anger with the result that it interferes with your relationship with God], then your Father will not forgive your trespasses.

Matthew 18:35 Amplified Bible (AMP)
35 My heavenly Father will also do the same to [every one of] you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”

Mark 11:25-26 Amplified Bible (AMP)

25 Whenever you [

g

]stand praying, if you have anything against

anyone, forgive him [drop the issue, let it go], so that your Father who

is in heaven will also forgive you your

transgressions and wrongdoings [against Him and others]. 26 [

][“But if

you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your

transgressions.”]