Our Family Tree

People are usually proud of their family “tree” but other people would just as soon not mention theirs. One of the wonderful things that we inherit as a Christian, is a family tree that is full of righteous people. For example, after we are saved, all the amazing people listed in Hebrews chapter eleven become part of our family. How exciting to know that Moses is now one of our kinfolks. Everyone can now have a new family if they want one. 

This “new family” became possible after Jesus gave His life to set in motion God’s new covenant. The Bible says: For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. Eph 2:14 (NLT). When Jesus united the Jews and the Gentiles all Christians inherited part of the Hebrew family. This is legal because we are in Christ who is a Jew.

Joining as part of the old family, means that we only inherit the righteous people that had faith in God. Paul said: There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you. Gal 3:28-29 (NLT). The new family of faith has their roots in righteousness. 

The beginning of God’s new family is Jesus, the second Adam who was created in the womb of Mary. This family created by the life and death of Jesus is a combination of Old Testament believers and the new. The old people were a people of works and the new members are of “Grace”. Several Old Testament prophets told people that the Messiah would come to earth as a righteous branch from David’s royal family. 

The prophet Isaiah, in about 725 BC, said that from the old royal family of David would grow a new family. The Scripture says: Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot— yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root. Isaiah 11:1 (NLT). One hundred years later the prophet Jeremiah said: Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. Jer 23:5 (KJV).

Then about 500 years before Jesus was born another prophet said: Here is the man called the Branch. He will branch out from where he is and build the Temple of the Lord. Zech 6:12 (NLT). These three famous prophets never met each other but they all spoke about the righteous branch of King David’s family that would rule in Jerusalem some day. What a privilege to become a member of the family of Jesus.

The eternal family of God is being built today. Many of us humans have trouble understanding the strength and beauty of joining this family tree. The Bible says:  So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters. Heb 2:11 (NLT). Wow! What a great “big brother” every Christian has. No matter how small of a person we are, Jesus is not ashamed of us. 

Jesus died for everyone in His family tree. Abraham was saved by his faith and the Bible says we have the same opportunity. It was recorded for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God. Romans 4:23-25 (NLT). Our big Brother is alive today and we can belong to God’s family if we believe enough to live our life in faith. 

It is difficult for some people to believe that God wants a family to live with him forever. But the Bible says: Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. Eph 1:4-5 (NLT). We must accept the fact that through Jesus Christ our life can become a part of God’s family. Learning to live a righteous life is getting us ready for the royal family of Heaven. 

Jesus has brought the saved Gentiles into the righteous part of Abraham’s family. As a Christian our family tree now includes all righteous Jews. To deny our Jewish roots is to deny Jesus the greatest Jew that ever lived. Abraham’s family was chosen to teach us many different things but bringing forth the Savior of the World is their greatest triumph. The new covenant is God’s way to bring all believers together into His family.