The New Testament often uses the words ‘brothers’, ‘sisters’, ‘father’ and ‘children’. It’s because there’s a familial relationship between us and our Father who is in heaven. Yahshua referred to His disciples as ‘brothers’.
“While [Yahshua] was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother”” (Matthew 12:46-50, NIV). See also John 20:17.
That’s an incredible thing. We have the same Heavenly Father and He has drawn us together into one family. It’s the Father’s love and Spirit that binds us together as brothers and sisters - sharing with one another, praying with one another, caring for one another.
“Let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Galatians 6:10, NIV).
“Now you are no longer strangers to [Elohim] and foreigners to heaven, but you are members of [Yahweh’s] very own family, citizens of [Yahweh’s] country, and you belong in [Yahweh’s] household…” (Ephesians 2:19, TLB).
This is another Scripture that points to our position and status - we belong in Yahweh’s household. He’s our Father. We’re His children.
“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in [Messiah] we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others” (Romans 12:5, NIV).
If we belong in Yahweh’s family then, clearly, we belong to each other. Each one of us should relate to one another like the parts of our individual bodies, working together as a whole, aware of each other’s joys and “aches and pains”. We’re all part of each other and we need each other. We cannot relate to Yahshua the Messiah without relating to His Church and His children. We’re not meant to live in isolation; we’re to be in unity together. Some people say they’re committed to the virtual or invisible church. Do the invisible pastor or the invisible deacons come to visit when they’re sick or hurting?
It’s interesting that the word ‘church’ is used about 104 times in the New Testament, but it’s referring to the local assembly of believers 98 of those times. The emphasis is always on the local gathering where people come together and relate to one another as a family.
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
https://pixabay.com/illustrations/family-cross-faith-religion-father-4787016/
Train YourselfClick to see the whole passage:
Matthew 12:41 NIV - The men of Nineveh will stand up at the - Bible Gateway
A recent Gallup poll reported "very little difference in the behavior of the churched and the unchurched on a wide range of items including, cheating, and stealing." ... Oh the need for saintly believers! To make a difference, you have to be different. You cannot change anything by adding more of the same.
Jimmy Chapman
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