THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CHURCH
Part 1 – Because of its Forecast Part 2 – Because of its Fulfillment
Part 3 – Because of its Focus Part 4-Because of its Family
PART 4 OF 5
The Bible says, “Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen” (Eph. 3:21). This is the fourth installment in a series of five on The Importance of the Church. The church is important because therein is God glorified.
The church is important because of its Family
Jesus said to Nicodemus, “… Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). We are born into the family of God by the new birth, of which Jesus explained to Nicodemus in the verses following. Paul described it like this, “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named” (Eph. 3:14-15). The church is a family. We have been adopted as is seen in this passage, “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will” (Eph. 1:5). We are also told that we are joint heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:15-17), and he is referred to as our brother, as well, as our savior (Hebrews 2:11; Romans 8:29; Mark 3:34). What does all this mean?
We wear the family name, Christian. “And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch” (Acts 11:26).
We love our family. “ Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king” (1 Pet. 2:17). The scriptures teach us to “Let brotherly love continue” (Heb. 13:1). To the Thessalonians Paul wrote, “But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves
are taught of God to love one another. And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more” (1 Thess. 4:9-10).
We do good to our family. We are admonished, “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith” (Gal. 6:10). We are to do
good to our families, the household of faith.
We are always welcomed back into the family by our father. Jesus draws a beautiful picture of the father concerned about the son and ready and willing, when he returns, to take him back into the family. In the message of the Prodigal Son the Holy Bible says, “For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry” (Luke 15:24).
The church is important because of its forecast, fulfillment, focus, and family.
