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William G.Justice
The Family of God Through the Ages
The Family of God Through the Ages
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For more than two thousand years before the birth of Christ, people of the Middle East have viewed the family unit as a tiny kingdom, ruled by the father who carried the authority of a king over those under his rule and protective care. Therefore, the Bible uses the imagery of God’s people living as members of His family – living in the Father’s kingdom.
From the era of Adam and Eve, God repeatedly has sought to create a family — a Kingdom of people here on earth who would obediently follow Him — even assist Him in creating one, grand, world wide, united, harmonious, peaceful, loving, holy nation of people who accepted His kindly rule.
However, more than a thousand years Before Christ, men recognized that God’s kingdom also has eternal dimensions. The psalmist wrote of God’s eternal kingdom: “Thy kingdom is an eternal kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations” (Ps.145:15). A kingdom requires subjects. If God is to rule a kingdom, He needs people over whom He rules.
Those who refuse to accept His adoption into His family – those who refuse to accept His Kingship resourcefully degrade themselves and others and they slowly destroy themselves and others. The God of love knew from the beginning that by living obediently under His rule, people would fare well in time and into eternity. He has never stopped calling people who accept Him as their King to serve as His cultural agents. He asks His family to encourage others to become His subjects, and to work to improve the tiny corner of the world in which each cchild of His kingdom lives.
Although often unrecognized, the Kingdom of God is the dominant theme of the Old Testament. Of course, it continued to be the dominant theme of Jesus the Christ, and it continued to be the dominant theme throughout the New Testament. Of course, we know that the words, “Kingdom of God,” do not appear in the Old Testament. However, the concept of the Kingdom of God is far broader than the mere term. It is that realm over which God rules: the human heart — individually and collectively. The promotion of God’s rule over humankind as people lived in society is one golden thread woven throughout the fabric of Biblical history.
From the era of Adam and Eve, God repeatedly has sought to create a family — a Kingdom of people here on earth who would obediently follow Him — even assist Him in creating one, grand, world wide, united, harmonious, peaceful, loving, holy nation of people who accepted His kindly rule.
However, more than a thousand years Before Christ, men recognized that God’s kingdom also has eternal dimensions. The psalmist wrote of God’s eternal kingdom: “Thy kingdom is an eternal kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations” (Ps.145:15). A kingdom requires subjects. If God is to rule a kingdom, He needs people over whom He rules.
Those who refuse to accept His adoption into His family – those who refuse to accept His Kingship resourcefully degrade themselves and others and they slowly destroy themselves and others. The God of love knew from the beginning that by living obediently under His rule, people would fare well in time and into eternity. He has never stopped calling people who accept Him as their King to serve as His cultural agents. He asks His family to encourage others to become His subjects, and to work to improve the tiny corner of the world in which each cchild of His kingdom lives.
Although often unrecognized, the Kingdom of God is the dominant theme of the Old Testament. Of course, it continued to be the dominant theme of Jesus the Christ, and it continued to be the dominant theme throughout the New Testament. Of course, we know that the words, “Kingdom of God,” do not appear in the Old Testament. However, the concept of the Kingdom of God is far broader than the mere term. It is that realm over which God rules: the human heart — individually and collectively. The promotion of God’s rule over humankind as people lived in society is one golden thread woven throughout the fabric of Biblical history.
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