Brethren

Often, in the New Testament, Christians are called brethren. The term brethren refers to the family relationship between God our Father, Christ our brother, and the fellow members of the body of Christ. Members of the church are the adopted children of God by the process of adoption He has described in His Word. Along with His only begotten Son, God the Father has adopted us as His children and has made us His heirs together with Jesus of the eternal home in His Glory. With God as our Father, the risen Savior as our brother, and the Holy Spirit as our guide, we are one family: “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him” (Rom. 8:14-17).

Paul pleads for the church to be in unity, peace and harmony in Christ: “Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Cor. 1:10). Without unity in doctrine with Christ, there cannot be a family relationship: “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God” (Heb. 3:12). Almost all New Testament writers remind us of our responsibilities as brethren, members of God’s family, to work together, guided by the gospel of Christ, caring for each other and helping each other remain faithful.

The teachings of Jesus often use nature to illustrate the close family relationship between Christ and His sanctified adopted children. The illustration of the vine and branches recorded in John 15:1-8 is an example. Jesus said: “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing” (v. 5) He also affirmed: “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit” (vv. 1-2). The close association of Christ to the members of His church is shown by the branches being attached to and drawing strength from the vine. A useless branch can be taken away, cut off as a family member.

Paul speaks of the adopted children of God, added to the vine, as being “grafted in among them and became partaker with them” (Rom. 11:17). He also writes of the planned adoption into God’s family: “He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will” (Eph. 1:5). Peter refers to the brethren in the church as “A spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5). And Paul stresses the need to keep the sanctified family of God pure and undefiled as he writes to the church in Corinth: “Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, ‘I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘and do not touch what is unclean; And I will welcome you. And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,’ Says the Lord Almighty” (2 Cor. 6:14-18).

Paolo DiLuca

Paolo preaches for the Bridge Street Church of Christ, (1139 S. Bridge Street - PO Box 292; New Martinsville WV 26155)