What a family we are part of…
We are all part of the “family of humanity”, but I point out often that some often say in error, when referencing humanity, “we are all ‘God’s Children’”.
We aren’t “all God’s Children” but are all God’s Creation.
John 1:3 – all things were created through him
John 1:10 …the world did not recognize him
John 1:11 he came to his own, and his own did not receive him
We are ALL God’s creation… the family of humanity… but the “family of God”
John 1:12 But to all who DID RECEIVE him, he gave THEM the RIGHT to be children of God, to those who believe in his name
What a family, to be a part of humanity, a family of those created by God.
Hebrews 2:6-9 says about Humanity
- Remembered by God
- Cared for by Him
- that we are a little lower than the angels
- that Jesus became one of us for a short time
What a family. Man is the highest of God’s creation on earth… and yet, we sinned, bringing separation from God, “Short of his glory” (Romans 3:23)
Yet, we are still on his mind. He did not leave us without an opportunity for restoration… no. Hebrews 2:6 what is man that you would REMEMBER – memneke = remember. It looks like our word “memory”.
We were not yet in the family of God, but still we are “remembered”, and you care for him… episkeptomai = look after, visit, concern
Oh my… God could have just moved on from us, done something different, or many other things, but he created us for a relationship, and he cared for us enough that in his concern, he visited us in order to look after us…
Providing for us in the substitutionary death of Christ, he gave us the opportunity to enter the Family of God… to those who believe in his name … and receive his provision.
Paul writes to the church in Corinth, and tells us about the wonderful family of God, locally and globally… in time, and those ahead of us in eternity…
1 Corinthians 1:2-3 to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints, with all those in every place who call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord – both their Lord and ours. Grace to you and Peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Oh the beauty of humanity, the glory of being created by God, beautifully and wonderfully made, as the Psalmist says in Psalm 139. The writer of Hebrews then says we are the highest of his earthly creation, cared for and remembered by God, visited by his Son.
So then, if we will receive him, believe him, we become what Paul says, Sanctified, Saints, filled with Grace and Peace.
Oh, what a family – the Family of God
When we share the good news of the death of Christ to pay for our sin… we aren’t inviting people to join a “club”… no we are inviting them into the Family of God!
Though we all miss the mark, short of God’s Glory… we can become Saints – hagios = holy ones, set apart ones… we become Sanctified – hegiasmenos or hagiazo –
“Saints” that’s not a noun, but an adjective here… and “Sanctified” is a verb… and they both come from the root hagios/agios = holy
Because God is Holy… we must be MADE Holy in the Verb born, in order to be described as holy in the adjective form, and become holy as a noun…
All of that is the work of God in Christ providing Grace, (God’s undeserved kindness) and at Peace ending our enmity with God.
How?
Do I have to be from a special place, or a certain group? No – what did Paul say? To all those in every place who call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Our only hope is to call -(verb, present, active) I have to call, in a moment in time, on the NAME (onoma = name / authority) of Jesus Christ who became one of us, died in our place, to pay the debt for our sin, we call on him, believe he cares, came, is concerned, and receive him as Lord, Master, Owner.
Then – we become set apart, transformed, holy ones of God, who are holy, are becoming holy, will be holy…
That word Sanctified – is a verb in the perfect, passive, plural form. That means, I don’t DO it, but he happens TO me, and once done, is perfectly, permanently done, and is available for ALL who call on the name of Jesus.
Oh MY – that’s Good News to Tell!
Oh go ahead and read the rest of that chapter, but Paul says
v8 – he will strengthen you TO THE END, you will be blameless in the day of our Lord
v9 – God is faithful; you were called by him into fellowship with his Son
Oh, I could preach some more… but let me say YES LORD, Thank you Lord… and I’ll Stop There
