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God’s Family is the Church
There are only two ways to get into a family: You can either be born into it, or you can be adopted into it. God does both for you! It’s called being born again, and it’s called being adopted into the family of God. God does both.
In Roman law, during New Testament times, you could disown a child you birthed. But if you adopted a child, you were forbidden to ever disown that child. God says you are not only born again into his family, but he has adopted you, and there is no way he could ever disown you. That’s good news!
You may ask, “No matter what I do? Really?” No matter what you do!
Once you’re born, you cannot be unborn. Once you are born again, you cannot be unborn again. You can grieve the Father, just like we sometimes bring grief to our earthly parents. The fellowship may be broken, but no matter what your parents say, everybody knows you are still their child. In the same way, once you become a child in the family of God, you’re in!
The Bible says in 1 Timothy 3:15, “I want you to know how people who are members of God’s family must live. God’s family is the church” (GW). This means church is not something you go to. Church is something you belong to. We are the family of God.
Many people think that Christianity is a belief system, but it is a belong system. Yes, there are beliefs involved, but it’s more than that. It means you are a part of the body of Christ.
You belong to the family of God: “You will all be joined together, and you will give glory to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ accepted you, so you should accept each other, which will bring glory to God” (Romans 15:6-7 NCV).
This devotional © 2014 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
There are only two ways to get into a family: You can either be born into it, or you can be adopted into it. God does both for you! It’s called being born again, and it’s called being adopted into the family of God. God does both.
In Roman law, during New Testament times, you could disown a child you birthed. But if you adopted a child, you were forbidden to ever disown that child. God says you are not only born again into his family, but he has adopted you, and there is no way he could ever disown you. That’s good news!
You may ask, “No matter what I do? Really?” No matter what you do!
Once you’re born, you cannot be unborn. Once you are born again, you cannot be unborn again. You can grieve the Father, just like we sometimes bring grief to our earthly parents. The fellowship may be broken, but no matter what your parents say, everybody knows you are still their child. In the same way, once you become a child in the family of God, you’re in!
The Bible says in 1 Timothy 3:15, “I want you to know how people who are members of God’s family must live. God’s family is the church” (GW). This means church is not something you go to. Church is something you belong to. We are the family of God.
Many people think that Christianity is a belief system, but it is a belong system. Yes, there are beliefs involved, but it’s more than that. It means you are a part of the body of Christ.
You belong to the family of God: “You will all be joined together, and you will give glory to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ accepted you, so you should accept each other, which will bring glory to God” (Romans 15:6-7 NCV).
This devotional © 2014 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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Join Pastor Rick for this message series on God’s calling for your life as you learn how to discern that calling and use it as a blessing for the church, other people, and in your own life.
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