We're starting a new series for September. That's all about the family.
We'll talk through what it means to have a godly family,
one that’s growing in closeness to God and building up family members,
not necessarily growing in size for all of us lol,
but where godly production is happening,
and also what it means to invite others to get in the family of God.

But today we're talking about what it means to be a part of the family of God.

When I was a kid, we went to a church called Abundant Life Christian Center for a while.
My parents helped start that church and I remember every Sunday before service let out,
we would always join hands and sing this song:

We're the people of God, called by His name, Called from the dark and delivered from shame
One Holy race, Saints every one, Because of the blood of Christ Jesus the Son
A guy named Wayne Watson wrote it.

There are some Bible verses that buttress the ideals put forth in this song, namely:
1 John 3:1
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.

1 Peter 2:9–10
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

and 1 Peter 1:18-19
18 …you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

If I were to ask you what are some things that identify people as a part of the family of God,
most of us would navigate more towards what they do,
like people who routinely go to church, those who do “Christian” things, etc.

Yet it seems that two of the three people who were closest to Jesus seem to put all of the emphasis, not on our doing, but on what God, because of his love for us, has done for us.
- John calls us children of God and then declaratively says, “And so you are.”
- Peter says it wasn't our good works or our traditions, not because we were somebody special, but that we were chosen by God, redeemed by the blood of Jesus, in spite of our aimless conduct.
He says that we were not a people, but hopeless, helpless, family-less, yet Jesus essentially delighted in making us a part of his family.

And if you really want your mind blown when it comes to how far Jesus was willing to go to get you into his family, read Romans 8:16–17:
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ
We serve this God who stepped down into our chaotic mess,
paid the penalty for our sin, and then offered to share his father and his kingdom with us as brothers and sisters.
That in and of itself is supernatural. Miraculous.

So then, what does it mean to be in the family of God?
What language can we use to describe what that is?
Figuring this out is actually important. Let me tell you why.

When we hired the accounting firm that manages our accounts,
I had a meeting with the CEO and here's what he told me:
“Budgets reflect plans, because numbers only report on the effectiveness of you fulfilling the vision God has given you.”
Essentially, there is a metric that tells us how good of a job we're doing.
That's what he was saying.

In the same way, defining and describing what it means to be in the family of God creates a metric to let us know how good we're doing.
It is not my intention to make this about works or to allude to the false idea that works determine your salvation.
But just like budgets reflect plans and numbers report on the effectiveness of our fulfilling the vision,
understanding what it means to be a part of the family of God helps us evaluate whether or not we're being good brothers and sisters.

Jesus and two apostles talked through what it means to be a part of the family of God in the verses I've read earlier,
but let me give you three metrics that both define what it means to be in the family and give you an opportunity to a evaluate yourself as a family member.

God’s family is:

1. Improving, but not perfect
Perfection is not the prerequisite. If that were the case, we’d all be lost!
But improving is! You should be getting better, closer, producing more fruit!

Is there measurable, godly improvement in your life?
Let’s work through this in the past, present, and future.

Is your relationship with your past improving?
Philippians 3:10-14
10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, 11 so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!
12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Paul says, “Hey buddy, I ain’t there yet, but I am working towards the goal. And the first step for me is forgetting what is behind me.

Often times, our past will anchor us in a way that inhibits our ability to move forward.
Esther came from nothing.
Thomas doubted.
Matthew was a hated tax collector.
Mary Magdalene was filled with seven demons.
Paul was a murderer.
Peter denied even knowing Jesus.
Yet every person in this list still accomplished great things in Jesus’ name.
Each person brought many to Jesus and into the family.
None of them could have done that still anchored to their yesterdays.

What relationship do you have with your past?
Are your family ties stronger to what happened yesterday or to God’s family?

If your past is still creating issues, now it is causing issues in that second one, our present.
God never demanded perfection. He demands holiness.
1 Peter 1:16 Be holy as I am holy.
Holiness is being set apart, different
ἅγιος ”likeness of nature with the Lord”
Let me say it like this: “reflective of nature of your family”
God is not saying, “I demand perfection to be in my family..”
He’s saying, “I want you to reflect the nature of my family.”
THAT’S holiness.

What is happening in your present impact what you’ll chase in the future.
Are you chasing perfection or holiness?
Perfection is a reflection of what you can accomplish in you.
Holiness is a reflection of what God can accomplish in you.
Holiness grows when we embrace God, the things of God, his family, his Word.
Holiness becomes a reality when the Spirit leads us and our flesh submits.

This is a process! Proverbs 4:18
The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.

But how? How can we focus on improving, not perfection? Hebrews 12:1–2
Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.

The family isn’t perfect, but the family is holy.
And holiness is the result of putting Jesus first, seeking his Kingdom, laying aside sin and iniquity, being led by the Spirit, and running the race God has set before us.

You are improving, not perfect. God’s family is also:

2. Loving, but not all inclusive
People don’t like the idea of this.
Most people want a comfortable Jesus who just loves them and encourages them.
They don’t like the idea of a Jesus that says no.

