You Belong - You Belong to the Family w/ Raph Fernandes

You belong to the family according to Galatians 3:26 (ESV), for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. The Greek word used for “sons” is a legal term relevant to first-century Rome’s adoption and inheritance laws, applying to all believers, male and female, highlighting their adopted status into God’s family with accompanying privileges, responsibilities, and inheritance rights. Luke 15 contains three parables illustrating the roles of the Trinity in reconnecting the lost to God’s family; The Lost Sheep showcases Jesus as the shepherd, the Lost coin demonstrates the Holy Spirit’s value in the church, and The Lost Son highlights the Father’s love. Recognizing familial belonging stems from inner conviction, as John 1:12-13 and Romans 8:16-17 describe our rights and spiritual testimony as God’s children. 

Assurance comes from our forgiveness and security in God, supported by Hebrews 10:15-18 and John 10:28-30. Experiencing God’s fatherhood, as explained in Hebrews 12:6-11 and 2 Samuel 7:14-15, involves discipline that confirms our legitimate place in his family. Collectively, Galatians 3:26-29, Genesis 13:2, and 12:2 speak to our prospering as God’s family, sharing in Abraham’s blessings and material success as part of a divine covenant. Growth and sanctification within the family are discussed in Ephesians 2:19-21 and 1 John 3:1-3, emphasizing our distinctiveness and communal growth towards holiness. Key familial traits include love and overcomer spirit, essential for spiritual kinship and victory in life’s challenges, as depicted in John 13:35, 1 John 4:7-8, and Romans 8:37-39. Revelation 21:5-7 sums up the divine promise of renewal and eternal belonging for those who overcome, underscoring the transformative and enduring nature of our relationship with God as part of his family.