TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Judges 12:1-15
How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity! - Psalm 133:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
After winning three straight championships from 2000-2003, the Los Angeles Lakers appeared poised to cruise to yet another league title. But the two superstars, Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, carried on a very public feud, each claiming that the other cared more about personal glory than team play. With this poisonous atmosphere, the Lakers lost the championship.

The Israelites could have been the most dominant people in the entire region—after all, they had the Lord God fighting for them. In our reading today, however, we see the continuing unraveling as God's people turn from fighting their enemies to fighting one another.

Yesterday we pondered the painful story of Jephthah and his daughter, an account of someone killing another member of his own family. Today we see this tragedy at the national level, as the tribes turn on each other. Jephthah's daughter becomes an individual example of the destruction happening at an even larger scale. Once again, we see Ephraim acting as a prima donna (see 8:1-3), upset that they have not been consulted, called, and in control. They challenged Jephthath and insulted the men of Gilead. The result was a civil war between Gilead and Ephraim, costing some forty-two thousand Ephraimite lives.

Note that Scripture devotes more verses to this conflict than to Jephthah's military victory over Ammon. We have the details of the military strategy, the clever exploitation of different regional accents by the men of Gilead to identify anyone from Ephraim who tried to escape. The text implores us to notice that Israel is reaping the consequences of turning from God; not only do they face oppression from external foes but also destruction from internal conflict.

The salvation accomplished by the judges is also becoming shorter and less dramatic than what we saw at the beginning of the book. Jephthah leads Israel for only six years. The following list of judges had many descendants but short tenures.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The conflict between Gilead and Ephraim might sound familiar to many of us who serve in the church. We can easily get caught up in maintaining our role and recognition rather than seeking to serve others to the glory of God. Pray today that God will do a work of reconciliation and unity in your church—perhaps even between you and someone else. If you find yourself in such a conflict, read and pray through Philippians 4:1-9.

[JesusisLord]

Read: Luke 23:32-43
Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. - Luke 23:34a
TODAY IN THE WORD
“Forgiveness is like the violet/

Sending forth its pure fragrance/

On the heel of the boot/

Of the one who crushed it.”

So says an anonymous little poem that you may have heard before. On the Cross, Jesus showed Himself to be a “violet” in just this sense.

Yesterday, we began to explore how to forgive as we’ve been forgiven. Today, let’s pursue further the example of Christ in this area. How did He forgive others?

Today’s reading occurs in the context of tremendous physical, emotional, and spiritual suffering. Jesus had been beaten, mocked, and nailed to a cross. He hung there for all to see, with two condemned criminals on either side, one of whom hurled insults at Him. He had endured unjust trials. His friends had mostly abandoned Him. Because He bore the sins of the world, He was separated from His Father.

These would seem to be the worst possible conditions under which to “feel” God’s love and extend it to others. Yet under these horrible circumstances, Christ’s forgiving love shone brightest. He interceded for His killers, asking God to forgive them (v. 34).

Those Jesus forgave were all those involved in His execution, including the Roman soldiers, Pharisees, and Jewish crowds. “They do not know what they are doing” wasn’t an excuse or proof of their innocence but simply a spiritual fact. These people were oblivious to the reality that they were crucifying the Son of God and that He was willingly dying for the sins of the world, including their sin, according to God’s plan (Acts 2:23).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Christ’s example of forgiveness on the Cross calls us to forgive in the most difficult of circumstances when we least feel like forgiving.

I am new to the board, but what you have said about forgiveness has touched my heart.  Thank you so much and God bless you.

Helen

[airIam2worship]

Hello Helen welcome to CU forum. I know you will enjoy your visits here we have many sweet and wonderful Christians and we have a lot of uplifting topics.

I hope to read more of your posts. 

Love in Christ,
Maria

[Soldier4Christ]

Hi Helen, Welcome to Christians Unite. I am glad to see you here. All the devotions in this thread are from the Moody Bible Institute and no work of my own. They are some beautiful devotions and a wonderful amplification of the word of God. I am glad that you were touched by this one.

