The 2015 football season is here. Hawaii does not have a professional football team. The result is that local people are all over the map regarding their favorite team. Many guys jumped on a team when they were winning, but as of late has suffered through many rough years. This shared pain among other commonalities draws these people to be like a family. When you see someone representing your team you know that you are one. You remember the good times and the bad. You remember where you were when your team won. You remember who you watched the game with. This is an example of family.
Football is a powerful connector of people. An infinitely greater connector of family is Jesus. Christians are connected by the gospel. The gospel is the good news that Jesus was born, lived, died and rose again forgiving our sin and giving us everlasting life. Despite our sin and rebellion towards God, God sacrificed his own son so that we might be forgiven. As sinners we are adopted into God’s family. God makes us heirs with Christ. As believers we can have a hope that one day we will all be with God in eternity. Despite the suffering we may face while on earth this is our future hope. Paul in his letter to the Romans uses the language of brothers to address his fellow Christians. This is significant language.
12 So then, brothers,[e] we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons[f] of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. Romans 8:12-17