Embracing Our New Identity in God's Family
Summary
Today’s reflection centers on the profound truth that, in Christ, we are adopted into a new family—God’s family. For many, the word “family” is loaded with pain, disappointment, or loss, whether from biological relatives or even chosen communities that have let us down. Yet, the New Testament insists that the church is not just a gathering or an organization, but a new family, one that God himself has established through Christ. This is not a metaphor to be discarded, but a reality to be reclaimed and lived out, even in all its messiness and challenge.
Looking at the church in Rome, we see a fractured community—split by ethnicity, history, and custom. Paul’s letter to the Romans is a call to unity, rooted in the gospel’s power to create a new covenant family. He uses the language of adoption, drawing from the Roman legal process, to show that our old lives, debts, and allegiances are erased. In Christ, we receive a new life, a new inheritance, and a new family. This adoption is not just a spiritual idea; it is a total transfer of identity, belonging, and future.
New life in Christ means leaving behind the patterns and bondages of the past. It is a journey that can feel daunting, even harder than the old ways, but it leads to true freedom and transformation. Our new inheritance is not just future glory, but also present suffering—walking the path of self-sacrifice, humility, and service, just as Christ did. The Holy Spirit stands as our witness, constantly reminding us of our adoption and the unshakable love of our Father.
Most importantly, we are given a new family—the church. This family is not perfect, but it is essential. It is in the friction, diversity, and challenges of life together that we are formed into the likeness of Christ. We need each other to remind us of our new life, our inheritance, and our Father’s love, especially when we are tempted to return to old patterns or when faith feels hard. The call is simple but costly: will you commit to this new family? It will require sacrifice, intentionality, and vulnerability, but it is the context in which new life and inheritance are truly lived out.
Key Takeaways
- The church as family is not a sentimental metaphor but a radical new reality established by God in Christ. This family is meant to be a place of healing, belonging, and transformation, even for those whose experience of family has been marked by pain or disappointment. Embracing this identity means reclaiming the church as a community worth fighting for, despite its messiness. [03:02]
- Adoption in the Roman world was a total transfer of identity, rights, and future. In Christ, our old debts and failures are erased, and we are given a new life under the loving authority of God. This new life calls for real change—new habits, values, and relationships—rooted in the Spirit’s power, not our own strength. [09:59]
- Our inheritance as God’s children is both present suffering and future glory. Following Jesus means embracing self-sacrifice, humility, and service, not just personal blessing. The Holy Spirit continually reminds us of our adoption and inheritance, especially when we doubt or grow weary, anchoring us in God’s unchanging love. [12:23]
- The new family of God is essential for spiritual growth and maturity. It is only in the context of real, sometimes difficult relationships that we are shaped into the likeness of Christ—learning love, patience, self-control, and compassion. Trying to follow Jesus without the church leads to a distorted faith that ultimately reflects only ourselves. [24:00]
- Committing to the family of God is costly but necessary. It requires time, sacrifice, and vulnerability, and it will inevitably involve disappointment and hurt. Yet, it is also the place of deepest joy, support, and transformation—a family that, though imperfect, is the context God has chosen for our new life and inheritance to flourish. [25:47]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:42] - The Complicated Reality of Family
[01:34] - The Church as God’s New Family
[03:02] - Background on the Roman Church
[04:46] - Paul’s Vision for Unity
[05:54] - Romans 8: Adoption and New Life
[06:42] - Roman Adoption Explained
[07:46] - The Process and Meaning of Adoption
[09:10] - New Life in Christ
[09:59] - Living by the Spirit, Not the Flesh
[11:07] - The Challenge of New Life
[12:23] - Our Inheritance: Suffering and Glory
[18:46] - The Father’s Love and the Prodigal Son
[20:44] - The Church as a Formative Family
[21:52] - Why We Need a New Family
[22:55] - The Necessity of the Church
[24:00] - Growth Through Community
[24:57] - The Messiness and Beauty of God’s Family
[25:47] - The Call to Commit to the Family of God
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: The Church as God’s New Family
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### Bible Reading
- Romans 8:12-17
(Primary text: Paul’s teaching on adoption, new life, and inheritance in Christ)
- Philippians 2:3-11
(Paul’s call to humility, self-sacrifice, and the mindset of Christ)
- Luke 15:11-32
(The Parable of the Prodigal Son – a picture of the Father’s love and welcome)
---
### Observation Questions
1. In Romans 8:12-17, what language does Paul use to describe our relationship with God and each other? What does he say we have received through the Spirit?
[[05:54]]
2. According to the sermon, what was the situation in the Roman church that made Paul’s message about unity and family so urgent?
[[03:02]]
3. In Philippians 2:3-11, what specific attitudes and actions does Paul say should characterize followers of Jesus?
4. In the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15), how does the father respond to his returning son? What does this reveal about God’s heart for his family?
[[18:46]]
---
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Paul uses the metaphor of adoption to describe our new life in Christ? What does this metaphor communicate about our identity and belonging?
[[06:42]]
2. The sermon describes the Roman process of adoption as a “total transfer” of identity, debts, and future. How does this help us understand what it means to be part of God’s family?
[[07:46]]
3. According to the sermon, why is the church as family not just a nice idea, but essential for spiritual growth and maturity?