I hope to see more of you here and sincerely hope that you will join with us in some wonderful Christian fellowship.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 John 1:1-4
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. - 1 John 5:13
TODAY IN THE WORD
It’s not uncommon for people nearing death to write letters to their loved ones recounting significant life events, sharing hopes and dreams for the letter’s recipient, perhaps even urging a specific course of action.

Toward the end of his life, the apostle John wrote a series of letters (1, 2, and 3 John) that similarly encouraged believers to remain faithful. Tradition maintains that the author of the Gospel of John and the epistles bearing his name are the same person, and there’s no compelling reason to doubt this. In fact, there are many parallels between the gospel and the epistles of John. As you read through today’s passage, you may have thought of John 1:1–18. Yet the purposes of the two writings are different. The Gospel of John was written so that nonbelievers might believe (John 20:31), whereas the first epistle of John was written to assure believers of their salvation (1 John 5:13). In fact, 1 John is like a refresher course in the basics of Christianity.

That’s a pretty good description of our study this month–a “back to the basics” course through 1, 2, and 3 John, and the letter of Jude.

We begin with 1 John, which was likely written between 85 and 95 a.d. to believers in Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey. Some type of false teaching was creeping into this area, and John was fearful that these believers might be led astray. So 1 John begins by reminding us that our faith is rooted in the historical, physical person of Jesus. He did not just appear to be human, as some of these false teachers claimed. He was in fact fully human and fully God. That is the main point of the message proclaimed (v. 3): the gospel is about the real-life person of Jesus Christ, the very life and person whom John witnessed personally (v. 1).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As we noted above, 1 John encourages believers to know that they have eternal life. This month’s study will provide a good opportunity to reflect on eternal life. You can begin by noting your initial reflections on the everlasting life that you have received by faith in Jesus Christ. Then look at each of the following verses: 1 John 5:11–12; John 10:10, 17:3; Psalm 121:8. How does each of these verses add to your understanding of eternal life? Consider memorizing one or more of these verses throughout this month.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 John 1:5-7
I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. - John 8:12b
TODAY IN THE WORD
Studies have shown that light is essential for human existence. When people are denied adequate daylight over extended time periods, they become increasingly pessimistic and eventually experience physical ailments. Although artificial light can help, natural daylight best maintains certain physiological balances. If physical light is essential for our physical well-being, consider how much more “spiritual light” is essential to our spiritual well-being. And today’s passage clearly shows that the only source for this spiritual light is God Himself (v. 5).

In both his gospel and this epistle, John frequently uses the metaphor of light to describe the truth. If the opposite of light is darkness, then the opposite of truth is deception, or unbelief. Darkness is the realm of disobedience and rejection of God’s truth. So verse 6 says that believers can’t have it both ways: they can’t say they have fellowship, or a relationship, with God (who is light) and continue to rebel against Him by doing what is wrong (walk in darkness).

John most likely was writing in response to certain false teachers who claimed that our physical being was completely separated from the spiritual. In other words, they said that what we do in our daily lives isn’t connected to who we are spiritually. This teaching encouraged people to live any way they pleased, without any thought about their status as Christians. But just as the human and divine sides of Jesus can’t be separated, neither can our physical and spiritual sides be separated. What we do is an indication of what we believe. In 1 John there is no room for “knowing” the truth and not practicing it--the two go hand in hand.

Today’s passage addresses the individual who willfully rebels against God by continually embracing darkness, or deception, and yet claims to be a Christian. It does not address the sincere believer who struggles with sin. All believers are tempted by sin, but “the blood of Jesus” purifies us as we walk in the light of His ways (v. 7).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
It’s hard to miss the close link between light and fellowship in John’s epistle. True fellowship can only occur when believers are walking in the light of God’s truth. For John, fellowship is not limited to a quick cup of coffee after church or a social get-together. True fellowship includes these things, but it must also go beyond them and become a life-changing partnership between believers and the Lord. In true fellowship, believers share needs, prayer requests, and the experience of growing together in Christ-likeness.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 John 1:8-9
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”–and you forgave the guilt of my sin. - Psalm 32:5
TODAY IN THE WORD
There are always consequences to not telling the truth. Consider the example of Pinocchio. This carved wooded puppet badly wanted to become a real little boy. Yet in his mischievous attempts to do so, he often resorted to lying. Each time he told a lie, his little wooden nose would grow bigger and bigger!

