THE FAMILY OF GOD

The Heavenly Father has a Master Plan to expand His Family. Mortal human beings are born into the physical family and after death be born again as immortal spirit beings into The Family of God - if they qualify. The pre-requisite is that they must abide in Christ through obedience to His teachings and gain the spiritual character of Christlikeness in order to be given power and authority with immortality upon resurrection! Only then can they see and enter the kingdom of God ( John 3: 1-8) because flesh and blood (mortal humans) cannot inherit the kingdom of God as it is corrupted and subject to decay and death (1 Cor 15:50).

God has a throne in heaven from which He rules the entire universe with Christ (Isaiah 66:1). When Christians are born again, they enter this governing Family of God as His children. The prophet Daniel understood that the kingdom of God involves literal government, real people and real nations through a series of visions and dreams that God revealed to him with timeline as to when He intends to restore His government on earth (Daniel 2:28-44).

Human beings are created in the image of God, with the potential to become god beings (Psalms 82:6; Micah 4:5; John 10:34), but only if they yield to God and His government - His righteous laws - as man is born a free moral agent to choose right from wrong. However, because of sinful human nature and the influence of Satan, man has to choose to overcome to be partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). God is moulding those whom He calls to be like Christ in order to be born into His Family. Make no mistake, only those who are in the Family of God will qualify to rule and reign the whole earth with Christ who is the first born from the dead. Simply put, human beings are born to develop character, godly character. Whoever is born of God (born again) doth not commit sin (1 John 3:9) because he is made perfect.

Those who are true disciples of Christ will be resurrected by the Spirit of God that dwells in them (Rom 8:11). While man is born the image of the earthy, he shall bear the image of the heavenly (1 Cor 15:49) when begotten of God. While angels are created as ministering spirits to assist the heirs of salvation (Hebrews 1:13-14), they are never offered membership in the Family of God, and that is why Satan is mad with puny flesh and blood human beings. Angels were not made to rule the world to come (Hebrews 2:5) but man is born to have dominion (Gen 1:26) and to rule (Hebrews 2:8). That  in essence is part and parcel of the Gospel of the kingdom of God and its mysteries (Matt 13:11).

God's purpose for creating man is so that man can be born again into the eternal Family of God. It is the ultimate goal of salvation for man as spoken by Christ, 'But seek ye first the kingdom of God (the true Gospel), and his righteousness (the laws of God) and all these things (whatever you really need) shall be added unto you.' - Matt 6:33. Note that Christ is the firstborn from the dead, who is the beginning (Colossians 1:18) meaning that in the time order of events, Christ is the first person to be born again from the resurrection and many more will follow at His return as the secondborn, thirdborn, fourthborn...thousandthborn and so on. This will be so for all true believers from creation (albeit few in numbers before the first advent of Christ) till His return to be resurrected to enter the kingdom of God as members of the God Family. Christ is the first begotten of the dead and the prince (ruler) of the kings (resurrected born again saints) of the earth (Rev 1:5) and the firstborn among many brethren (Rom 8:29) for whom He is not ashamed to call them brethren (Heb 2:11).

The Lord Christ came to earth as a Messenger (Malachi 3:1) to bring the good news (from God the Father) about the coming kingdom of God which will descend upon earth at His return. We are commanded by God to hear Him (meaning His gospel message of the kingdom of God - Luke 9:35). Only those who are born again as immortal spirit being will be able to see and enter into it  (John 3:3 & 5). This is good news because the world is in chaos (more so as it approaches the timeline just before Christ Second Coming) with Satan as the god of this world (2 Cor 4:4). But the coming Millennial Age  (Rev 20:4) will see Satan incarcerated for a thousand years (Rev 20:3) and large majority of mankind will accept Christ for salvation when Satan has been put away. That will be the time when every knee shall bow and very tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Phil 2:10-11).

The born again saints will become  god-beings with Christ as the head of the super world-government of God on earth. Christ is the elder brother and they are His brethren (Heb 2:11). They will be given power and authority to help Christ rule and reign on earth (Rev 3:21; 11:15), some as rulers and some as priests (1 Peter 2:9 - royal priesthood). There will be major restoration of all things that are lost to Satan after the fall (Acts 3:21). Much work needs to be done and the great harvest of souls with miracles and healing in the midst of the people (Isaiah chapter 35) who survive the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord! The scenario will be somewhat like what Christ did when He instructed His disciples to preach the Gospel of the kingdom of God and heal the sick (Luke 9:1-2; 10:9). But during the Millennium, the born again saints will have the work carved out for them - what a privilege and joy to serve the King of kings and Lord of lords!

