Jesus Our Brother

Jesus Our Brother

We are familiar with the Bible’s teaching about God being our Father. Jesus taught us to pray, “Our Father who art in heaven” (Matthew 6:9), and Paul told us we have “one God and Father of all” (Ephesians 4:6). Are we as familiar with the Bible’s teaching about Jesus being our brother? Hebrews 2:11-12 states: “For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying: ‘I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.’” We often refer to the church as the family of God, and it is, but what does it mean that Jesus is our brother? Let’s study this relationship and notice a few answers to this question.

Jesus Brother

We are set apart in Christ.

To have Jesus as our brother means that He claims those who have been sanctified as His family. Paul discussed this relationship in Galatians 3:26-29: “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Paul begins by pointing out that we are children of God in Christ Jesus. We became such children by going through the new birth in baptism (John 3:3-6). At that point, we became sanctified (1 Corinthians 6:11) and Christ became our identity, and just as Christ is God’s child, so also, we become children of God. This means that we are all part of Abraham’s family now, and brothers and sisters with Jesus. Romans 8:17a states, “and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.” It is a wonderful blessing to have family!

To have Jesus as our brother means that He seeks fellowship with us. If you have ever had a brother or sister growing up, then you know that this was the person with whom you spent the most time. He or she was your friend and constant companion since you lived together in the same family. However, while many natural brothers and sisters eventually grow apart and go their own ways, Jesus is a brother that stays with us always because He desires to stay with us. In 1 Corinthians 1:9, Paul wrote, “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,” and in Hebrews 13:5-6 we read, “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’” Indeed, Jesus said, “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20). Having Jesus as a brother means having a constant friend and companion.

To have Jesus as our brother means that He experienced the same human passions that we experience. Life can be tumultuous. There are many troubles and trials that will come our way, and our emotions can be overwhelming. Loss of employment, separated friendships, the death of our loved ones, and our own sinscan bring us great grief and sorrow. Sometimes we wonder, “Does anyone truly understand?” Jesus is our true brother because He completely understands what we go through in this life. Hebrews 4:15 states, “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin,” and Hebrews 2:17-18 states, “Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.” Having Jesus as a brother means that someone truly understands what we are going through.

To have Jesus as our brother means that He was subjected to death. We must all face the specter of death within our lives. It begins by seeing the death of our loved ones, but ultimately it is something that we must face individually. Having Jesus as a brother means that we have someone who helps us do what no other can—overcome death. Hebrews 2:9 says, “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.” He experienced death for everyone so that He would know what it is like to die, but more than this, so that He could show us that death can be conquered. Hebrews 2:14-15 states, “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Because Jesus was sinless, death could not hold on to Him, and He came forth from the grave (Acts 2:24). Today, through Jesus, we can conquer death as well. Jesus says, “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death” (Revelation 1:18), and “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death” (Revelation 2:11). Only the best of brothers would die for us so that we could live for Him (2 Corinthians 5:15).

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Hypocrites Keep You Out of the Church?

Don’t let hypocrites keep you out of the church

Dear friend, I hope this letter finds you well. I have spent many minutes reviewing our discussion about why you have left the church. I appreciate you being willing to sit down and talk with me. I hope that we can continue to sit down and discussing some of your thoughts and beliefs. I wanted to address one specific issue you brought up. You mentioned you have a problem with specific people at your local congregation. I think I remember you saying that their words had hurt, and that many of them were hypocrites.

hypocrites church

“Hurt people hurt people.”

Let me begin by apologizing for anyone who may have hurt you. I wish attending a worship service could always be a wonderful experience, but the truth is the church is made up of imperfect people. Not that it justifies what was said or done to you, but I have been hurt by people before as well. In fact, a few have said really ugly things to me—things that if I wasn’t careful could have easily gotten my blood boiling! But please think about this, I never let their words affect my relationship with the Creator of the Universe!

What I have found is often the case is that “hurt people hurt people” – meaning people who are hurting on the inside are commonly the ones to lash out. If you are looking for a place where people will exhibit perfect behavior all the time then you are out of luck. Because the reality is we are human and we fail—if we didn’t then we would not need Jesus.

This is where you have to learn to extend some grace and mercy—because the reality is you may need that same grace and mercy when you are having a bad day.

You mentioned hypocrites. I agree. I do not care for hypocrites either. You’ve probably read the meme on Facebook that says, “Not going to church because it is full of hypocrites is like not going to the gym because it’s full of fat people.” Try to remember the church is supposed to be a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints. Romans 5:8 reminds us, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” My prayer is that those who are not truly expressing a Christian life will grow and mature and focus their attention on what is truly important.

Jesus did not like hypocrites either. In fact, He called them out on several occasions. Look at how many times He calls the Pharisees hypocrites in Matthew 23. In fact, Jesus calls these people who thought they were holy white washed tombs “which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness” (Matthew 23:27).

I encourage you to read an occasion where Jesus called out these hypocritical Pharisees in Matthew 15. They were complaining that the disciples did not wash their hands before they ate bread (verse 2). So what would have happened if the disciples saw what was happening and began to ridicule the Pharisees for washing their hands? What if they took the position, “The way to be holy is to do like us and not wash your hands.”

