The Family of God

In the Bible there are multiple metaphors that are used to describe the church. The church is seen as the Bride of Christ who awaits her groom to return for the wedding feast. She is also seen as the Body of Christ, equipped and commissioned to carry out the work of the Lord until He returns. And she is seen as a Royal Priesthood who has been set apart for her God to proclaim the greatness of the One who called her of darkness into His marvelous light. But one of my favorites is the picture of the church as a Family of God.
In Ephesians 2:19 (ESV), the Bible tells us, "So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God." What an amazing thought! We who were once set apart from God and His kingdom, have now become citizens of His kingdom and we have been adopted into His family.
This same metaphor of a family is used in the Bible to describe how we relates to God, how God relates to us, and how we are to relate to one another.

1. God is our FATHER 
Galatians 4:6 (ESV) - "And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!'" At the moment that we choose to follow Christ, God sends His Spirit to dwell in us, giving us the privilege to call God, "Abba! Father!" The word "Abba" is an Aramaic that is similar to our word daddy. It describes the intimacy that we now have with God as our Father!

2. We are God's CHILDREN
2 Corinthians 6:18 (ESV) - "I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty." As God's sons and daughters we have now become heirs to all of the promises of God.

3. We are family -- BROTHERS AND SISTERS in Christ
Galatians 6:1 (ESV) - "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness." The apostle Paul's use of the word "brothers" is a reminder that we are members of the same spiritual family and thus we are obligated to one another! I guess it can be said that we are our brothers keeper!

As we take this in, it becomes quite obvious that Church isn't about a building or even an organization; it's about who we are -- we are family!