[[24:00]]
4. The sermon says our inheritance as God’s children includes both present suffering and future glory. How does this shape our expectations for life as part of God’s family?
[[12:23]]
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon acknowledges that “family” can be a painful or complicated word for many of us. How have your experiences with family—good or bad—shaped your view of church community? What might it look like to let God reshape that view?
[[00:42]]
2. Paul calls us to leave behind old patterns and embrace new life in Christ. What is one specific “old pattern” or habit that you sense God inviting you to let go of as you live into your new identity?
[[09:59]]
3. The sermon says that our inheritance includes both suffering and glory, and that following Jesus means embracing self-sacrifice, humility, and service. Where is God inviting you to serve or sacrifice for others in this season?
[[12:23]]
4. The message highlights that the church family is “messy” and will involve disappointment and hurt, but also deep joy and transformation. How have you experienced both the challenges and the blessings of church community?
[[25:47]]
5. The sermon challenges us to commit to the family of God, even when it’s costly. What is one practical step you can take this week to invest in your church family—whether it’s reaching out to someone new, serving, or offering support?
[[25:47]]
6. The Holy Spirit is described as our “adoption witness,” reminding us of our identity and God’s love. When have you needed this reminder? How can you make space to listen for the Spirit’s voice this week?
[[12:23]]
7. The sermon says that trying to follow Jesus without the church leads to a distorted faith. Have you ever tried to “do faith” on your own? What was the result, and what did you learn from that experience?
[[22:55]]
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for courage to commit to God’s family, for healing where family has been painful, and for the Spirit’s help to live out new life together.
Devotional
Day 1: Adopted Into God’s Family: A New Identity
Through Christ, we are not just forgiven but adopted into God’s family, receiving a new identity that is rooted in belonging, love, and acceptance. In the Roman world, adoption was a profound legal act that erased the old life and debts of the adopted child, granting them full rights and inheritance in their new family. In the same way, when you receive Christ, your past is wiped away, and you are given a new life, a new inheritance, and a new family. This means you are no longer defined by your failures, your family of origin, or your past wounds, but by the love and authority of your heavenly Father. You are now a beloved child, an heir, and a member of a global family that spans every nation and culture. [06:42]
Romans 8:14-17 (ESV)
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 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, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
Reflection: In what area of your life do you most need to embrace your identity as God’s beloved, adopted child today, letting go of the labels or wounds of your past?
Day 2: New Life: Leaving the Old Behind
Receiving Christ means stepping into a completely new life, where the old patterns, debts, and ways of living are erased, and you are empowered to live by the Spirit. Just as Roman adoption meant a total break from the old family and its debts, so too does following Jesus mean leaving behind the “flesh”—the habits, attitudes, and behaviors that once held you captive. This new life is not always easy; it can feel foreign, daunting, and even lonely at times. But God calls you to trust that what He offers is far better than what you leave behind. The Spirit leads you into new habits, new relationships, and a new way of being that reflects the heart of Christ. [09:59]
John 3:3-7 (ESV)
Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’”
Reflection: What is one specific habit or pattern from your “old life” that you sense God inviting you to leave behind this week?
Day 3: Inheriting Both Suffering and Glory
As God’s adopted children, we inherit not only the promise of future glory but also the call to present self-sacrifice and suffering for the sake of others. The path of following Jesus is not always easy or comfortable; it often means giving up your own interests, sacrificing time, money, and comfort, and loving others without expecting anything in return. Yet, this is the very pattern of Christ, who humbled Himself and became a servant, even to the point of death. The promise is that as you share in Christ’s sufferings, you will also share in His resurrection glory—a hope that gives meaning and purpose to every sacrifice you make for the sake of God’s family and the world. [14:45]
Philippians 2:3-11 (ESV)
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Reflection: Where is God inviting you to embrace self-sacrifice or discomfort for the sake of others, trusting that He will bring resurrection glory from your obedience?
Day 4: The Church as Family: Formation Through Community
The church is not just an organization or a gathering, but a new family where we are formed into the likeness of Christ through relationships, diversity, and even friction. True spiritual growth happens not in isolation, but in the context of community—by loving those who are difficult to love, practicing patience with those who test us, and learning compassion through serving others. The family of God is where you are shaped, challenged, and supported, and where you help shape others in return. This is why committing to the church is essential; it is the place where your new life and inheritance are nurtured and sustained. [24:00]
Acts 2:42-47 (ESV)
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Reflection: Who in your church family stretches you the most, and how might God be using that relationship to form you more into the image of Christ?
Day 5: Committing to the Family of God
Committing to God’s family means investing your time, resources, and heart into real relationships, knowing that while it will be messy and imperfect, it is also the place of deepest joy, support, and transformation. Every family requires intentionality—regular check-ins, acts of service, financial sacrifice, and a willingness to forgive and be forgiven. The church will not always meet your expectations, and there will be disappointments and hurts along the way. Yet, it is in this very community that you experience the love, intimacy, and support that is so rare in the world. To follow Jesus is to commit to His family, trusting that together, you will experience new life, new inheritance, and the fullness of God’s love. [25:47]
Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV)
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Reflection: What is one concrete step you can take this week to intentionally invest in your church family—whether through service, hospitality, encouragement, or generosity?
Quotes
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