Brothers of Christ

The fact that the elect have been predestined to be the brothers of Christ, He being the Firstborn among many brothers, brings many concepts to our attention.

For one thing, it tells us we have been truly born of God; being born again is not a mere figure of speech referring to our adopting the Christian belief system.

It tells us that when the Lord rose from the dead He became the Firstborn of many sons of God. The Lord, the Word, the Messiah, chose to become human in order that He might raise up an entire company of sons of God. The sons are not as great as He, of course. But make no mistake-God has given birth to them and they indeed are sons of God in the truest sense of the word.

We were not from the beginning, as is true of Jesus Christ. But by the will of God we are coheirs with Him of all the works of God's hands.

Primary Scriptures

Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor gives birth and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites. (Micah 5:3)

Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" (John 20:17)

For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (Romans 8:29)

Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. (Hebrews 2:11)

Essential Points of Emphasis

"Go tell My brothers I ascend to My Father and your Father; to My God and your God." This is what Jesus said to Mary Magdalene. There are awesome implications in this statement!

One hindrance to our full grasp on the promises of God is an understandable sense of reverence when we are approaching Divinity. We are not God, not as holy as God, and we know this. It is well that we do.

But when our reverence causes us to stagger at the promises of God it becomes a hindrance.

We have been made in God's image, but to attain that image we have to be born twice-the first time of Adam and the second time of God.