Do you know the most frequently used term in the NT for a Christian? If you guessed 'Christian' or 'believer' you aren't even close. Maybe saint? No, but better. Disciple? Much closer, but still not there. The most frequently used term in scripture for a Christian is 'brother'. Paul uses this term, far more than any other, when addressing fellow believers. So much so, that I think we tend to ignore it. We miss the reality that 'brother' is, for Paul, a theologically freighted term. It isn't just a slang way to address a friend or associate, like 'hey brother, what's up?' or a throw-away word Paul uses in the church because he doesn't know someone's name.
Paul calls other believers 'brothers' because they are now family! WE are family! Through faith in Christ, his death and resurrection for sinners, we have had our relationship with God radically transformed - God goes from becoming our righteous judge, to our loving father! As Eph. 1 says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ...In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ..." This is the glory of the gospel - condemned sinners become beloved sons through Jesus! And this transformed relationship with God means that we have both the right and privilege to refer to him as "Father" - which is exactly how Jesus calls us to address him when we pray! "Pray then like this: "Our Father in heaven..." (Matt. 6:9)
But this radically new relationship we have with God through Christ is also meant to reshape the way we relate to one another! No longer is another Christian - another believer - just someone who happens to believe in the same Savior I do. Nor are they simply on the same 'team'. Nor are we simply saying we'll all end up at the same location. All those things are true - but the idea woven so thoroughly throughout the pages of the NT that we tend to miss it is that every believer is part of my FAMILY! We all have the same spiritual dad. And we all now share the same spiritual DNA by virtue of the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. And we share a common destiny - eternity enjoying the goodness of this Triune God! In other words, what binds us to our Father, is also what binds us to one another! We belong to the family, and every member of the family is connected to us by unbreakable, eternal spiritual ties! Think about that! That person that hurt your feelings, that drives you crazy, that you just slandered...is part of YOUR FAMILY!
And our Father cares very much how we are handling our relationships with our brothers and sisters. In fact, John goes so far to say, "20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen." Notice what John is doing? He's saying that the way we PROVE we actually love the Father, is by loving his CHILDREN! This is a shocking statement. Not so much because we don't know we should love other Christians, but the weight and importance he puts on it! In the next verse he makes what is implicit in that verse, very explicit! "21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother."
Now what might this have to do with church unity? Just this, love them like they are family! You don't get to pick your family. And family can sometimes be hard, but God chose them to be a part of His family - so remember that the next time you are tempted to slander, hold a grudge against, distance yourself from, that brother or sister in Christ! Remember who their Father is...and your Father! Remember that - and let it shape the way you look at them, how you treat them, and ultimately, how you love them! Because they will be your family...forever! And your Father loves them...just as he loves you!
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