Família de Deus
A família de Deus transcende laços de sangue. Em Cristo, somos adotados como filhos, irmãos uns dos outros e membros de uma família eterna — a Igreja.
Adotados por Deus
Recebemos o espírito de adoção pelo qual clamamos: Abba, Pai! Se filhos, também herdeiros — herdeiros de Deus e co-herdeiros com Cristo.
For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption to sonship, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ — if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him.
But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive our adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, you are also an heir through God.
Sons through Faith in Christ
You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the Beloved One.
Paul’s Prayer for the Ephesians
... for this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.
But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God — children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.
A comunidade de fé
Não abandonem a congregação. Somos um corpo em Cristo, membros uns dos outros, chamados a amar e a servir.
Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you do not experience discipline like everyone else, then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Furthermore, we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not much more submit to the Father of our spirits and live?
Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness.
so in Christ we who are many are one body, and each member belongs to one another.
If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
Christ Our Cornerstone
Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. In Him the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord. And in Him you too are being built together into a dwelling place for God in His Spirit.
Quem é minha família?
Jesus disse: quem faz a vontade de Deus, esse é meu irmão e irmã. A família de Deus inclui todos os que creem.
But Jesus replied, "Who are My mother and My brothers?" Looking at those seated in a circle around Him, He said, "Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God is My brother and sister and mother."
A slave does not remain in the house forever, but a son remains forever.
Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on My own, but He sent Me.
Reproof and Respect
Do not rebuke an older man, but appeal to him as to a father.
Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
Children of God
Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is.
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.