The Purpose Driven Life, Chapter Fifteen
Formed For God's Family
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This chapter begins the section on Purpose Number Two: You Were Formed For God's Family
Because God is love, He treasures relationships. His very nature is relational, and He identifies Himself in family terms. The family of God includes all believers in the past, the present and the future. Your spiritual family is even more important than your physical family because it will last forever.
The moment you were spiritually born into God's family, you were given some astounding birthday gifts: the family name, the family likeness, family privileges, family intimate access, and the family inheritance.
What does that inheritance include? First, we will get to be with God forever. Second, we will be completely changed to be like Christ. Third, we will be freed from all pain, death, and suffering. Fourth, we will be rewarded and reassigned positions of service.
(I'm still having trouble with this "positions of service" idea in Heaven....anyone who can explain this, I would appreciate it!!) Fifth, we will get to share in Christ's glory.
Baptism signifies you inclusion in God's family. It publicly announces to the world that you are not ashamed of your family.
BIBLE REFERENCES:
Ephesians 1:5
James 1:18
1 Peter 1:3b
Mark 8:34
Acts 2:21
Romans 10:13
2 Peter 3:9
Galatians 3:26
Ephesians 3:14-15
1 John 3:1
Galatians 4:7b
Philippians 4:19
Ephesians 1:7
Ephesians 1:18b
1Thessalonians 4:17
1 John 3:2
Revelation 21:4
Mark 9:41
Romans 8:17
1 Peter 1:4
Colossians 3:23-24a
Matthew 28:19
1 Corinthians 12:13
Acts 2:41
Hebrews 2:11
Matthew 12:49-50
Because God is love, He treasures relationships. His very nature is relational, and He identifies Himself in family terms. The family of God includes all believers in the past, the present and the future. Your spiritual family is even more important than your physical family because it will last forever.
The moment you were spiritually born into God's family, you were given some astounding birthday gifts: the family name, the family likeness, family privileges, family intimate access, and the family inheritance.
What does that inheritance include? First, we will get to be with God forever. Second, we will be completely changed to be like Christ. Third, we will be freed from all pain, death, and suffering. Fourth, we will be rewarded and reassigned positions of service.
(I'm still having trouble with this "positions of service" idea in Heaven....anyone who can explain this, I would appreciate it!!) Fifth, we will get to share in Christ's glory.
Baptism signifies you inclusion in God's family. It publicly announces to the world that you are not ashamed of your family.
BIBLE REFERENCES:
Ephesians 1:5
James 1:18
1 Peter 1:3b
Mark 8:34
Acts 2:21
Romans 10:13
2 Peter 3:9
Galatians 3:26
Ephesians 3:14-15
1 John 3:1
Galatians 4:7b
Philippians 4:19
Ephesians 1:7
Ephesians 1:18b
1Thessalonians 4:17
1 John 3:2
Revelation 21:4
Mark 9:41
Romans 8:17
1 Peter 1:4
Colossians 3:23-24a
Matthew 28:19
1 Corinthians 12:13
Acts 2:41
Hebrews 2:11
Matthew 12:49-50