Our noses don’t grow when we tell a lie, but something even worse happens–we harden our hearts and deceive our minds. And this was why John wanted to warn the believers to whom he was writing. Apparently former members of this community were denying that they had committed any wrongdoing–they were claiming that they were without sin. By claiming to be without sin, however, these people were in essence declaring that they no longer needed the Cross. But Scripture clearly teaches about the reality of sin and the only provision for that sin is the Cross. Consider Romans 5:8, which says, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

John is quite clear that those who claim to be without sin deceive themselves and are without the truth (v. . For John, understanding the reality of our sin goes hand in hand with walking in the light. In fact, fellowship with God reveals our sin to us. Consider the experience of Isaiah, who walked closely with the Lord, but who cried out “Woe to me!” in the presence of God’s glory (Isa. 6:5). But God does not reveal our sin to condemn us, but so that we might confess it. Recall from yesterday’s study that 1 John 1:7 assures us that the blood of Jesus purifies us from all sin. Today’s passage extends this idea and assures us that confession of our sins brings forgiveness and fellowship.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
At this point we need to make a careful distinction. On the cross, Jesus’ blood redeemed believers from the penalty of death, once and for all. As believers, we stand justified, or accepted, before God. But we also continue to sin in our daily lives. Today’s passage addresses this second situation–the need for daily cleansing from sin. This sin prevents us from enjoying the deep fellowship with God that He intends. Without confession and forgiveness of sin we’ll never grow in our relationship with God and with other believers.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 John 1:10-2:2
He is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. - Hebrews 7:25
TODAY IN THE WORD
One evening well-known preacher Harry Ironside’s young son did something wrong and was sent to his room until he confessed. When dinner came, the boy called out, “Dad, if you think that I have done something wrong, then I am sorry. Can I come down now?” But his father replied, “No.” This went on for some time, until the boy finally came with tears in his eyes, saying, “Dad, please forgive me. I know I have done wrong.”

This story illustrates the third of three false claims about the Christian life in 1 John. The first was the claim that one could have fellowship with God while still walking in sin and rebellion (v. 6). The second was the claim that one could somehow be without sin (v. . The third claim (v. 10) says that although sin may be possible in theory, this particular individual has done nothing wrong. These people would agree that Christ died for sin in general, but they would deny that they had any sins that needed to be forgiven. As with the other false claims, John exposes this claim for what it truly is: complete deception.

John wants believers to be honest about sin. There’s no place in the Christian walk for denying sin’s existence. To be sure, John wrote to warn believers about the reality of sin so that they might not sin. If possible, he would want believers never to sin. But since that’s not possible this side of heaven, believers need to know that sin is real and that there’s a provision for it, namely, our advocate, Jesus Christ.

The term advocate belongs to the realm of the courtroom. Accused individuals would call upon an advocate to argue their case before a judge. In our situation, Jesus argues our case before the Judge of the world.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Sometimes we take lightly the privilege of confessing our sins before Christ, our Advocate. Or we think that we should confess only “big” sins, not “small” ones like getting angry while driving. But sin is sin, and as writer Doris Greig puts it, we need “to keep short accounts with God.” We begin by acknowledging our sin, and then confessing it. It often helps to be specific (for example, anger, lying, cheating, lust, etc.), so as to thwart the accusing whispers of Satan. Finally, we receive the gift of forgiveness. Alleluia!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 John 2:3-6
Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. - John 17:3
TODAY IN THE WORD
It is often said that religion is a private matter best left out of public scrutiny or polite conversation. Some people claim that it’s only important that God sees their faith. As we will see, today’s passage challenges that thinking on several levels.

