Bobby Stafford

Who Is My Brother?

The term brother is used in different ways:

·       All of humanity  (Acts 17:24, 26) “God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. 26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,” NKJV [Common Blood]

·       Same parents  (Genesis 26)  [Isaac and Rebekah, Parents of Jacob and Esau]

·       Disciples of the Lord  (Matthew 12:46-50) “While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him.  Then one said to Him, ‘Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.’  But He answered and said to the one who told Him, ‘Who is My mother and who are My brothers?’  And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and 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.’ ” NKJV  It is this last use with which we are concerned.

Body:  How does one become my brother?

I.            Who is my brother?  (Luke 8:21) “But He answered and said to them, ‘My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.’ ” NKJV  (James 1:18) “Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.” NKJV  One must experience a new birth.  (John 3:1-5) “There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.  This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, ‘Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with Him.’  Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’  Nicodemus said to Him, ‘How can a man be born when he is old?  Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?’  Jesus answered, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” NKJV 

 (I Peter 1:22-23) “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever.” NKJV  One must place faith or trust in Christ, commit to a change of mind, confess Jesus, and be immersed.  Note carefully Galatians 3:26-27.  “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” NKJV  My brother is anyone who has been Biblically baptized.  By looking at those on Pentecost, we see that one doesn’t need to have perfect understanding of everything in God’s Word. Though one needs knowledge required for a Scriptural baptism.  Then they are to be taught further after their baptism.  (Matthew 28:18-20) “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’  Amen.” NKJV

II.          Blessings of Brotherhood

·       Gain brothers and sisters in the faith – a new family  Jesus stresses the importance in this previous text.  (Matthew 12:46-50)  Disciples have a higher priority than blood relatives.

·       Loved by other brothers/sisters  (I Thessalonians 4:9-10) “But concerning brotherly love you have no need that  I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia.  But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more;” NKJV  “Philadelphia”  [Brotherly love]  Many need to increase “our area.”

·       Edified by the body or family  Help each other mature.  (Ephesians 4:16) “from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” NKJV

·       Receive physical help.  (I John 3:17-18) “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?  My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” NKJV

III.        Responsibilities of Brotherhood

·       Living an honest, sincere life.  (Romans 2:21-24) “You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself?  You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal?  You who say, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ do you commit adultery?  You who abhor idols,  do you rob temples?  You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law?  For ‘the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,’ as it is written.” NKJV

·       A hypocritical life provides ammunition for the enemy.  Look at certain congregations.

·       Since all brethren are not faithful brethren, some are not to be fellowshipped.  (Matthew 18:15-17) “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.  If he hears you, you have gained your brother.  But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.  And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church.  But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.” NKJV  (II Thessalonians 3:6, 14-15) “But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. 14-15 And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed.  Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.” NKJV  Must be done!

Conclusion:

Read I John 3:1-2.  “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!  Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.  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.” NKJV  Are you a child of God, a member of the family of God?  Have you been born again?  Have you been living an honest and sincere life?

Bobby Stafford  May 27, 2018