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Summary, Part 2 (final) Phil 1:7 – Paul was alone, but he wasn’t lonely. It is true spiritually as well as physically that there is strength in numbers. ‘Brethren’ also connotes responsibility – we are indeed our brothers’ keepers. Organizationally, we are part of the church. We are members of one another. Church is expressive and organizational, and our union is a foretaste of heaven. II. WHAT SPECIAL PRIVILEGES ARE SHARED BY CHRISTIAN BRETHREN? [37:36]. A. FAMILY LIKENESS. Christians bear a similar spiritual image as families bear similar physical images. We have an active role in this. Heb 2:11 – Christ is not ashamed of us despite our fallenness. He is proud to call us His brethren. B. FATHERLY DISCIPLINE [45:45]. God’s chastening is good when we learn and receive it. Heb 12:6-11 – God’s discipline proves that He has received us into His family. C. MUTUAL AFFECTION [48:56]. Love is the capstone signature of the Christian life. Even sinners love those who love them. But love is proactive: we must not wait for love to give it (1 Jn 3:14, 1 Cor 13:1-4, 1 Pet 1:22). D. A GLORIOUS DESTINY [52:40]. 1 Thes 4:13, 2 Thes 2:1 – Christ’s return will be a dramatic event that will herald the dawn of eternal glory. We will be gathered with our brethren unto Him on that day.
Ian Migala (8/8/2016)
from Minneapolis, Minnesota
Summary, Part 1 The word ‘brethren’ is found almost a thousand times in the New Testament, and it always indicates believers of both genders. I. WHAT PRECIOUS TRUTHS ARE PRESUMED BY THE TITLE ‘BRETHREN’? [starting at 3:03 of the audio]. A. THAT CHRISTIANS ARE MEMBERS OF GOD’S FAMILY. 1. BECAUSE THEY ARE BORN OF GOD [5:00]. Jn 1:12-13 – No matter our backgrounds, we are spiritual siblings because we had a spiritual rebirth given by the same Father. 2. BECAUSE THEY ARE ADOPTED BY GOD [6:57]. We weren’t just born again, but were gathered together. Rom 8:15 – We were saved and gathered under the Father and we all have distinctive family traits, which are known as the graces of the Spirit. Again, our backgrounds do not obscure them. B. THAT CHRISTIANS ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS WORLD [11:42]. This is self-evident: we cannot be brethren to no one. A Christian is never alone from the Spirit even though he can be alone if he’s in a family of non-Christians. Mk 10:29-30 – The lone Christian in the family testifies to his spiritual family when he fellowships with them. Communion is common union, sharing in the precious things of God. Rev 1:9 – John’s tribulation is in Christ and we all share it together.