To begin with, today’s passage shows us that we can know Christians by their obedience to God’s commands, such as the command to love. Not only does obedience show others that we are Christians, but it helps us to know for ourselves that we truly believe (v. 3). In fact, verse 3 is the first of several statements in which John tells us how we can have assurance of our own Christian faith.

Perhaps this assurance is better understood by looking at its negative counterpart in verse 4 (cf. 1:6). John states very plainly that the one who claims to know God but whose life doesn’t show some element of obedience toward Him is a liar. That’s pretty strong language!

It’s important to keep in mind the context of this passage. John is not addressing the person who claims to know God and yet breaks one of His commandments. The present verb tenses used here indicate that John is not talking about an occasional act of sin, but rather a lifestyle of disobeying God. As writer Marianne Meye Thompson states, “The real question is not about those who are missing a particular area of God’s commandments, but the person who refuses to obey them at all.”

Verse 5 goes on to show that obedience can never be separated from love. This verse does not say that the more a Christian obeys, the more God loves that person. But it does say that our love for God and our willingness to do what He asks of us are bound together. And it’s not just our love for God that is in mind here. As we seek to obey God, His love becomes more evident in our lives.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today’s passage is certainly not an invitation to morbid introspection. God is not asking us to scrutinize every area of our lives to see how we are obeying. Instead, today’s passage shows that any desire to be obedient to God is evidence that we really do know Him. And growing obedience shows that we are growing in Him. First John 1:5–9 says that sin destroys our fellowship with God, so it only makes sense that obedience deepens our relationship with God and enables us to receive His love more deeply.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 John 2:7-11
He has . . . brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. - Colossians 1:13-14
TODAY IN THE WORD
Think for a moment about a large city you know. Consider what that city looks like at night--tall buildings are illumined, street lights cast a warm glow on the boulevards, and spotlights point out famous statues. Now imagine what that city would look like if the power were suddenly cut off, and the entire city were plunged into total darkness. What a different, and even scary, picture!

It’s not hard for us to link darkness and evil, and perhaps that’s why we are instinctively afraid in the dark. In John’s day, this was even more so, because oil lamps and torches were of limited help at night. For this reason, John’s use of darkness as a metaphor for evil and hatred would have been very powerful for his listeners. And even with the advent of electricity, it’s still a strong image today.

Today’s passage also points out the link between love and light. Recall that 1 John is like a refresher course for believers. One of the most basic commandments of the Christian faith is to love one another.

John may have had John 13:34 in mind here, where Jesus declared, “A new command I give you; Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” But Jesus also no doubt had Leviticus 19:18 in mind, which says, “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself.”

How then could this be called a new command? Because in Christ we see what its fulfillment looks like and understand more clearly what God requires of us. Also, it’s only because of our relationship with Christ that we are even able to keep this commandment. Apart from Him, we are not able to love as we are commanded.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Some have said that love is the “acid test” of Christianity. In other words, just as some acids reveal the true chemical composition of certain metals, love is the “test” that reveals the sincerity of a Christian community.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 John 2:12-14
To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. - Revelation 2:7b
TODAY IN THE WORD
One of the best-loved and best-selling Christian classics The Pilgrim’s Progress, by John Bunyan, traces the allegorical journey of Christian from his home in the City of Destruction to the Eternal City. Each point along this journey represents a trial, temptation, or triumph in the Christian life. Despite the fact that this book was written over 450 years ago, it remains popular today.

Today’s passage also addresses the various stages of the Christian life. Although John calls the entire community “my dear children” (2:1), in today’s passage, he addresses specific stages of Christian maturity.

John begins by focusing on “children,” or new believers. First, he assures this group that indeed their sins have been forgiven (v. 12). Second, John assures these new believers of their relationship with the Father (v. 13). Just as it was true in John’s day, it’s still the case that these two areas are frequently the most doubted by those who are new to the faith. So John reminds them of these foundational truths: their sins have been completely forgiven by the blood of Jesus Christ (1:7) and they are now children of God, the Father (3:1).

