What does it mean to be a part of the family of God?

Answer  
  

The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ and the Father are One (John 1:1\-4\), and that He is also the only begotten Son of God (Hebrews 1:1\-4\). This familial term indicates God regards Jesus as a family member. Born\-again believers are told that we, too, are members of this family (Romans 9:8; 1 John 3:1\-2\). How do we become a part of this family of God? When we hear the gospel, confess our sins, and place our faith and trust in Jesus Christ, we are at that moment born into God’s kingdom as His children and become heirs with Him for eternity (Romans 8:14\-17\).  
  

While Jesus Christ is referred to as the only begotten Son of God, believers are referred to as children born into God’s family who need to grow and mature in our faith (Ephesians 4:11\-16\), and as sons and heirs adopted into His family (Galatians 4:4\-7\). God’s infinite grace and mercy are revealed in Ephesians 1:5\-6, which says He redeems sinners, whom He has “adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.”  
  

As children of God, what do we inherit? Nothing less than the kingdom of God (Matthew 25:34; 1 Thessalonians 2:12; Hebrews 12:28\)! Ephesians 1:3 tells us that believers are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. These spiritual blessings are infinite, eternal, and reside in Christ, and by God’s grace we are given these blessings as His children. As earthly children we eventually inherit what our parents leave behind for us after their death. But in God’s case believers are already reaping the rewards of our inheritance by having peace with Him through the sacrifice of His Son on the cross. Other rewards of our inheritance include the gift of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit at the moment we believe in Christ (Ephesians 1:13\-14\), which empowers us to live for Him in the present, and the knowledge that our salvation is secure for eternity (Hebrews 7:24\-25\).  
  

Being a part of the family of God is the greatest blessing bestowed upon believers and one that should drive us to our knees in humble adoration. We can never do anything to deserve it for it is His gift of love, mercy, and grace to us, yet, we are called to become sons and daughters of the Living God (Romans 9:25\-26\). May we all respond in faith to His invitation!  
  