God the Heavenly Father is the Head of the Family of God. Marriage and family on earth is a typology of His divine plan - to expand His Family and extend His government over all His creation (Isaiah 9:7). Those who oppose this is fighting against God and in collaboration with Satan seeking to destroy the Family of God - whether they are aware of it or not - for he come to steal, kill and to destroy (John 10:10). The standard set for those whom God has called is high - for they will eventually be judging over even the angels (1 Cor 6:2-3) - that is why many are called but few are chosen (Matt 20:16; 22:14) because many simply do not qualify as they have not attained the spiritual character qualities expected of them (Matt 22:1-14, parable of the wedding feast). The Apostle Paul stressed this vital point three times where he wrote that the unrighteousness (breakers of God's righteous laws) by which he meant the fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, homosexuals, sodomites, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers and extortioners will NOT inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor 6:9-10; Gal 5:19-21; Eph 5:5). However, for those who overcome the deception of Satan, the lure and snare of societal values and self-centredness, the rewards are incredible -'But it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.' (1Cor 2:9).











 

WHAT IS MEANT BY CALLED?

Traditionally, most of Christiandom believes that all of humanity must be saved now in this church age. Otherwise, it will be too late and all those who are 'lost' will end up burning in eternal hellfire. If this belief is true, then God is on the losing side as Satan has much more 'followers' than the Almighty! The truth of the matter is that such doctrinal belief is false as it is not supported by Scriptures. The Plan of God for salvation of mankind - spelt out in Leviticus 23 - is clear as to the timing of salvation for all of humanity when it will occur towards the last century of the Millennium age when all who have ever life will be resurrected to physical life for judgement and not condemnation  (Ezekiel 37; Matt 11:21-24; John 5: 28-29; Acts 24:15). They will then be given the truth and opportunity to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour (Acts 4:12) and Christ will then be the Lord of all these lords. Only those who are called in this church age and eventually chosen will be the firstfruits (James 1:18) of God's new creation.

Although all who had never yielded to Christ as their Lord and Saviour are not saved, they are not 'lost' either - they are neither lost nor saved. Their time of salvation is not yet as they are not being called in this age. Many professed Christians believe that they are called by God to serve in this and in that capacity. But this is not what the Scriptures meant. The Apostle Paul stated this succinctly in Romans 8:29-30 thus, 'For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom He did predestinate, them he also called, and whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified, them he also glorified.'  These tell us that God knew well in advance whom He will call based on foreknowledge - some even while they were still in their mother's womb like prophet Samuel and Jeremiah! Simply put, calling of a believer is initiated by God (John 6:44; 6:65) and one who is called is given to understand the truth of God when he/she reads, listens and sees it. God has predestinate the one He called to be a son in the Family of God who will be given power and authority to preach and reign in the kingdom of God when Christ returns. While on earth, Christ taught His disciples how to obey the gospel of peace (Rom 10:15-16) by coming out of the value system of this world to become God's ambassador of peace to live a 'give way of life' instead of a 'get way of life'.

The verse in John 6:66 tells us that since then, many of Christ 's disciples walked with Him no more. They probably could not figure out how God had to initiate the call before one can become the disciple of Christ. The same could be said of thousands today who mistakenly taught that they had been called of God to go into full-time ministry or into the mission field. But this is not what the calling is all about as it is based on some personal feeling or words spoken from some charismatic leaders or preachers. The truth of this is given by Christ Himself when he told His disciples, 'Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven (God), but to them it is not given... Therefore speak I to them in parables' - Matt 13:11 & 13. Many have heard of the gospel of the kingdom of heaven (God) but have no clue what it meant because the Spirit of God have not illuminated their mind to understand the truth of God. It is something that have to be given of God.

Again, the Apostle Paul wrote that not many wise, not many mighty and noble are called of God (1 Cor 1:26). Instead, God had chosen the foolish and weak things of this world to confound the wise (verse 27). However, there is a warning to those who are called as Paul wrote to the Galatians, 'I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel.'  Some are already preaching another gospel other than the gospel of Christ which is the kingdom of God. It does not mean that those whom God called will automatically qualify for eternal life. They have to prove their allegiance to Christ and obedience to His word before God will give them the Holy Spirit for empowerment (Acts 5:32). Christ also warned in His word, 'For many are called but few are chosen' - Matt 20: 16; 22:14. Many who were called but failed to qualify for eternal life because of disobedience - unless they repented of their sin in time before their physical death or the time of the Great Tribulation, whichever comes first.

Once you understand God's truth, God is calling you and you must act on His word. Begin to study more of His word (continue in my word -John 8:31), and the truth shall make you free - John 8:32. Once God's Holy Spirit begin working in your life, you will begin to learn more and see the truth as it really is. Studying the word of God will be enjoyable and easy to understand as the Spirit illuminates your mind with more truths from the word of God and not from the teachings and traditions of men (Mark 7:7). However, do note that those who are called of God will face trial and tribulation - for we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God (Acts 14:22); For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required (Luke 12:48). In fact, the Lord Christ warned that there will be division even among family members for those who abide in the truth (Luke 12: 51-53) in order to be counted as faithful and wise steward whom his lord shall make ruler over his household (12:42). That is the inheritance of the reward in the eternal kingdom of God for those who obey and abide in Christ.