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| THE CHURCH: A NURTURING
FAMILY |
#403
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When the apostle Paul wrote his friend Timothy, he
instructed the young evangelist concerning the church, and God’s
intentions for it. In 1 Timothy 3:15, Paul said, “I am writing
these things to you ... that you may know how one ought to
conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of
the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.” Did you
notice the analogy Paul used to describe the church? He said
“the church of the living God” was “the household of God.”
Thayer’s Lexicon defines the word “household” as: “all the
persons forming one family.” The Bible often uses this word to
describe a family, as in Acts 10:2, where Cornelius “feared God
with all his household” and Hebrews 11:7, where Noah “prepared
an ark for the salvation of his household.” The “Family” analogy
emphasizes the type of relationships which should exist in the
church.
For instance, there is a “Father/Child” relationship
between God and His People. Paul said, “For all who are being
led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God ... you have
received a spirit of adoption as sons ... the Spirit Himself
bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (Rom
8:14-16). It is because of God’s great love that He makes us His
children. The apostle John said, “See how great a love the
Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children
of God; and such we are” (I Jn 3:1). Our Heavenly Father greatly
desires this relationship with every person. God pleads with us
to enter this relationship, “Come out from their midst and be
separate, says the Lord . . . and I will be a father to you, and
you shall be sons and daughters to me” (II Cor 6:17-18).
The writer of Hebrews continues this analogy by seeing
Jesus Christ as the elder brother in this family (Heb 3:6). Can
you imagine the benefits of being a part of God’s Family? We
could have a chat with our Father any time we needed (Mt 6:6).
The loving discipline of the Father’s hand would always be there
to guide us (Heb 12:5-7). We would be heirs to the family
estate, which Peter described as “an inheritance which is
imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in
heaven for you” (I Pet 1:3-4). And while on earth . . . we
constantly enjoy the loving fellowship with our “brothers and
sisters in Christ” - those who are called “the brethren” in I
Thes 4:9.
Many people will want to know how to become a part of this
family . . . and it is possible for every single person. As we
have seen before, it is by the process of “adoption” that we
enter the family of God (Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:1-7). But,
what can we do to initiate this transaction? Paul answers this
question very simply in Galatians 3:26-27. He said, “For you are
all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you
who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with
Christ.” There it is again . . . Faith and Baptism. The same
process which places one in the church also completes the
adoption process for God’s family. And this should be no
surprise, for “the church of the living God” IS “the household
of God” (I Timothy 3:15).
There's no doubt that great blessings are found in the
family of God. But there are expectations as well. It's a
terrible mistake to believe that God has placed no
responsibilities upon His children. When we enter the family of
God, several family rules immediately apply to family members.
1. God expects us to be separate from the world. Our
Heavenly Father is not pleased with worldly lust and boastful
pride. John said, “If anyone loves the world, the love of the
Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of
the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of
life, is not from the Father, but is from the world” (I John
2:15-16).
2. God expects His children to be obedient. Scripture says,
“By this the children of God and the children of the devil are
obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of
God, nor the one who does not love his brother . . . for because
of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of
disobedience” (I John 3:10; Ephesians 5:6).
3. God expects His children to care for one another & to
“do good ... to those who are of the household of the faith”
(Gal 6:10). A spirit of sharing and good will must permeate the
family of God.
4. God expects His children to be present for family
gatherings, “not forsaking our own assembling together, as is
the habit of some, but encouraging one another - and all the
more as you see the day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:25). Because
of the “Family” concept, there can be no “Lone Ranger”
Christians in the kingdom of God.
5. God expects us to wear the family name with pride. You
see . . . “there is no other name under heaven ... by which we
must be saved” (Acts 4:12). It was prophesied long ago that the
people of God would be given a new name when the Gentiles saw
the Lord’s righteousness (Isaiah 62:2; 65:15). Fulfilling this
prophecy, it was in the first Gentile church that “the disciples
were first called Christians” (Acts 11:26). Here is the name
which unites the church. This is the name which distinguishes
the family of God. There must never be an inferior,
denominational name which replaces the name of Christ.
The “Family Analogy” emphasizes the type of relationships
which should exist among the People of God - just as the
“Kingdom” analogy emphasizes the form of governmental authority
and the “Church” analogy emphasizes their quality of
sanctification. Next, we shall find out more
about the nature of God’s People.
| Bible
Probe |
THE CHURCH: A
NURTURING FAMILY |
403
|
1. I Timothy 3:15 refers to the “church of the living God” as
the “_______________ of God.”
Acts 10:2 and Hebrews 11:7 help us see that this word has
reference to a ____________.
2. The “Family” analogy emphasizes the kinds of
_________________ we find in the church.
What type of relationship is stressed in Romans 8:14-16?
Do you believe that Christians are "Children of God"? (I
John 3:1)
Does God want to share this relationship with you? (II
Corinthians 6:17-18)
What position does Jesus occupy in the “Family Analogy”?
(Hebrews 3:6)
3. Beside each of the following scriptures, list a “benefit” of
being in the family of God.
Matthew
6:6___________________________________________________
Hebrews
12:5-7________________________________________________
I Peter
1:3-4___________________________________________________
I Thessalonians
4:9______________________________________________
4. By what process do we enter God’s Family? (Rom. 8:15; Gal.
4:1-7)
What can we do to initiate this process? (Galatians 3:26-27)
5. Beside each of these scriptures, list a “responsibility”
expected of God’s family members.
I John
2:15-16_________________________________________________
I John 3:10; Ephesians
5:6________________________________________
Galatians
6:10_________________________________________________
Hebrews
10:25_________________________________________________
6. According to Isaiah 62:2, when did God predict He
would give a new name to His People?
What name was coined in the first Gentile congregation
of Antioch? (Acts 11:26)
Give two reasons why we should wear this name with pride.
(Acts 4:10)
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Your Bible questions answered here.