Firstly, it is important to define what the word brother means according to the dictionary and spiritually according to what is biblicle to what God teaches us.
By this definition we will come to a better knowledge who is our brother and who we should call our brothers and sisters.
Definition of the word BROTHER/BRETHERN:A man or boy related to one another either by having the same parents or step parents in common, half brother; foster brother, a freind who is like a brother; a fellow member of the SAME RACE, CREED, PROFESSION,OR RELIGIOUS organization.
In other words a brother is all members of a particular race, or of the humam male numbered among the same kinship group, nationality, race, profession, etc., as another; an associate; a fellow member, fellow countryman, kindred people, fellow man, etc.: a fraternity brothern race in general: All men are brothers.
Definition of Brother as according to when brothers or brethern is used in God's Word: A man or boy who has the same bond between each other in Christian beliefs and faith; a common unity in the faith in Jesus Christ or religious beliefs. A countrymen or tribe.
Used as a slang, brother denotes freind, or same race or creed, or profession or fellow man, kindred people.
As kinsmen of the saem parents Genesis chapter 27
As of the same father Genesis chapter 28
As of the same mother Judges chapter 8
As of a countryman Exodus chapter 2 and Acts chapter3
As of membero f the same tribe II Samual chapter 19
As of the saem human race Matthew chapter chapter 7, and the list goes on and on.
In Romans chapter 9, Paul calls the unsaved Jews his brothers, by saying this, " I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ FOR MY BRETHEN, MY KINSMEN ACCORDING TO THE FLESH, WHO ARE THE ISRALEITES, TO WHOM PERTAIN THE ADOPTION, THE GLORY, THE COVENANT, THE GIVING OF THE LAW, THE SERVICE OF GOD, AND THE PROMISE."
When Peter stood before the council to be judged for healing the lame man, and as he spoke to them about crucifying our Lord, so who was he speaking to? Surely, these men were not saved nor were they of the same faith as Peter in Christ. Yet, Peter says these things to them in Acts chapter 3, "Yet now, brethern, I know that you did it in ignrance, as also were your rulers,. But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that Christ would suffer, He has fulfilled.
In Acts chapter 22: verses 1-30, when Paul was facing the mob he said this, Men, brethen, adn fathers hear my defense before you now." And when they (the mob) heard that he (Paul) spoke to them in the Hebrew kanguage, they kept silent all the more. Then Paul said, I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamalief, taught accpording to the strictbness of our father's law ( Paul is referring to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob), abd was zealous to ward God as you all are today... then he continues.
One thing we do know is that Paul was not speaking to Christian believers when he called them brothers, he was speaking to those Jews, his kinsmen who were in the crowd to stone him for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, his countrymen, his kinsmen of the same tribe and blood in brith if nationality, Israelites, His Jewsih brothers who were not SAVED.
Most importantly is that one is consider a brother or a sister spiritually if he or she are in Christ, and of the household of faith. Holding fast to the same beliefs in Jesus Christ.
One is considered a brother or a sister if they are of same blood line as in family, or step family related as relatives.
One is considered a brother or sister if they are our contrymen, race and creed.
One is considered a brother or a sisiter of they are of kindred spirit.
One is considered a brother or a sister if they are of the same tribe.
One is consider a brother or sister if they are of the human race created by God, bloodline connection through Adam Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Does not matter what your religous beliefs are, or in whom you believe, you are my brother and my sister. And even the more spiritually if you are in Christ Jesus by faith..
So, who Can I Call My Brother Or My Sister... Every human Creature God has created upon the face of this green earth!:rocknroll:
Hey, there brotha! Hey, there sista!:dancingp::peace:
Brotha ! Sista ! Leaned me yer ears...Make Straight the Path...For the Lord Drawls Near...:glow:...I sorry...:winksmile:...I couldnt resist...Yippy...Yi...Yo...Yi...YA !!!!....:yay:...xo
A Topic Question followed by 33 sentences complete with definitions and Bible quotes, yet totally ignores the definitions Jesus gives.
Yes, Jesus.
You may put more stock in Webster, however I'll stick with Jesus, thank you very much.
In case you might be at all interested in what Jesus says on the topic; I have included a couple of verses in my post:
Mark 3:35 ~ "Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother"
John 8:42-44 "If God were your Father, you would love me.....
You belong to your father, the devil,....."
Btw, according to your logic: There is only one God who created all things; including life on other planets. Therefore in your logic, you can call these space aliens "brother". Or how about angels? Didn't God create them? So we can call them brothers also! Yes, that would include fallen angels, therefore you can call Satan your "brother"
Thanks for the scriptures TS. I was going to post John 8:44 but you beat me to it. God is my Father and anyone who has satan for their father is definitely not my brotha or sista. P.J. , I AGREE!
(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) Philippians 3:18,19 Is the verse above telling me these are my brothers or sisters? No Way. It does matter whom you believe in and whom you serve if I am to call you a brother or sister. I have many many many, but it doesn't include every man, woman, and child on this planet.
There is no where in scripture wherein we are told NOT to call any person your brother or sister... know the difference between what scriptures says and what you would like for it to say to make your own opinions and personal believe .
First the natural, then the spiritual....
