According to research done by the American Psychological Association in 2015, two of the top five sources of stress for adults in America were “family responsibilities,” and “health problems affecting the family.” We all understand that keeping a family healthy, happy, and whole is a challenge of everyday life. That challenge is often complicated by a difficult family member – a cousin, aunt/uncle, parent, or sibling – who creates problems instead of solving them.
Fortunately, the Christian has the Word of God and the people of God to rely on when facing challenges within the family. Even though we may face sickness or disunity, we are not left without support. God designed the family and He designed the church. He built both on the same foundation and framework. Ultimately, both rest on His authority. To be successful they both must rely on His Word. Here are four features of God’s family as revealed in His Word.
- Through Jesus there is one spiritual family. This oneness involves both unity and singularity. God has only one spiritual family and that family must be united. Paul emphasizes both of these features in Ephesians. Ephesians 2:17–19 speaks to the unity of God’s family regardless of race and background. Ephesians 4:4 says “there is one body.”
- God is the one Father of the one family. In Matthew 23:9, Jesus tells his followers to call no man father, “for you have one Father, who is in heaven.” God the Father provides for and leads His spiritual family, just as He instructs human fathers to do.
- Jesus is the one Son. John 1:14 says, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” As the only Son, Jesus possesses all the rights to His Father’s inheritance. Yet, He has chosen to share that inheritance with…
- Christians have been adopted into the spiritual family. The Father sent the Son to die for all people. Those who obey the Gospel, God adopts into HIs family. According to Romans 8:16–17, the Holy Spirit testifies within the Christian that we have been adopted into God’s family. What a beautiful design God has for the family, including the spiritual family we know as the church!
Clay Leonard
