One family in Christ

For this cause I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and on earth is named (Eph_3:14, Eph_3:15).

By faith in Christ we become members of the royal family, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ. In Christ we are one. As we come in sight of Calvary, and see the Royal Sufferer, who in human nature bore the curse of the law in man’s stead, all national distinctions, all sectarian differences, are rent asunder; all honour of rank, all pride of caste, are lost. The light that shines from the throne of God upon the ‘cross of Calvary’ puts an end forever to man-made separations between class and race. Men of all classes become members of one family, children of the heavenly King, not through earthly power, but through the love of God which gave Jesus a life of poverty, affliction and humiliation, allowed him to die in shame and agony, that he might bring many sons and daughters to glory.

It is not the position, it is not the finite wisdom, it is not the qualities, it is not the gifts of a person that make him stand out in God’s esteem. The intellect, the reason, the talents of men are the gifts of God to be used for His glory, for the building of His eternal kingdom. Moral and spiritual character is that which is worthy in the sight of heaven, and that which will survive the grave and be made glorious with immortality throughout the endless ages of eternity…..

All who are found worthy to be counted as members of the family of God in heaven will recognise each other as sons and daughters of God….. They know that they must wash their robes of character in the blood of Christ to be accepted of the Father in His name, if they are to stand in the bright assembly of the saints, clothed in the same white robes of righteousness.

(Review and Herald, 22-12-1891). 106

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Preceding

1. Religion and the essence of devotion
2. More on Grace and Spiritual Fruit – Abide in Me, and I in you
3. Beautiful feet of those who announce the good news

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Additional reading

1. Born of the Father
2. Not created to be on our own
3. Agape, a love to share with others from the Fruit of the Spirit
4. Mark 3 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 3:31-35 – Spiritual Brotherhood
5. To whom do we want to be enslaved
6. What does it mean to belong to a family
7. Brothers and sisters as one family
8. Being Religious and Spiritual 7 Transcendence to become one
9. Avoiding friction and distraction in the body of Christ
10. Starting to develop a spiritual mind #2 Children and heirs of God
11. Jesus high priestly prayer for unity
12. Oneness with Christ is like glue that ought to hold us together
13. Preparation for unity
14. Colossians – An Exhortation for Unity in Love #6 Care of the saints
15. Participants bonded together into one body
16. Apostleship in the Bible
17. Disciple of Christ counting lives and friends dear to them
18. How should we worship God? #8 Love one another
19. Work in the family house and garden
20. Memorizing wonderfully 67: Galatians 3:29 Heirs according to promise.
21. When feeling alone, afraid to connect with others in order to grow in faith