Chapter 2: What is the Family of God?

What is the Family of God?

Audio read by Tom Parks - MP3

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One of the reasons the universe was created was for humans to have an inheritance when they become the children of God within the divine Family. Christ is simply the "firstborn Son" of many more children who will become part of God’s divine Family. But Christ has honor above all of us. He was the first created of the Father (as we will see in a moment). This is why the Father calls Christ by the fraternal and affectionate term "Dear Son" — a Son who is most dear to him. Note also how the Book of Colossians calls Christ the Father’s "dear Son."

"His dear Son: in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature [Greek: creation]: for by him [by Christ Jesus] were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him [by Christ Jesus, the firstborn], and for him: and he is before all things and by him [Christ] all things consist."

Colossians 1:13–17

"All things were made by him [Christ Jesus]; and without him was not any thing made that was made."

John 1:3

"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of things, by whom also he made the worlds [Greek: the eons]."

Hebrews 1:1–2

It was shown in the Old Testament that Christ (in his role as "Lord") created the heavens and the earth. The author of the Book of Hebrews quotes the Old Testament as referring to Christ Jesus as the "Lord" who was the one who made heaven and earth.

"And, Thou, Lord [Christ], in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands."

Hebrews 1:10

So, we find the clear statements in the New Testament that it was Christ Jesus with orders from the Father who was the actual "Lord" who laid the foundations of the earth and the heavens. But before the cosmos ever came into existence, we find the apostle Paul telling us that the ultimate plan of God the Father and Christ Jesus was to bring into existence a great number of children of God just like Christ, the Father’s "dear Son," the firstborn of God’s creative genius. And in that preordained plan of the Father it was decided that Christ Jesus would enter the world to die for all the sins of mankind in order to make all humanity (every single person) to be like Christ and the Father in composition and in character. We are to become like they are.

"But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death FOR EVERY MAN. For it became him [Christ Jesus], for whom are all things, and by whom are all things [that is, all things were created by Christ], in bringing many sons unto glory to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth [that is, Christ Jesus] and they who are sanctified [all mankind — that is, EVERY MAN] are all of one [the Father]: for which cause he [Christ] is not ashamed to call them BRETHREN, saying, I will declare thy name unto MY BRETHREN, in the midst of the church [the ekklesia] will I sing praise unto thee. And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold, I AND THE CHILDREN which God hath given me."

Hebrews 2:9–13

Note that the purpose of God as revealed in the Gospel is to bring many children into the Family of God. And in this section of the Book of Hebrews, we are shown that Christ Jesus became the captain [or the leader] to bring many children to God the Father and that those children have become "my brethren." This means that Christ Jesus is simply the Elder Brother of all of us whom Christ Jesus has brought into the divine Family. This was the plan of God before the world’s foundation.