The Family Of God

Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named….

Ephesians 3:15

The Body of Christ is also the Family of God.  It is important for us to understand this.  When we speak of the Church we are referring to all of the redeemed of all ages.  These people have existed in every age, and in cultures of the four corners of the globe.  The Church, the Body of Christ and the Family of God all refer to the same people.  Paul makes references to this third title in our text for today where he says, that he ‘bows his knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from Whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.’  According to Revelation, this is ‘a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues.’  This means that the number of the Family of God is far greater than we can imagine.  If we trace the line of thought back to the opening chapter of Ephesians, it brings us to the conclusion that God’s purposes of election and predestination unto the adoption of children has extended to a vast multitude.  We would furthermore press the thought that if ‘in all things Christ must have the preeminence,’ then what we have been reading supports the idea that there will be more who will be saved than who will be lost.  Paul had a large vision of the Family of God, therefore he preached the Gospel of Christ as often as he could, wherever he could, as long as he could.  So God gathers together His Family.  Therefore, we encourage you today, to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.  We desire to see you in the Family of God.

Our Gracious Father and our God,
we rejoice that You have included us in Your Family.
We praise You that for all eternity
we will dwell with You in the home that Christ has prepared for us.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning