Brothers and Sisters in Christ

Matthew 12:48-50

He replied to him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?"

Pointing to His disciples, He said, "Here are My mother and My brothers.  For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother."

Notice here how Jesus breaks the connection to earthly bloodlines.  He's making a point here to the people:  being blood relatives of Abraham is not enough to save you.  The only thing needed to be part of God's family is to believe in Jesus as Savior.  Jesus is not preaching the Law here.  He's not saying that we have to perfectly obey the Law to be His brother or sister.  He says, "whoever does the will of My Father..."

The will of God the Father is for everyone to believe and be baptized.  The sweet Gospel message that Jesus is teaching here is that whoever believes and is baptized is His brother and sister.  Through faith in Jesus we become heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven.  Through Jesus we have received the full rights of sonship.  This is what it means to do the will of God the Father.

Thankfully, Jesus has done it all for us so that we are able to do the will of the Father.  It is through the blood of Jesus and His work of salvation that we have been reconciled to our Heavenly Father as His dear children.  Graciously, this is all a gift from Him.  It is not something that we have, or can, earn or deserve.  What a gracious and loving Father we have!  Let's share Him with the world!

God bless.

Jason Fredrick