Next, John focuses on the “fathers,” or those who are mature in the faith. It’s interesting that John writes almost the exact same thing twice to this group (vv. 13-14). These individuals have known Christ for a long time, and their relationship with Him has been tested and has deepened over the years. Perhaps John is reminding them that although they are getting older and have been through much, the Lord whom they have known is changeless.

Finally, John focuses on the “young men,” or those who are somewhere in between the very young and the mature in the faith. These individuals are learning what it means to experience the enemy’s attacks. They are learning how to stand firm through prayer and how to become strong through God’s Word (v. 14).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Don’t let any of the designations used in the passage make you feel excluded! The term father could be expanded to include anyone who has known the Lord for a long time and who has nurtured others in the faith. The term child includes all who are relatively young in the faith. And young man refers to those who are somewhere in between; this person is progressing in the faith and has experienced God’s victory in some areas. Reflect on your “stage” in the Christian life and what these verses say concerning that stage.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 John 2:15-17
Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? - James 4:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
When rescuers were finally able to pull a middle-aged man from the wreckage of a horrible car accident, he was taken to a nearby hospital. But it soon became apparent that he would die. As the chaplain comforted him, the man, who was a Christian, exclaimed, “As I look squarely at eternity, I realize now just how much I wasted my life on things that don’t matter.”

What a sad revelation! Today’s passage offers a strong challenge to those who “waste their lives on things that don’t matter.” John opens this passage with uncompromising words: “Do not love the world or anything in the world.” At first glance, verse 15 may seem at odds with John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son.” Most likely, John is using the word world differently in these two texts. In John 3:16, world refers to the lost people of the world, whereas in 1 John 2:15, world refers to an entire system of beliefs and values–what we might call a “worldview.” This worldview is completely opposed to God and His ways.

To clarify what he means, John lists three elements of this worldview in verse 16. First, he warns against “cravings.” These are misplaced appetites for some of our most powerful drives such as for food, for intimacy, and for recognition.

Next, John talks about the “lust of the eyes.” This includes both what we can see and what we can imagine. This can best be summarized as our tendency to look at the external qualities without really inquiring about what’s inside. For example, many people are tempted by the pursuit of wealth because of all they imagine it will enable them to possess.

Finally, John addresses pride, or that self-sufficiency that attempts to manufacture what God has promised–or what He has forbidden–rather than humbly allowing Him to give what we need.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today’s passage doesn’t condemn everything material as evil. Instead, it focuses on the affection that we have for the “stuff” around us. In others words, it’s not so much about what kind of car we drive, but rather the reasons we might have for wanting it or the intensity of our desire for it. What John is saying, however, is that we can’t ever let these things distract us from the eternal: God Himself. All these things will eventually be gone, but God is everlasting. That’s a reminder we all need to hear again.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 John 2:18-23
No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also. - 1 John 2:23
TODAY IN THE WORD
Over the past few years, the U.S. government has spent millions of dollars reissuing paper currency. In addition to a new, off-center design, several other features were added, such as a watermark. Although this was costly, it was considered necessary to make counterfeits more difficult.

Consumers and businesses lose a great deal from counterfeit money, yet the consequences of spiritual counterfeits are far more serious. That’s why John warned his readers about these pretenders, whose offer of salvation was a deadly counterfeit.

