But to as many as did receive him, to those who put their trust in his person and power, he gave the right to become children of God, not because of bloodline, physical impulse or human intention, but because of God.

John 1:12-13 (CJB)

 

We live in a time where many choose to ignore God or say they don't believe in Him. For them, the world is not created in an intelligent manner by God, but rather by blind, unthinking natural forces. Or they view the presence of evil as conclusive evidence that a kind and benevolent God cannot exist. However, at the heart of the Christian faith, we have a unique understanding of who God is and who we are in relationship to Him.

It is through the gospel and the witness of Jesus Christ that we have come to know the only true God. According to the Apostle John, our faith makes us "children of God". Once in Christ, we are no longer orphans or strangers, but beloved sons and daughters of the Father. Growing in our identity as children of God opens the way for a deeper intimacy and relationship with God. We now experience an everlasting communion of love with God, which in turn leads us into fellowship with other believers.

If we learn to see community life from God’s perspective, we will not only discover our sense of inclusion and belonging, but also the inclusion and belonging of others.

Many Christians struggle with community life.

We must be aware that our human fallenness and imperfections prevents from being as loving as we should be. However, as we learn to show grace and empathy while dealing with the reality of our sinful brokenness, we can grow a community bound together by the love God has shown to all of us. This makes our commitment and engagement with each other meaningful and real.