The Father’s House
“But Christ was faithful as a Son over his household. And we are that household if we hold on to our confidence and the hope in which we boast”
When we become Christians, we become a part of the household of God. This word household is a broad term for anyone living under the same roof. And in a historical context the word household would not have just been limited to family members. A household would include servants, slaves, long term guests, and anyone who lived and contributed to the estate.
The Bible is very clear that we come into God’s household. Hebrews 3:6 says “we are that household.” Now, we owe our place in this household to Jesus. We are not qualified to be in the household, but Romans 11:6 reminds us “it is by grace we have been saved.” Not works. We did not and cannot earn a place in this household. And likewise, we cannot and will not lose our place in this household. It was divinely bestowed on us when Christ transferred His righteousness on us the moment we believed. God has a place for us—it is in His presence in His house and Jesus saw to it that we entered in.
Being any member of God’s household would be a privilege. Psalm 84:10 says
“For a single day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.”
But God’s grace is so extravagant, that He not only made a place for us in His household, but that “He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of his glorious grace that He lavished on the beloved one” (Ephesians 1:4-6 ). The Bible says that we are adopted as sons and daughters. We are not slaves; we are not loners/orphans that were taken in and given a roof; we are not employees he contracted to serve Him. No, He adopted us into His household as sons and daughters. That was always His plan.
Consider this passage in Galatians:
23 Before this faith came, we were confined under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed. 24 The law, then, was our guardian until Christ, so that we could be justified by faith. 25 But since that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for through faith you are all sons of God in Christ Jesus. 27 For those of you who were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ. 28 There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female; since you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to the promise. 4 Now I say that as long as the heir is a child, he differs in no way from a slave, though he is the owner of everything. 2 Instead, he is under guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were in slavery under the elements of the world. 4 When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then God has made you an heir. (Galatians 3:26-4:7)
Now, before Jesus came, we were children under a guardian—the law. Paul explains that a child under a guardian was no different than a slave. Christ’s coming removed the need for a guardian (the law). It is through faith in Christ that we are no longer under a guardian, i.e., no longer a slave, but are all sons of God in Christ Jesus, with all the privileges and responsibilities that that entails.
As sons and daughters of God, we are co-heirs with Christ. Romans 8:17 says “and since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory.” Galatians says “if you belong to Christ then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to the promise.” Again, we did not earn this inheritance by doing good. We are not servants who earn wages for doing good works. We receive this inheritance because of our position in Christ, adopted sons and daughters by the blood of Christ. And what a rich inheritance it is!
As sons and daughters, we are not orphans. We are not fatherless. Romans 8: 15 says we “received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” And He is a good Father. We can look to God, our Father, for everything we need. During His ministry, Jesus taught repeatedly that God cares for us the way a father cares for his children: He provides for us; He disciplines us; He is generous with us; and He loves us. God is not some lofty king—He is our father, who knows us, loves us, and wants to have a relationship with us.
Moreover, being adopted as sons and daughters, Christ “was not ashamed to call us brothers and sisters.” He came to earth because He wanted us to be adopted in God’s household as His brothers and sisters. The Bible says Jesus is “a friend that sticks closer than a brother.” His love for us prompts him to advocate us as our high priest, mediating on our behalf, and making away for us to come boldly before the throne of God, the way a son or daughter might come before His father.
Now, let’s be clear: while we are adopted and co-heirs with Christ, we are not on equal standing with Him. Jesus, king of heaven, humbled himself coming to earth and took on the form of man. But this did not put us on equal footing with Him. He lived the life we could not. And even though Christ has raised us up and seated us with him in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 2:6), this does not give us equal standing as Him. He is God’s first born (Romans 8:29) and the first born has rights, and privileges, and honor that are only for Him.
We look to Jesus as our example of who a good son is and what a good son does. Jesus was faithful to the One who appointed Him. Jesus’ purpose was to carry out the will of His Father. “And Jesus is considered worthy of more glory than Moses, just as the builder has more honor than the house” because “Moses was faithful as a servant, but Christ was faithful as a Son” (Hebrews 3:5-6) Jesus took ownership in building the household. He was not an entitled son who was just waiting around for His inheritance. Instead, He did not “think of equality of God as something to cling to, but instead gave up His diving privileges” to come to Earth and and serve others. He served His father and gave his life to build His Father’s household. And He did it, not out of familial obligation, but out of love for the Father and those whom the Father loved.
We can never do for others what Jesus did for us. But, we all have a role in building the kingdom of God—telling others about Jesus. We don’t do it out of obligation, like a slave, or because we think we can earn something, like a servant. Rather, we devote our lives to serving our Father as daughters. We serve our Father to help build His kingdom because it is also our legacy.
We are daughters of the most High King in an unshakable kingdom. Our position is secure because our position is in Him. We do not have to strive, earn, or lobby for favor or position. Instead, we can devote our lives to serving Him and serving others, wholeheartedly. We are able to go forward in faith, knowing our Father will provide for us and knowing we have an eternal inheritance in Heaven.
