Note 4 at Eph. 3:15: Paul is speaking of the saved, both Old Testament and New Testament, both then living and those who were already in heaven. This is the only time in scripture where the term "family" is used to describe the saints, although that idea is implied many times by the use of the word "brother" or "sister" when referring to a fellow believer.

One of the most common descriptive ways of referring to the corporate group of saints is to speak of us as the body of Christ (see note 14 at 1 Cor. 12:27, p. 934). We are also referred to as a holy temple of God (see note 16 at Eph. 2:21, p. 1107).

Some people consider their church or denomination as comprising the entire family of God. How foolish to limit God's family to the few in their select group. There are many of God's family members who have preceded us by hundreds and even thousands of years. Most likely they knew nothing of our denominational brand of Christianity, yet they are definitely part of God's family.