The Family of God
Hebrews 2:10-18
"Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers."
(HEBREWS 2:11)
The heart of this verse strikes me as incredible: Jesus and I are members of the same family. Amazing! How does one enter the family of God?
The Bible teaches that we enter God's family much the same way we enter human families: by birth or adoption. We have been born again, as Jesus explained to Nicodemus in John 3. And we have been adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:5). We've doubly entered His family so that He knows us and cares for us as His very own children, His flesh and blood. What a wonder to be a part of the family of the God of the Universe!
Spiritual new birth happens when we receive Jesus as our Savior. It is something so profound that the greatest theologians have studied and pondered it for centuries. Yet it is so simple that even a child can come to Him. Many years ago, I was born into the family of God the same way you can be: by acknowledging I am a sinner, believing Jesus died to pay the penalty for my sins, and calling out to Him as my Lord and Father.
INSIGHT
"FATHER, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME NEW BIRTH, ADOPTING ME AS YOUR OWN, AND WELCOMING ME INTO YOUR FAMILY WITH OPEN ARMS."
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
2 Kings 24-25
Proverbs 23
Jude
Hebrews 2:10-18
New International Version (NIV)
10 In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. 11 Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.[a] 12 He says,
“I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters;
in the assembly I will sing your praises.”[b]
13 And again,
“I will put my trust in him.”[c]
And again he says,
“Here am I, and the children God has given me.”[d]
14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil — 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like them,[e] fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Footnotes:a.Hebrews 2:11 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in verse 12; and in 3:1, 12; 10:19; 13:22.
b.Hebrews 2:12 Psalm 22:22
c.Hebrews 2:13 Isaiah 8:17
d.Hebrews 2:13 Isaiah 8:18
e.Hebrews 2:17 Or like his brothers
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