Being a part of the family of God is an incredible blessing and privilege. When we put our faith in Jesus Christ, we are adopted into God’s family as His children (John 1:12). Here is an overview of some key aspects of what it means to be part of God’s family according to the Bible:
We Have God as Our Heavenly Father
As children of God, we have the awesome privilege of relating to the Creator of the universe as our perfect heavenly Father. God promises to be a father to the fatherless (Psalm 68:5) and invites us to call Him “Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15). He disciplines us for our good as a loving father does (Hebrews 12:5-11). He knows our needs before we even ask and promises to provide for us (Matthew 6:8, 32). We can come to Him with childlike humility, dependance and trust, knowing He cares deeply for us as His own children (1 Peter 5:7).
We Are United with Christ
When we put our faith in Christ, we are united with Him (Romans 6:5). We become co-heirs with Christ, sharing in His inheritance (Romans 8:17). We are connected to Christ as the head is connected to the body (Ephesians 1:22-23). And we abide in Christ as branches connected to a vine (John 15:4-5). This profound spiritual union with Jesus Christ gives us access to all the riches, blessings and privileges that come with being part of God’s family.
We Have a New Identity & Status as God’s Children
When we become children of God, we receive a radical new identity and status. Our core identity is no longer based on earthly things like ethnicity, social status, accomplishments or personal history. Instead, our primary identity is now found in being beloved, accepted children of God through faith (1 John 3:1, Galatians 3:26, John 1:12). We are given the highest status as heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17). And we have the privilege of bearing God’s own image as His representatives on earth (Genesis 1:27, 2 Corinthians 3:18). This new status and identity shapes how we see ourselves and how we walk through life as God’s dearly loved children.
We Are Part of God’s Forever Family
The family of God extends across time and eternity. When we join God’s family by faith, we are grafted into the rich heritage of faith that has gone before us (Hebrews 11). We join with the communion of saints past, present and future. And we gain billions of brothers and sisters across ages, nations and cultures – all united by the Holy Spirit into one family with God as our Father (Romans 12:5, 1 Corinthians 12:12-13). Most wonderfully, we are part of a family bound for eternal glory. Our earthly lives are but a prelude to an everlasting family reunion in heaven and resurrected life together (Revelation 19:6-9).
We Relate to Fellow Believers as Family
The Bible instructs Christians to live out familial love towards fellow believers. We are to honor each other like siblings, looking out for each other’s interests (Romans 12:10, Philippians 2:3-4). We are to care for each other with the compassion of a mother (1 Thessalonians 2:7). And we are to gently nurture each other like a nursing mother cares for her children (1 Thessalonians 2:7). Our spiritual family ties run deeper than even biological family ties (Mark 3:33-35). Therefore, we make every effort to live in unity, avoid division, and show grace and understanding in our church family relationships (Ephesians 4:2-3, 1 Peter 3:8).
We Have a New Family Purpose & Mission
As God’s children, we are given a new family purpose and mission. We are commissioned to join in with the family business – glorifying our Father in heaven through our lives (Matthew 5:16). We have the privilege of showing God’s character and love to the watching world as His representatives (1 Peter 2:9-12). And we partner with Jesus in fulfilling the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20). God has prepared good works for us to do in advance as part of the family mission (Ephesians 2:10). And our love and good deeds serve as a light that points people to our Father (Matthew 5:16).
We Have the Holy Spirit Living in Us
Amazingly, when we join God’s family, we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit who comes to dwell in our hearts (Romans 5:5, 8:9). The Spirit confirms and reassures us that we belong to God as dear children (Romans 8:15-16). He produces His fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness and more (Galatians 5:22-23). And He empowers us with spiritual gifts for ministry (1 Corinthians 12:4-7). The Spirit sustains us in hope (Romans 15:13), guides us into truth (John 16:13), convicts us of sin (John 16:8) and conforms us into the image of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18). His presence in our lives is a precious blessing of being part of God’s family.
We Are Being Transformed into Christ’s Likeness
A key part of being in God’s family is being transformed into the likeness of our older brother Jesus Christ. He is the firstborn of many brothers and sisters (Romans 8:29). God’s purpose is for us to become conformed to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29). As we behold Christ in the Word, the Spirit transforms us (2 Corinthians 3:18). Our minds are renewed, our desires change, and we mature in godly character as children of God (Romans 12:2, 2 Peter 1:3-8). Through the Spirit, we increasingly live out the family resemblance of Jesus Christ in how we think, speak and act.
We Have Access to Our Heavenly Father
Through Christ, we have direct access as beloved children into the very presence of God, our perfect heavenly Father. We can come boldly and confidently before His throne to find mercy and grace in time of need (Hebrews 4:16). We have the privilege of intimacy with God, calling Him “Abba, Father” in our prayers (Romans 8:15). There is nothing we face that is outside of our Father’s sovereign control. And no concern is too small to bring before Him in prayer. God invites us to cast all our cares on Him because He cares for us as His own (1 Peter 5:7).
We Are Given the Ministry of Reconciliation
As God’s children, we have the privilege to share the good news of reconciliation with the world. God has reconciled us to Himself through Christ (2 Corinthians 5:18). And He has given us the ministry of reconciliation – of sharing the message that people can be reconciled to God through repenting and trusting in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:18-20). We serve as ambassadors, representing Christ and imploring others to be reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:20). There is no greater privilege than being part of God’s plan to redeem lost people into His forever family.
We Are Heirs of God’s Eternal Kingdom
Not only have we been brought into God’s family in the present, but we have an eternal inheritance to look forward to as the children of God. We are “fellow heirs” with Christ (Romans 8:17). If we are children of God, then we are His heirs – both promised unimaginable blessings to come in eternity as part of our family legacy (1 Corinthians 2:9, 1 Peter 1:4). When Christ returns, we will finally see our inheritance fully revealed. We will inherit imperishable resurrected bodies (1 Corinthians 15:42-44). And we will dwell forever with the whole family of God in the glorious presence of our Father (Revelation 21:3, 7).
What an incredible gift it is to be brought into the family of God. We could spend eternity marveling at the blessings and privileges we now have as God’s beloved children. As we grow in our understanding of what it means to be part of God’s family, may it lead us to greater love, gratitude and reverence towards our heavenly Father.
