Let’s do a little “play” on the difference between “a part” and “apart”. It almost sounds silly but I assure you that there is a very important lesson to learn from these differences.

To be is “a part” of something means just that; it’s a description of a component, referring to a portion or section of something. This means that a person could be a member, or a part, of a club, an organization, a classroom, a workplace, a family, even a church. Whereas being “apart” describes and indicates a separation or a distance from something; as in not a member.

When we relate this to our relationship with God, we are either “a part” of His family because we’ve accepted Jesus as our Savior; or we are “apart” from Him because we have rejected Jesus, and not a member of His family.

In John 3:3 Jesus is talking to Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews: and tells him, “Verily, Verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”  Now that’s pretty clear.

Hebrews 2:11 declares that those who are made holy (believers) are of the same family as the one (Jesus) who makes them holy, and that Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. That is pretty awesome. Every believer is a part of the family of God; we are brothers and sisters. No matter where you or I live, we have brothers and sisters around the world who are also believers in Christ Jesus! God’s family is very large!

Another exciting blessing of being a part of the family of God is mentioned in Romans 8:17: “Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ” (NIV). Other Bible versions use the words “joint-heirs with Christ or with the Messiah. As you can see, every  believer in Jesus is a family member of God’s family – a part of the heavenly family.

The question now arises, “are you a member of the family of God?” If not, you can be this very day, this very moment. Romans 10:9-10 instructs us on how to become a part, a member, of the family of God: if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. It is with our heart that we believe unto righteousness, and with our mouth make the confession unto salvation. When you have done this, you are a part, a member, in God’s heavenly family. The next thing for you to learn is who you are in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1 -3). Look for the phrases “in Him, in Christ, in whom, and through him” to mention a few because they tell believers who they are and what belongs to them.

As believers, whether just new to the heavenly family or a long-time member, we all need to be a part of a church that can help us grow in the likeness of Christ. Families help one another, and God’s family help each other to be all that God intends for each to be.