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David's Deliberations . . .

The Household of God

08 June 2008

Each of the many phrases used in the New Testament to describe the church offers an emphasis to one or more characteristics of the nature or work of the church. A study of these phrases and terms is in essence a study of the nature and purpose of the body of Christ, the church. One NT description of the church is "the household of God."

"...I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth." (1 Timothy 3:15)

The church is not only the body of Christ, it is the family of God (see Hebrews 3:6; Ephesians 2:19). In this family, God is the Father (Eph. 3:14; 4:6; Matt. 23:9; 1 Cor. 8:6); Christ is a son over the house (Heb. 3:6); Christians are brethren (Heb. 2:12; Matt. 23:8; 25:40), children of God (Romans 8:15-16; Gal. 4:7) and sons and heirs (Gal. 3:26; see also 1 John 3:10; 1 Thess. 1:1).

There are many blessings in this family relationship, not the least of which is that God is our Father (Matthew 6:6-9; Ephesians 3:14).

Our heavenly Father not only provides for us (Romans 8:32; James 1:17; Matthew 6:8; 6:33-34; 7:7-11), He corrects us (Hebrews 12:4-11), protects us (Philippians 4:5-7; 1 Corinthians 10:12-13), and always loves us: "For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39).

In 1 John 3:1, the apostle John mentions a great benefit God's love and of having Him as our Father--we are His children: "See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are...."

As with all rights and privileges, with these blessings in God's household come responsibilities and requirements:

  1. We are to separate ourselves from the world (2 Cor. 6:17-18; 7:1; 1 Jn. 2:15-16).
  2. As God's children, we are to be obedient to Him (1 John 3:10; 1 Pet. 1:14; Eph. 5:6; Rom. 8:12-17 walk not after the flesh 1 John 1:6-7
  3. We are to wear the family name (Acts 4:11-12; 11:26; 1 Pet. 4:15-16; Col. 3:17)
  4. We are to love the brethren (1 Jn. 4:7, 20-21; 3:13-19).

If we are faithful in these things there awaits for us the crown of life, eternal life. As the family of God we are also heirs of God: "The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him" (Romans 8:16-17; see also Galatians 3:29; 1 Peter 1:3-5).

—David Carl Swanson