When it comes to God’s design for the church, the scriptures will repeatedly use terminology that shapes her purpose as a family. It is this familial commitment that serves as the scaffold for the rest of the New Testament’s commands for how we are to treat one another.
Observations:
- Your family identity is found in your Father in Heaven
- Your family strength is found in God’s Spirit
- Your family purpose is knowing Christ’s love in a transformative way
- Your family is multidimensional
– Shaped by love
– Shared in power
– Traverses national boundaries
– Transcends the spirit dimension
Conclusions:
- The What: The Father is able
- The How: The Spirit’s strength is working within you
- The Who: Christ’s transforming love is designed to be generational
- The Where: The church (by following Jesus) is the agent of God’s glory
Application:
- Embrace the whole family of God that you may truly know the unknowable love of God
– Are your relational commitments in the church defined by God’s Spirit?
– Is your life characterized by the rulership of Christ in your heart?
– Are you a contributing member of God’s family in cooperation to bring Him glory?
Jude 24
“To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy!”
2 Timothy 1:6-7
“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”
Acts 2:38-39
“Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
1 John 1:6-7
“If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”
2 Thessalonians 3:10-15
“For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.” We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat. And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good. Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them, in order that they may feel ashamed. Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”