The difference between the Family of God and the Church of God
By Edwin Jardinel
The church is an assembly composed of baptized believers who are covenanted to worship together and to execute the Lord’s commission, (Matt.4:18-22; 28:19-20) while the Family of God is composed of all the saved of all ages from the time of Adam until the present time, and more will be added from time to time even in the future as many as would believe the gospel and would become children of God. (Eph. 3:15, Jn.1:12).
The church gathers in a particular location and is visible (Rom.1:7; I Cor.1:2; Rom.16:5) while the Family of God cannot be assembled in a particular location while on this earth. The church started with Jesus Christ as the founder during his earthly ministry (Acts 1:21-22) while the Family of God started when the sinner from the time of Adam was for the first time regenerated and born into God’s family. (John 1:12; 5:24; Acts 26:18; Col.1:13-14).
God existed in eternity while man has a beginning. (Ps.90:2; Gen.1:26) Since man fell to sin, his relationship with God was broken. As a result, all men became sinners by nature and choice (Rom.5: 12). All men are sinners and are by nature children of the devil because of sin (Jn.8: 44, 47; Rom.3: 10-11, 23; Eph.2: 1-3). The consequence of sin is death (Rom.6:23) Not only physical death, but also spiritual and eternal (Rom. 6:23, I Tim.5:6;Rev. 21:8). The destiny of the children of the devil is hell, which is the second death (Rev. 21:8).
Because of God's love and mercy, He provided a way for man's salvation and reconciliation with Him. Jesus is the only provision for man's sin (Rom. 5:8; Jn.3:16; 1:29; 14:6). Sinners who are regenerated in time are added into His family. The requirement for becoming a member of the family of God is regeneration by repentance and faith (John 1:12-13; 3:1-8) but the requisites to becoming a member of the church of God is repentance, faith, and Scriptural baptism administered by the authority of the NT church.(Acts 2:41,47).
One may profess to be a believer and will follow baptism, but if he is not sincere in receiving Jesus as Savior, he cannot be a true member of the family of God. He may appear to be a member of the local church in the eyes of the people, but soon he will come out because he is not a real member of the body of Christ which is the local church ( I John 2:19; Col.1:18; Eph.1:22-23). Just like when a man takes a bath, some dirt that sticks to his body and appears to be a part of the body are removed by soap and water. In the same way, the "wolves" who pretends to be "sheep" in the church come out when the church upholds the truth and the preacher preaches the pure word of God ( Mat. 18:15-17; Jude 3-4; I Tim. 5:20; I Tim. 6:12; II Tim. 4:2-3). When the members of the church are submissive to the Lordship of Christ, the church is cleansed and washed with pure water, that is the word of God ( Eph.5:26-27). The "goats or wolves" will not enjoy in a godly church because they are just looking for worldly pleasures. (I John 2: 15-16) .The true children of God hates sin and love the truth and it is their joy to walk in the truth (I Cor.13:6; II John 4; Ps.119:37, 113; John 10:27).
The Lord emphasizes the importance of seeking first the salvation of one’s soul to become a part of the family of God and His Kingdom (Matt.6:33). When Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, and John seemed to refuse to baptize Him, He (Jesus) said, "Suffer it to be so now, for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness" (Matt.3:15). Baptism is a work of righteousness and if a Christian wants to glorify Christ and wants to be obedient in all things he must express it by following the first step which is baptism, in order to be added to the church that Jesus built. When the believer is already a member of the Lord’s church, he then could observe the ordinance of the church which the Lord commanded and he will be able to serve God in the proper way and order. (Matt.28:18-20). However, we are not saved by works of righteousness according to Titus 3:5, therefore, Baptism cannot save us. One must seek to be saved first by hearing the gospel, repenting of sins and exercising faith in Jesus before seeking water baptism and church membership. One who seek baptism and church membership without repentance may become member of the local church in man’s eyes but he is a false brother and not a member of the family of God. (Acts 20:28-30). If one is already a child of God, he must seek the right church founded by Jesus Christ in order to glorify God to the greatest degree, Eph.3:21.