If you’ve accepted Jesus as your Savior, you’ve been adopted into God’s family. God created us to thrive in communities of faith - with people that love God, love people, and love the Bible.
1. God is our Father.
John 14:23- Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.”
2. He gave His son to save us and bring us into his family.
Ephesians 1:4-6- Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
3. Every Christian on earth is a brother or sister in Christ, saved by His grace.
Ephesians 2:4-9- But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not of works, lest anyone should boast.
4. God designed us to thrive in community. The local church is how we do life together.
Acts 2:41-47- Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Are you planted in a local community of believers?
It’s estimated that there are 2.4 billion Christians around the globe - and there are probably some near you. In many places, you can simply search online or down the street to find a good church- one that believes Jesus is God, Our Savior and that teaches the Bible. But in other places, especially in cultures that persecute Christians, it may not be as easy or safe to find a church. But you may be able to find even just one other Christian that you can pray and read the Bible with. We are praying that you find the right group of people! In the meanwhile, you can click here to connect with Christians around the world in our Facebook community.