109SermonsbyJCRyle (continued)
I. What is that family which the Bible calls "the whole family in heaven and earth"? Of whom does it consist?
The family before us consists of all real Christians—of all who have the Spirit—of all true believers in Christ—of the saints of every age, and church, and nation, and tongue. It includes the blessed company of all faithful people. It is the same as the election of God—the household of faith—the mystical body of Christ—the bride—the living temple—the sheep that never perish—the Church of the first-born. All these expressions are only "the family of God" under other names.
Membership in the family of God, does not depend on any earthly connection. It comes not by natural birth—but by new birth. Ministers cannot impart it to their hearers. Parents cannot give it to their children. You may be born in the godliest family in the land, and enjoy the richest means of grace a church can supply—and yet never belong to the family of God. To belong to it, you must be born again. None but the Holy Spirit can make a living member of this family. It is His special office and prerogative, to bring into the Church such as shall be saved. Those who are born again, are "born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man—but of God." (John 1:13.)
Reader, do you ask the reason of this name, which the Bible gives to the company of all true Christians? Would you like to know why they are called "a family"? Listen, and I will tell you.
1. True Christians are called a "family"—because they have all one Father. They are all children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. They are all born of one Spirit. They are all sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty. They have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby they cry, Abba Father. (Gal. 3:26; John 3:8; 2 Cor. 4:18; Romans 8:15.) They do not regard God with slavish fear—as an austere Being, only ready to punish them. They look up to Him with tender confidence as a reconciled and loving parent—as One forgiving