BTW who are the "THEY" and who are the "THEM" you speak about? Aren't you guys rather way out there speaking about fallen angels and aliens from UFO's, that kinda off the limb isn't?:ROFL:
Nevettheless, since you guys have an unberstanidng of the passages you presented, I wouldappreciate it if you gave us a clear understanding as to how Mark 3:35 and John 8:42-44, fits in with the topic of calling a person your brother. Maybe you can explain what Jesus is speaking about in Mark chapter 3, and in John chapter 8.
Also, an explanation is acceptable if one is given for what Paul is speaking about in Philippians chapter 3, and how this passage relates to the topic of calling a person a brother.
In the meantime, I would like to point out this passages for both of you, because it relates and makes my point of the topic clearly. You may have overlooked this in your search from scriptures related to the topic, or maybe you have a different understanding as to what God is speaking about. But I also think it is self explanatory.
"If any man say, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar. For he who DOES NOT LOVE his brother whom he has seen, HOW CAN HE LOVE GOD WHOM HE HAS NOT SEEN. And this COMMANDMENT ew have heard from GOD, that HE WHO SAYA HE LOVE GOD MUST ALSO LOVE HIS BROTHER."
BTW, BUT, Jesus doesn't give us a definition of the word brothor, nor doe He tell us who to call his brother, he described who HE considers His brother spiritually. Sorry, you allowed your counting of sentences to get you off course...
Mark 3:35 ~ "Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother"
So what about people who do not do Gods will? Shall we call them brothers, sisters and mothers? If so, why did Jesus say this?
As you said ET : "... know the difference between what scriptures says and what you would like for it to say to make your own opinions and personal belief."
1 John chapter 4 (the verse you quoted) is written specifically to Christian believers. If you were not so intent on twisting Scripture to prove your point, you might have realized that.
As for what is out on a limb... it is your logic!....:ROFL:
However is was not logic that got you out on a limb, it was pride.:angeldevil:
2saprrow, please know that you have NOT explained what Jesus is speaking about in Mark chapter 3.:35
But, WOOOW, I'm so glad you gave some insight as to what I John chapter 4 is speakign about. I can;t believe that I have all my years been taught in Sunday school, at home, and in bible training that this chapter is speaking a brother only in the spiritual sense. I had thought and have been lead to believe that we are to love all people regardless of who they are, and to love those who do not know Jesus Christ enough, to teach them about Jesus and be a witness for Jesus to them, and bring them into the light.
But you have brought out that this passage is not speaking about non-christians that we are to love as our brothers, but only spiritually. Greeezzzz, I thought this chapter meant that we are to love one another regardless of their religion, race, creed, or background just as Christ so loved us while we were yet sinners, and died for our sins... I am so glad you made this clear that this passages means ONLY those who are the so-called Christians, that we are to call brothers who are spiritually. This really has lighten my load of trying to love the lost who do not believe spiritually in Christ. But How do you love someone spiritually and not called him your brother?
So when Paul and Peter addressed the mobs that was attacking him, and Paul stood before the council of those who were not new Jewish believers and they were going to put him in jail for preaching Jesus, and he called them men, brothers, who was he speaking to? As I said, surely he wasnt speaking to Christians on the council who wanted him jailed...
And when God and Jesus gave the commandments for us to love our neighbor as ourselves, is He speaking only about those neighbors who are spiritually in Christ? So who are our neighbors, are these just our next door neighbors, or are our neighbors those who sit next to us in church and are so-called Christians? How do we love someone like we do oursleves? What does all this mean?
Also, when Jesus says for us to love our enemies, is He speaking only about those so-called Christians who are angry at us, that we call enemies, or just what is He speaking about, since you say I John 4, is speaking about spiritually so, we are to love and call brothers only those who are so-called Chroistians and not non-Christians?
Maybe you shoudl explain what you mean by spiritually... If they are not so-called Chroistains, then according to your interpetation of God's word, they are not our brothers.
This is why it is so important for you to explain what Jesus is speaking about in Mark chapter 3, starting at verse31- 35.
Yeah, you should know the difference between the definitions of who and what a spiritual brother is, and a countrymen, kinsmen brother is all about, maybe this will help you to better understand just what God's word is saying....
The natural first, then the spiritual...
Also, you never explained Mark 3 as to what Jesus is speaking about, nor have you explained John chapter 8: 42-44. really you should place the whole passages in proper context starting at verses 39 would be a good place to start in order to know what Jesus is speaking about completely.
BTW, I will make sure to let y class know that I had no understanding of IJohn chapet 4, until you gave me insight that this passage only means spiritually... whatever that means... walking awya shaking my head...:goofball::zzzz::nahnah::dunce::purpleangel:
I actually understand what both of you are trying to get at.
First, Sparrows is right in that only those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior are those who are our Spiritual brothers and sisters. Otherwise, Jesus would recognize every person on the Day of Judgement.
"21 Not everyone who says to Me, �Lord, Lord,� shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, �Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?� 23 And then I will declare to them, �I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!�" Matthew 7:21-23
Now Et, I maybe wrong in what you are saying, so please correct me if I am. I believe you are saying that not matter who someone is, or what they have done, we are suppose to love them in Christ. I don't think you are saying that they are automatically will be in Heaven regardless of their beliefs.
