Who Is Part of the Family of God?

Mark 3:35

Jesus provides a clear, simple, blanket statement concerning who is part of the family of God: anyone who “does the will of God.” Luke 8:21 says it is “those who hear and do the word of God.” Kent Hughes says, “Obedience does not originate a relationship with God (faith does that), but obedience is a sign of it” (Hughes, Mark, 98). Hughes also notes this new family relationship is far superior, far stronger, far more satisfying, far more demanding, and far more dear than any human family relationship (ibid.). It is an eternal relationship that is marked by unshakeable grace, and those who receive such grace are marked by humble obedience.

Tim Keller relates our text to the Prodigal Son:

Jesus ... is the true elder brother. He willingly brings us into the Father’s family at his expense. He died for us, he was plundered for us. We sit at the Father’s table dressed in Jesus’ clothes, with his ring on our finger. All through him. We must celebrate and live out the fact that we are members of a kingdom family, and it is all at the expense of our big brother, Jesus Christ. Do you live every day as if you are a member of God’s family, accepted and loved? Remember, a child in a family obeys not in order to be loved and accepted, but because he already is loved and accepted. (Keller, “Mark,” 37-38)

The “will of God” is critically important throughout the Bible:

After removing him, He raised up David as their king and testified about him: “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man loyal to Me, who will carry out all My will.” (Acts 13:22)

Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. (Rom 12:2)

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will. (2 Cor 1:1)

Don’t work only while being watched, in order to please men, but as slaves of Christ, do God’s will from your heart. (Eph 6:6)

84For this is God’s will, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality. (1 Thess 4:3)

Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thess 5:18)

... in order to live the remaining time in the flesh, no longer for human desires, but for God’s will. (1 Pet 4:2)

And the world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does God’s will remains forever. (1 John 2:17)

After studying passages like this, it is helpful to make some biblical and theological observations. In light of this text, what can be said about the family of God and the will of God?

Technically they are half brothers and sisters, since their father is Joseph, but Jesus’ Father is God.

For a continual updating of unreached people groups, see http://www.joshuaproject.net.