So let’s address the elephant in the room.
If God is love, then why does he send people to hell?
A thought like that is a gross misunderstanding of God’s intentions towards us,
and bad theology at that.

God has never - and will never - send anyone to hell. Ever.
God gives people a choice.
He gave people a choice in the Old Testament. Joshua 24:15
if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Even in the Garden in Genesis, God gave them a choice.
Genesis 3:3
You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.

Matthew 16:24
Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
Romans 10:13
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
These are active choices.

God doesn’t send people to hell. He simply gives them what they choose.

Galatians 5:16-21
16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. 18 But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.
19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
REMEMBER: Romans 3:23 The wages of sin is death!
If you choose the paths of ungodliness, you can expect death and hell!

Yet God loves every single person. Romans 8:38-39
38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Even those who will go to hell are still loved by God.

However, God is broken over the fact that so many people will refuse him and end up eternally separated from him.
2 Peter 3:9-10
9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
How terrifying that the stars and planets will be burned away, but even worse that the works done on this earth will be exposed, too!
Every work of darkness, every sinful deed, every sin and iniquity.

God loves us, but that doesn’t mean everyone is in the family, no matter what.
Matthew 7:13-14
13 “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.
The broad road is easy, popular, and wide. It allows people to live however they want, following their own desires, sins, and worldly trends. It leads to spiritual ruin and destruction.
The narrow road is restrictive and difficult. It requires self-denial, humility, and turning away from personal pride to obey God. It leads to eternal life.

So why did Jesus say only a few find it?
Most people prefer a lifestyle of comfort and temporary pleasure instead of self-sacrifice. Jesus' teachings demand a real, inner change of heart rather than just going along with the crowd or practicing superficial religion.
This is doing out of works, applause, clout, not just for the relationship.

John 14:6
I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
It is more comfortable to our flesh for God to be all inclusive, but the truth is, while God's love is for everyone, the promise of heaven is only for those who are in a relationship with him.
For some today that has struck some fear in you.
That fear is evidence that you need to stop playing games and get serious.

God’s family is also:

3. Producing, not just consuming
It is easy to take, but how easy is it to give, to pour out, to bless?

For those in this room who have been saved, those who have been set free and delivered, those who have been healed, those who have been forgiven of so much:
Do you really think Jesus did all of that just so you could go back to the life you were living before?

Mark 11:12-23
12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14 Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.
15 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”
18 The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.
19 When evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.
20 In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. 21 Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”
22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered.
What is going on here? Jesus gets mad at a tree OUT of season with no fruit?
The tree was full of leaves (which normally signifies fruit,, but empty of fruit.
It presented like it produced, but it had no evidence of its production.
It looked the part, but was only consuming resources.

The result was that it was cursed, and only a short while later, it was dead.
What happens to unproductive trees that bear not fruit? John 15:2, 5–6
Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away… I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit… If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch that withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.

Now, Jesus was using the fig tree to illustrate the core issues of the Pharisees and chief priests who looked the part, but were only consuming.
But don’t think he wasn’t talking about today as well.

There are too many people out there who claim to be a part of God’s family but they bear no resemblance, they take no responsibility, they carry no cross, but they consume ravenously.
The Bible says they are walking the wide road that leads to destruction.
Sadly, the Bible also makes it clear that these unproductive people are not reflective of what it means to be in God’s family and will be tossed away.

And by the way, Jesus is consistent with this: Luke 13:6–9
A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, "Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?”

So what do we do? James 1:22-25
22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

Look, I know I have challenged you hard on your salvation today.
I pray you don’t hear condemnation, but that you check yourself.

Are you a part of God’s family or not?
Are you family in word, or in deed?
Are you improving? Are you walking the narrow road?
Are you being productive?

Are you getting closer to God, growing in that relationship, being better about saying no to temptation? Are you better today than you were yesterday?
If yes, you are improving. If not, let’s fix that.

Are you daily carrying your cross? Are you denying your flesh and being led by the Spirit? Are you not just basking in that love of God, but allowing that love to create godly change in you?
If yes, then you are walking that narrow road, and even though you might stumble here and there, you are staying the course.
If not, you might be on the wrong path and need to course correct.

Are you taking what God has given you, done in you, poured into you, and bearing fruit? Are people around you getting closer to God because of your life? Are people being blessed because you are in their lives? Are they encountering God because of you?
If yes, you are producing. If not, it isn’t too late.

There are many things you could do to get closer to Jesus, but let’s be sure of our salvation today.
I want you to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are in God’s family.

Are you in God’s family? If there’s even a doubt, let’s remove that now.
“Jesus, I confess you as Lord. I believe you died and rose again. I repent of my sin. Save me.”

If that’s settled, but you aren’t improving, and you are’t producing, let’s ask the Holy Spirit to help us figure out why and make that commitment to change today.
Let’s pray.