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Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
Like Jesus said, "Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” In other words, Christians are my brothers and sisters. Again Jesus said in Luke 8:21, one of my favorite Bible memory verses, "But he answered them, 'My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.'" I.e. He was talking about other Christians being our closest family members, in the family of God, the greatest family on earth!
Grant Brown
Supporter
All those who believe in Jesus are brothers and sisters by virtue of the fact that we are children of God. Jn 1:12: "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. As children of God we are brothers and sisters of one another." Hebrews 2 10-11 points out that Jesus became human to save humans. The goal was to bring many sons to glory and so the author of human salvation had to become one of us. The result is that Jesus is not ashamed to call brothers, all who believe on him. 1 Jn 3:1: John exclaims what wonder that the love of God is so great that he has made us his children. So because we are God's children, Jesus' brothers, we are brothers and sisters of one another, in God's family.
Tim Maas
Supporter
In my opinion, the brothers and sisters of Christians, in the sense discussed in the Bible, are only other believers in Christ (as indicated by Jesus Himself in Matthew 12:49 and Mark 3:34), rather than all other human beings (including non-believers). That is not to say that Christians should not love non-believers, and strive to bring them to faith in Christ. However, the idea of brotherhood and sisterhood implies a common spiritual Father (the same Person to Whom Jesus referred as His Father). That would be true only of other Christians (born-again believers).
Brother Paul
Supporter
I agree with Tim Maas. In the ekklesia, my brothers and sisters are those who are baptised, born again and who have been spiritually regenerated, those who are 'in Christ' and 'Christ is in them'. This applies to all who are in Christ, regarding of age, sex, colour, tongue, jew (messianic) or gentile, from any tribe or nation. Every spiritual stone is my brother and my sister. In the world, my brothers and sisters are literally my brothers and sisters.
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