TEXT: 1 Tim. 3:15;  Heb. 3:5-6;  Eph. 2:19;  Gal. 6:10

INTRODUCTION:

A.      THE EXPRESSION "HOUSE OF GOD."

          1.       Often refers to one's family.

          2.       Examples: Acts 10:1-2;  Luke 1:27;  Heb. 11:7.

B.      IN OUR TEXT PASSAGES, GOD'S FAMILY IS THE CHURCH.

I.      PROMINENT FEATURES OF GOD'S FAMILY, THE CHURCH.

A.      GOD IS THE FATHER( Eph. 3:14; 4:6;  1 Cor. 8:6 ).

B.      JESUS IS HIS SON OVER HIS HOUSE( Heb. 3:6 ).

C.      CHRISTIANS ARE JESUS' BRETHREN( 2:11-12 ).

D.      IF WE ARE BRETHREN W/CHRIST, WE MUST BE GOD'S CHILDREN, TOO.

          1.       We are sons & heirs( Gal. 4:7; Rom. 8:15-17 ).

          2.       We are sons of God thru faith( Gal. 3:26-27 ).

          3.       Difference between us & Satan's children( 1 John 3:10 ).

E.      ALL OF GOD'S CHILDREN ARE IN HIS FAMILY, THE CHURCH.

II.     1 John 3:1, THE BLESSEDNESS OF THIS RELATIONSHIP.

A.      APPROACH GOD AS FATHER( Mat. 6:6-9 ).

B.      JESUS, A PRIEST, OVER HIS HOUSE, TO PLEAD FOR US

          ( Heb. 10:19;  1 John 2:1-2 ).

C.      THE HOLY SPIRIT AS GUIDE( Rom.8:14;  Gal.5:16, 26 è1 John 5:7 ).

D.      GOD'S FATHERLY PROVISION( Mat. 6:8, 32-33;  7:7-11 ).

E.      GOD'S FATHERLY CORRECTION( Heb. 12:4-11 ).

F.      PROTECTION( Phil. 4:4-7 ).

G.      HIS EVER PRESENT LOVE( Rom. 8:38-39;  Eph. 3:17-19 ).

H.      GOD'S INHERITANCE FOR HIS CHILDREN( 1 Pet. 1:3-5 ).

III.    THIS RELATIONSHIP DEMANDS SOMETHING OF US.

A.      SANCTIFICATION( 2 Cor. 6:17 - 7:1 ).

B.      OBEDIENCE( 1 Pet. 1:14 ).

C.      FAITHFULNESS( Heb. 3:6 ).

D.      WEAR THE FAMILY NAME( 1 Pet. 4:15-16 ).

E.      LOVE THE BRETHREN( John 4:7 ).

IV.   HOW DO WE BECOME GOD'S CHILDREN?

A.      BEGOTTEN AGAIN( 1 Pet. 1:3, 22-23 ).

B.      A NEW BIRTH( John 3:5 ).

C.      FAITH CULMINATING IN BAPTISM( Gal. 3:26-27 ).

CONCLUSION: ARE YOU IN GOD'S FAMILY?