In the family? What does that get you? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Colossians 1:13-14,

"For he [God the Father] has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

Paul reminds his readers of the wonderful truth that God has rescued all who embrace him in faith, bringing them into "the kingdom of the Son he loves." In 1 Thessalonians 4:10 Paul refers to this kingdom as "God's family." In 1 Timothy 3:5 he calls it "God's church." Peter refers to the "family of believers" in 1 Peter 2:17. Jesus often used the phrase, "kingdom of heaven" and "kingdom of God". Matthew refers simply to "the kingdom", Matthew 9:35. Again, Jesus makes reference to the Son of Man's kingdom in Matthew 13:41, also, "my Father's kingdom", Matthew 26:29.

In our culture, I suspect we more readily identify with the "family of God" as opposed to the "kingdom of God", but no matter how it is referred to, this family, this kingdom is what our existence on earth is all about. God is busy building this family, this kingdom in this life, in this world. It is here in this life, not in the next, where new lives, new souls are brought into being. It is here in this life, not in the next, where out of all those souls, God is populating his family, his kingdom. He has elected that all who will respond in faith to the gospel message will be rescued from the "dominion of darkness", that is, this world that is lost, fallen, estranged and in rebellion to God. From this corrupt "family of man" God rescues all who will embrace him in faith by bringing them into his family.

Paul mentions that it is in God's Son we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. God has a keen sense of justice and it requires that all sin be paid for. When Jesus Christ died on that cross, he provided payment to God's court for all the sins of all mankind for all time. Those who embrace him in faith have that payment credited to their account there. Here is where redemption is found. Jesus' death is payment for all of us who trust in him, buying our freedom to enter his family, his kingdom. Because believer's sins are paid for by Jesus, they are forgiven them.

Some have it confused, thinking if they don't sin, they will make it into heaven. If that were possible, there would have been no need for Jesus to die on that cross. The reality is that we all sin and we all need forgiveness of those sins. Responding to the gospel in faith brings us that forgiveness. The very moment one embraces Jesus Christ in faith, he or she is immediately brought into God's family. All sins are immediately forgiven and the destination following this life becomes heaven. All this at the very moment faith is expressed in the Lord. It doesn't come later, it doesn't take place at some point after our physical death. Entering into God's kingdom is an immediate transaction in this life that finds its fulfillment in the next.

Entering into God's family is an amazing thing. We become quickened spiritually, as the Holy Spirit takes up residence in our lives. While we remain in this life we are placed on a path of growing into the likeness of Jesus' wonderful qualities, what we call "spiritual growth". We become connected with other brothers and sisters in this family who are gifted by God to aid us in this new family, as we are likewise gifted by God to aid in their participation. We look forward to a time when this age comes to an end and those in God's family who still remain will be caught up with him in the air when he returns to earth. For those of us who pass on before his coming, we look forward to joining him directly in heaven and await resurrection day when we will receive transformed bodies like his "glorious body." When we enter into God's family we immediately become spotless and blameless before God, such that we enter into his family, not as a "black sheep" due to whatever sins we may have engaged in in this life, but "he [God] chose us in him [Jesus Christ] before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight..." Ephesians 1:4. We become adopted by God, Ephesians 1:5, and so share in all that Jesus Christ inherits from the Father, Romans 8:17. We gain direct access to God when we enter into his family to receive God's help when we need him, "Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:16.

So much can be added to this list of what becomes ours when we are brought into God's family. Can you think of a few more? (I left out a few to tease you.) 

I can't imagine why anyone would want to pass this up!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com