What does being part of the family of God mean?

from the old testament

• Genesis 3 records the fall of humanity into sin. That alienated humankind from God, but God provided the solution through Christ (Genesis 3:15; cf. John 3:16).
• God told Moses to identify the Hebrews as His “firstborn son” (Exodus 4:22–23).
• The Mosaic Law was meant to highlight God’s holiness to the Israelites He chose as His own, distinguishing them from the pagan nations’ practices: “You are the sons of the Lord your God. You shall not cut yourselves or make any baldness on your foreheads for the dead” (Deuteronomy 14:1). Some unbelievers today enjoy mocking Old Testament laws like the one in Deuteronomy 14:1, but they fail to realize that those laws were meant to make Israel stand out as children of the living God, children of light.
• David recognized his own sin, even from birth: “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me” (Psalm 51:5).

from the new testament

• Though Mosaic Law separated Israel from the nations, it also showed that we cannot keep the Law perfectly in thought and deed (Romans 7:7). Christ alone, our sinless Lord, could fully keep the Law, so through faith in Him, we are saved, not by our works (Ephesians 2:8–9).
• Those who are born again by faith in Christ are adopted as children of God: “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12–13).
• Jesus identified His family this way: “For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother” (Matthew 12:50). Those whose family reject them for becoming Christians can take comfort in being part of a greater, eternal family.
• Even our suffering has a purpose, making us Christ-like, adopted children of God: “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him” (Romans 8:16–17).
• The only way to have God as our Father is to have Jesus Christ as our Savior (John 14:6; 1 John 2:23).

implications for today

Despite your sister’s annoying spending habits, your cousin’s tendency to interrupt every sentence, and your mother’s way of offering an opinion on every adult decision you make, family loyalty remains.

But that idea takes on new meaning when we realize that Christ’s blood has made us adopted sons and daughters of God. We are actually part of God’s family—-children of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. No privilege could be greater.

Do you conduct yourself as the son or daughter of the King? Think about your daily interactions—in traffic, at work, in a crowded grocery store. Would people know that your Father is God? If not, confess your sins to God and pray that you can glorify Him in how you lead your life. Our conduct in the world reflects on the family we’re part of.