John begins this warning by linking the appearance of “antichrists” to the “last hour,” the time between Christ’s ascension and His second coming. The term antichrist literally means “against Christ.” Jesus Himself warned about people who would come claiming to be the “Christ” (Matt. 24:3-5, 11), and Paul gave similar warnings (Acts 20:29, 30). Here John points out that even though these individuals claimed to be Christians, the fact that they left the church showed that they never really were Christians. They would not be able to do what they were doing if they had truly been believers (v. 19). Although these were specific individuals in John’s day, every age has known such individuals, who are against Christ and promise a way to God apart from Him. Although these false teachers are scary, John says that true believers have an anointing from the Holy One (v. 20). John reminds his listeners that every believer knows what is needed for salvation. In other words, the gospel is plain enough for all to understand. It’s true that we keep growing in our understanding of the Lord and His Word, but the knowledge needed for salvation is not reserved for only a few select individuals. Even the least educated Christian doesn’t need some kind of “extra” knowledge–the gospel is all anyone ever needs.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
First John emphasizes two essential characteristics about the true God: God is light (1:5) and God is love (4:16). Both characteristics are twisted or denied by modern cults. For example, cults often use deception or hatred to gain members.

Cults often claim to have some “secret knowledge” that promises life or salvation. But the true gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is plainly set forth in the Bible for all to examine.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 John 2:24-27
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. - 2 Timothy 2:15
TODAY IN THE WORD
It’s often said that the best way to detect a lie is to know the truth. This is the case whether we’re dealing with counterfeit money or counterfeit truth. Recall from yesterday’s study that John warned his audience to be aware of false teachers, or antichrists. He reminded them that they did not need some kind of additional special knowledge for their salvation. Instead he redirected their focus back to this essential truth: Jesus is the Christ (v. 22).

In today’s passage, John again reminds His listeners to hang on to what they heard from the beginning–from the first time they heard the gospel message. They did not need something new, they needed to cling to the knowledge that they already had.

There’s always the temptation to think that the gospel message is too simple. Maybe John’s audience was tempted to make the gospel sound more sophisticated or philosophical, just as those against Christ were attempting to do. We may be tempted to do the same thing at times, by trying to make the gospel message sound “more relevant” for today. But the absolute core of the gospel is, of course, that Jesus is the Christ. Only by steadfastly remaining in this truth can one remain in the Father, and thereby receive the promise of eternal life (v. 25).

In addition to special or secret knowledge, these antichrists may have been teaching people that some type of spiritual anointing was also necessary to gain eternal life. Once again, John reminds these believers that they have already received all that they need to understand the gospel and to remain in Christ.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
When John says that believers “do not need anyone to teach you” (v. 27), he is referring to the false teachers, the antichrists, who are outside the church. One of the best ways to “see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you” (v. 24) is to receive solid, Bible-based teaching.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 John 2:28-3:3
To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. - John 1:12
TODAY IN THE WORD
For years Sergei wanted to be a part of a family. At age ten, he had never known family life. He had orphanage friends, but it wasn’t the same. With each birthday, his dream faded, but it never completely died. Then at age eleven it finally happened: an American couple adopted him as their son and brought him to the United States. Within a year, his self-confidence grew alongside his laughter and smile.

Deep down, all of us share this same desire for belonging, a desire that can only ultimately be fulfilled as a child of God. Perhaps the greatest privilege we have as children of God is the confidence to stand before Him. The shame to which John refers (v. 28) most likely has to do with the shame of those who have denied Christ. Remember John’s encouragement about forgiveness and purification through the blood of Christ (1:9). It’s precisely because of this that these believers can stand confidently before the Father–a confidence that nonbelievers can never have.

Yet along with privilege comes responsibility: believers are to do what is right (v. 29). Recall that 1 John 2:3 says that doing His commands confirms that we know Him. In the same way, doing what’s right doesn’t make someone a child of God; rather, doing what’s right confirms that a person has truly been born again. Both these privileges and responsibilities cause John to marvel at God’s love for His children (3:1).

It may be easier for us to understand what it means to be a child of God by considering newborn babies. Just as a baby does not bring about its own birth, so too becoming a child of God is not something that we could bring about on our own.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Consider parallels between physical and spiritual birth. We’ve listed a few in today’s study, but you’ll no doubt come up with several more. For example, just as we are born into a certain physical family, so too we are forever born again into the family of God. Just as physical families have certain family resemblances, so too members of God’s family resemble each other to the extent that they resemble their Father. What are some other ways in which physical birth and childhood illustrate being a child of God?