Pastoral Page

Today, The First Chinese Church of Christ is meeting in two locations. Some of us are meeting on the South King Street campus, while some of us are meeting in Camp Homelani in Waialua. Although we are physically apart, yet we are still together in the Spirit, because in Christ we are family.

The family of God is a Biblical concept. As Ephesians 2:29 reassured the believers in Christ Jesus: Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God (KJV). Our birth into the family of God happened at the moment we received Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, as John 1:12 promised: But as many as received Him (Jesus Christ), to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.” The Bible explained that we were adopted into the family of God. Jesus Christ came to redeem that that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons (Galatians 4:5).

This new relationship fundamentally and completely transformed our relationship with God to that of father and children. Romans 8:15 highlighted the significance of this new relationship: For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. As the children of God, we seek to live in ways that will please our Heavenly Father: For whoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother (Luke 8:21).

This new relationship also altered persistently our relationship with our fellow Christian brothers and sisters. As God’s children, we are then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17). This relationship is more permanent and lasting than any other human relationship known on earth. At the end of our earthly life, we part permanently with our non-Christian family members. As Abraham told the rich man in torment in hell: between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.” (Luke 16:26 NIV). Marriage and all natural ties dissolve at death. At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven (Matthew 22:30, NIV).

The only human relationship that lasts into the hereafter is our relationship as brothers and sisters of the family of God. Let us therefore cherish each other and trust each other with the dignity and respect befitting the family of God. For we are stuck with each other from here to eternity.

With love in Christ,

Pastor Ling