Your family resemblance

I. Your physical family is in Adam by ancestry!

A. Our biological family gives us physical life as a human being!

  1. "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel" (Gen. 3:15).
  2. Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned (Romans 5:12).

B. Our identity is confused in the fallen sinful human race!

  1. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive (1 Corinthians 15:22).
  2. So also it is written, "The first man, Adam, became a living soul." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven (1 Corinthians 15:45-47).
  3. "Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves,'We have Abraham for our father'; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham" (Matthew 3:8, 9).

II. Your spiritual family is in Christ by faith!

A. Our adopted family is embraced by faith as a spiritual being!

  1. Even so Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham (Galatians 3:6, 7).
  2. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God (Romans 8:15, 16).

B. Our identity is restored in righteousness in the family of God!

  1. The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "All the nations will be blessed in you." So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer (Galatians 3:8, 9).
  2. Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, "And to seeds," as referring to many, but rather to one, "And to your seed," that is, Christ (Galatians 3:16).

Sermon by Pastor Rod Akins, October 27th, 2024

Life group flow and discussion questions

"Your family resemblance"

An important Guideline of Life Groups: Your Life Group can inspire spiritual resemblance to Christ in one another! Discuss how you can exhibit the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22, 23) more in reflecting Christ to others.

Getting Started:

  1. What are some physical characteristics that stand out in your family of origin?
  2. What are some spiritual characteristics that should be displayed in Christians?

Discussing Truths:

  1. With all three monotheistic religions (Christianity, Judaism and Islam) appealing to Abraham as a key figure, what is Paul declaring that is unique to true faith (Galatians 3:6-9; 3:16)?
  2. How is one's spiritual rebirth (John 3:3-7) the same depiction as one's spiritual adoption into God's family (Galatians 4:4-7)?
  3. What stands out to you about Abraham's faith journey as remarkable and exemplary in Hebrews 11:8-19?
  4. What wrong thinking has caused you confusion in your own identity?
  5. Does the reality of being grafted into God's family vine erupt in humble, thankful praise and service motivated by love (Romans 11:17-24)?
  6. Have you ever operated in fear with a spirit of slavery to perform instead of operating in a spirit of adoption as a child of God (Romans 8:15, 16)?
  7. How does Peter contrast our spiritual redemption being not from human legacy, but through the precious blood of Jesus (1 Peter 3:17-21)?

Now What? Application:

  1. How are you becoming more like Christ in your spiritual disciplines (Romans 8:29)?
  2. Will you continue to pursue DEEPER PRAYER as a daily practice? What will that kind of consistency do to make you reflect Christ's character (2 Corinthians 3:18)?