Christ Calls Us Brothers and Sisters
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.—Rom. 8:16, 17
How can it be that we are considered Christ's brothers? Christ is the first-born of many brethren (Rom. 8:29). He is the Son of God by nature; and all others are his brothers and sisters by grace and adoption (Rom. 8:17). Christ is the first-born among many brethren; and in Christ we have one Father with Christ. 'If sons, then heirs' (Gal. 4:7). Now we are all in Christ sons of God, heirs with him. He took our nature; and therefore, having our flesh, he is our brother (Heb. 2:14). It is a ground of comfort that he is a man as we are. But that is not the main thing to consider. He is our brother in a spiritual respect, in regard to adoption. He is the first Son of God, and we in him are sons. He is the first heir of God, and we in him are heirs. Beloved, it is a point of marvellous comfort, that Christ is not ashamed to call us brethren (Psa. 22:22): ‘I will declare your name among my brethren,’ says Christ. He is 'a second Adam,' and therefore a father in that regard. The first Adam is the father of all that perish; the second Adam is the father of all that will be saved. He is our head, husband, friend, father, brother, and whatsoever can convey comfort to us.
And the truth of it is, he is these things more truly than any relation is made true on earth. For these relations of husband and wife, and brother and sister, and father and child, are but shadows of that everlasting relation that Christ has taken upon himself. We think there is no brother but the brother in flesh, no father but the father in flesh. Alas! These are but shadows and quickly cease: ‘the fashion of the world passes away' (1 Cor. 7:31). These do but represent the best things that are in heaven. Christ is the father, brother, friend, and whatsoever is comforting in heaven. When he out of his free love will own us as brethren, will not we own him?
And the truth of it is, he is these things more truly than any relation is made true on earth. For these relations of husband and wife, and brother and sister, and father and child, are but shadows of that everlasting relation that Christ has taken upon himself. We think there is no brother but the brother in flesh, no father but the father in flesh. Alas! These are but shadows and quickly cease: ‘the fashion of the world passes away' (1 Cor. 7:31). These do but represent the best things that are in heaven. Christ is the father, brother, friend, and whatsoever is comforting in heaven. When he out of his free love will own us as brethren, will not we own him?
Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
A Heavenly Conference, pp. 35-39
Banner of Truth has granted permission for the use of this material.
A Heavenly Conference, pp. 35-39
Banner of Truth has granted permission for the use of this material.
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One Thing (1)One Thing (2)Our Thoughts and Desires Reveal Who We AreThe Christian's Desire for God's House (1)The Christian's Desire for God's House (2)What the Soul Was Made ForGod Makes the Heart TenderMaintaining a Tender Heart (1)Maintaining a Tender Heart (2)Maintaining a Tender Heart (3)Maintaining a Tender Heart (4)Test to See if Your Heart is TenderHow to Recover a Tender HeartBenefits of a Tender HeartKings Must Humble Themselves Before GodHow to Humble Ourselves (1)How to Humble Ourselves (2)How to Humble Ourselves (3)Proneness to PrideHumilityTrue versus False Humility (1)True versus False Humility (2)True versus False Humility (3)Both Outward Devotion and Inward AffectionWeeping for the ChurchWeeping and Rejoicing Mixed (1)Weeping and Rejoicing Mixed (2)God Hears Our Prayers--His PartWhen It Seems God Doesn't HearThe Privilege of PrayerGod Hears Our Prayers--Our Part
February
Death Is a Gathering (1)Death Is a Gathering (2)The Righteous Preserve their NationGod's Righteous JudgmentThe Importance of Knowing God Loves Me (1)The Importance of Knowing God Loves Me (2)Abundance Is Not an Accurate Sign of God's LoveRun to GodChristian UnityChrist In Us (1)Christ In Us (2)Christ In Us (3)Christ In Us (4)Christ In Us (5)Christ the Servant: the MediatorThe Bruised Reed and the Smoking Flax (1)The Bruised Reed and the Smoking Flax (2)The Bruised Reed and the Smoking Flax (3)The Bruised Reed and the Smoking Flax (4)God Knows Our FrameLittle at First (1)Little at First (2)Sometimes Tender, Sometimes Tough (1)Sometimes Tender, Sometimes Tough (2)Avoiding Unnecessary RulesThe Weaker BrotherExtend Grace to One AnotherThe Covenant of GraceThe Light of God Compared to Fire (1)
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