Matthew 12:46-50 “While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.
Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
When the United States was first formed, it didn’t look like it does today. As the settlers slowly made their way westward, more and more cities, villages, and towns were created. Once enough people had colonized an area, a territory was formed, and those eventually were turned into States. One by one more states were created, as they all became united together to form this country.
In a way, all of the states are like a family. Brothers and sisters. Before the 1950’s, there were only 48 states which made up the United States; the states of Alaska and Hawaii were not added until 1959. But when they were admitted into the Union, it was like adding two more members to the family.
Which is like what happens in the church. Ultimately, all that we learn in the Bible has come from Jesus and His Apostles. The Apostle Paul wrote that even though you may have had many instructors in Christ, “yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.” Paul was, and is, like a spiritual dad in our faith, and all of us who have learned from his Spirit-filled writings are like brothers and sisters. A part of the family of God.
But we who are Gentiles did not always have this privilege, to be called sons of God. For the entire time leading up to Christ’s birth, it was only the Jews to which was extended the “family circle.” The Gentiles did not have the things of God, but were “strangers from the covenants of promise.” They were like Alaska and Hawaii before statehood. Shut out.
But because of Jesus’ incredible gift, now the entrance into the family of God is opened to all who believe in Him. Through His gift, we all can become a part of the household of God.
Ephesians 2:12-19 “That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;”
So how can we become a part of this family? One by one we need to come to Christ. We need to confess our sins so that we can be forgiven. We need to do the will of the Father, and when we do, Jesus says, “the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
In Christ,
Andrew
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 