You Were Formed For God’s Family

October 23, 2011

“God is the one who made all things, and all things are for His glory.  He wanted to have many children share His glory.”     Hebrews 2:10

“His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ.”     Ephesians 1:5 (NLT)

“Love your spiritual family!”     I Peter 2:17b (MSG)

My second purpose in life is Fellowship.

“The person who loves God must also love other believers.”  1 John 4:21  (GW)

“Fellowship is loving God’s family.”

“I’m writing so that you’ll know how to live in the family of God. That family is the church.”

Four levels of fellowship

Level 1: Membership: Choosing to belong.

Ephesians 2:19:    “You are members of God’s very own family and you belong in God’s household with every other Christian.”

“In Christ we who are many form one Body, and each member belongs to all the others.”

Romans12:5 (NIV)

“This is what we proclaimed in the word and action when we were baptized. Each of us is now a part of His resurrection Body.” I Corinthian 12:13 (MSG)

“That’s what baptism into the life of Jesus means.  When we are lowered into the water, it is like the burial of Jesus; when we are raised up out of the water, it is like the resurrection of Jesus."     Romans 6:3 (MSG)

Level 2: Friendship: Learning to share.

“All the believers met together constantly and shared everything with each other.”     Acts 2:44 (LB)

We are to share our experiences.

“People learn from one another just as iron sharpens iron.”     Proverbs 27:17 (TEV)

We are to share our homes.

“Open up your homes to each other.”     1 Peter 4:9 (NCV)

We are to share our problems.

“Share each other’s troubles and problems.”     Galatians 6:2 (NLT)

“Let us not give up the habit of meeting together.  Instead, let us encourage one another."     Hebrews 10:25 (TEV)

Level 3: Partnership – Doing my part.

“We are partners working together for God.”     I Corinthians 3:9a (TEV)

“The whole body is fitted together perfectly.” “As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole Body is healthy and growing and full of love.”     Ephesians 4:16 (NLT)

“Just as you did it to one of the least of these who are the members of my family, you did it to Me.”

Matthew 25:40 (NSRV)

Level 4:  Kinship - Loving believers like family.

“They were like family to each other.”     Acts 2:42a (CEV)

“We know what real love is because Christ gave up His life for us.  And we ought to give up our lives for our Christian brothers and sisters.”     1 John 3:16 (NLT)

“Your strong love for each other will prove to the world that you are My disciples.”     John 13:35 (LB)

“You are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”      Galatians 3:26 (NLT)