1. My first trip to a family reunion with Marilyn

2. Did you know that we are also children of Charlemagne?

3. If you’re of European ancestry, you’ve got royalty in your blood.

4. You’re a descendant of Charlemagne, a distant relative of this master of Western Europe known as "Charles the Great."

5. Living from 742 to 814, he ruled as King of the Franks and Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, and worked tirelessly to spread commerce, education and Christianity.

6. Those are the findings of Yale statistician Joseph Chang

7. According to Chang’s analysis, almost everyone in the Americas must be descended from royalty — even people of predominantly African or Native American ancestry, because of the long history of intermarriage in the New World. Through this complex web of relationships, we can all connect ourselves to Charlemagne.

8. So where do we go to collect our inheritance?

9. Now look at the text in 1 John. Here a very different kind of family is described.

10. This family is not made up of people who trace their lineage back to Charlemagne or to Confucius, but to Christ — through Jesus Christ to God.

11. That makes us Children of THE King.

12. If we are children we are heirs

13. (Romans 8:16-18 NKJV) The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, {17} and if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. {18} For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

14. What are the genetic markers that establish we are children of the King?

A. It’s often said that "you can’t choose your parents," and in the family of God this is certainly true.

B. We have not chosen God, but he has chosen us.

C. We did not first call God "Father"; instead, he first called us his children.

D. We have not earned a spot in this family by our good deeds or by our noble thoughts or by our winning ways, but by one thing, and one thing only: the generous love of God the Father (v. 1).

E. The actress Jeanette Clift George tells the story of a woman and her baby, flying home on a very turbulent flight. Every time the baby cried, the young mother fed the baby a little fruit and a little orange juice, but because the flight was so bumpy, everything that went down came back up. At the end of the flight, the carpet was a mess, and the baby looked awful.
At the gate was a young man who had to be Daddy: white pants, white shirt and flowers. Jeanette George thought to herself, "He’s going to run to that baby, get one look and keep running!"
Of course, he didn’t. He grabbed the messy baby, held her against his white shirt and whispered loving things in her ear. All the way to the luggage claim area, he never stopped hugging and kissing that baby, stroking her hair, welcoming her back home.
Jeanette George asked herself, "Where did I ever get the idea that my Father God is less loving than a young daddy in white slacks and white shirt?" Our God has chosen to make us his children, and he is going to embrace us and accept us with open arms, no matter how messy we are.

(1 John 3:2 NKJV) Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

A. We are growing into the image of Christ.

(2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV) But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

B. In the judgment we will finally become like him (2)

C. Question: Am I more like Christ today than a year ago?

D. Growing in the image of Christ means finding new ways to

1. Share the gospel,

2. Speak the truth,

3. Serve the those in need

4. Bind up the brokenhearted

5. Walking the self-denying, cross-carrying path of discipleship

6. Following christ’s example of eating with outcasts,

7. Forgiving sinners,

8. Loving enemies

9. Turning the other cheek.

10. Opening to the work of the Holy Spirit

11. Allowing ourselves to become ever more effective channels for love of God.

E. It includes growth as part of a community of believers.

(1 John 3:3 NKJV) And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

A. He calls us to strive to do what is right, because God our Father is righteous

(1 John 3:7 NKJV) Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.

B. Charlemagne can keep his crown. . . We’re children of an even greater king.

A. The key is good genetic material, and good divine parenting.

(Philippians 2:12-13 NKJV) Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; {13} for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

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