All this week on Things Unseen, we've been thinking about the nature of the church.

It's important for us to do this, because it helps us think more clearly about our

own church.

And just as important, it should help transform our churches so that we become the kind of

fellowships our Lord Jesus intended us to be.

After all, it is the Lord Jesus Himself and not ourselves who are building this church.

I mentioned four pictures, the New Testament implies, body, bride, flock and temple.

I wonder which of these you think is the most important picture in the New Testament?

Actually I don't think it's any of these.

In fact, the most important picture isn't ultimately a picture at all.

It's the reality.

Body, bride, flock, temple.

All these are metaphors.

When the Bible uses them it's saying, the church is like this in many respects.

These are pictures.

So what is the most important picture that isn't a picture at all but the reality itself?

It's this.

The church is the family of God.

Another family isn't a picture, it's not a metaphor, it's the reality.

In fact, we might say that it's the human family that actually is the metaphor.

God's family is the real thing.

God has given us rebirth through His Spirit.

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