In this case, them not doing something would be just as hypocritical, as they would come across as thinking they were better than the Pharisees. It would be the disciples who were the hypocrites then.

But isn’t this exactly what you are doing? You are not doing something (attending worship) and assuming you are better than the Pharisees (or Christians). So who is the hypocrite now? Does you staying at home make you more holy because you have removed yourself from any type of organized religion? Haven’t you in essence placed yourself on a pedestal to judge others—an in doing so become the very hypocrite you say you despise? I hope you will seriously consider this and come back.

Do not ever let someone else interfere with your relationship with God. So they come to church but drink in bars during the week? So what do not let that keep you away from heaven. So they teach a Bible class but you know they are addicted to pornography? That is very sad, but it doesn’t have to destroy your relationship with Jesus. Who knows, maybe God revealed their hypocrisy to you so that one day you may be able to restore them in meekness and love.

I hope you will think on these things. Until next time, I continue to pray for you,

Brad

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Bearing Fruit? Works Salvation? Or Do Nothing?

Bearing Fruit? Works Salvation? Or Do Nothing?

There are those who will proudly proclaim that no one has to do anything in order to be saved and loudly complain about a perceived works salvation. So, let’s be clear and balanced here: Does the Bible teach that we don’t have to do anything? Not even close! Does the Bible teach that we somehow merit our salvation by the works that we do? Nope, doesn’t teach that either. The truth, as often is the case, lies somewhere in between these two extreme ideas.

works Salvation

Does one have to do nothing to spend eternity in heaven?

John demanded that those who came out to be baptized return and “bear fruit” if they hoped to be saved (Luke 3:8–9). When many came to him asking what they needed to do he didn’t say that they didn’t have to do anything but instructed them in the ways of righteousness. When Jesus came along he not only taught righteous living but also went about doing good, leaving us an example to do just as he did (Acts 10:38).

Obedience to God is absolutely essential! Yet we must also consider that just going about doing good doesn’t define Christianity or righteousness. Jesus also said that the gospel needed to be preached (Mark 13:10). Doing good and bearing fruit is a vehicle through which we gain the opportunity to tell others about Christ, His love, and the hope we have in Him. Obey God, bear fruit, and preach the Good News. Faithful living is essential to our salvation (Matthew 25:21, 23)!

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The Hand of the Lord

The Hand of the Lord

One of the thoughts we find most comforting is summed up in that song which has the phrase, “He’s got the whole world in His hands.” Each verse then talks about how He has “you and me brother” and “you and me sister” and “the little bitty babies” in His hands. The very concept that we are cradled in the hands of God brings peace to our soul.

Hand Lord

He is mighty and powerful and the fate of the world is in His hands.

The phrase, “the hand of the Lord,” is found thirty-nine times in the Bible. It is most frequently used to describe those times when God moved in judgment against the wicked. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews said, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31). On the other hand, it is wonderful to envision our calling out to God and see His almighty arms reach down from heaven and His tender hands to hold us. It is true that “He’s got you and me in the hollow of His hand.”

The people in Isaiah’s day failed to realize that sin can destroy this situation. They had prayed to God and could see no evidence that He was helping them. The prophet explained the reason for this. “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He will not hear” (Isa. 59:1-2). If sin had not been in their lives, His face would have been turned toward them and His hands extended toward them.

Jesus described the wonderful blessing of being in the hand of God. “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand” (John 10:29). We may choose to turn against God, but there is no man on earth and no demon from hell who can snatch us from His hand. “He’s got you and me in the hollow of His hand.”

God holds us in His hand. Have you ever considered how great His hand is? How does His hand compare with the hands of others? How great is His hand? To see this, consider that the diameter of the entire universe is thought to be over 93 billion light years. (A light year is the distance light travels in one year). The universe is 5,500,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 miles wide! Now look at Isaiah’s description of this in relationship to the size of the hand of God. God has “…measured heaven with a span” (Isa. 40:12). The span of a man’s hand is the distance between his thumb and his little finger when fully extended. God’s hand fully extended is larger than our universe. How wonderful it is to know that it is this hand that holds us. “He’s got you and me brother, you and me sister, in the hollow of His hand.”

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EL DEBATE SOBRE EL ORIGEN DE JESUS 

EL GRAN DEBATE SOBRE EL ORIGEN DE JESUS 

Los cuatro relatos del Evangelio fueron dirigidos a audiencias especificas con temas muy bien definidos. Mateo (a Judíos) presenta a Jesús como verdadero Rey. Marcos (A Romanos) presenta a Jesús como siervo de Dios. Lucas(a griegos) presenta a Jesús como hombre pero sin pecado, mientras que Juan (a todos) presenta a Jesús como Dios en naturaleza misma. No existe entonces otro mejor lugar en todo el N.T para estudiar la naturaleza del Señor Jesús que aquí en Juan y en esta ocasión Juan 8. Iniciando desde el v.11 Tenemos el primer contraste entre ley y Gracia. Del 12-20 luz y tinieblas, del 21-30 otro contraste entre vida y muerte, del 31-43 libertad y esclavitud , del 44-47 hijos de Dios versus hijos del Diablo y por último del 47-59 un contraste entre honra y deshonra.

ORIGEN DE JESUS

El origen de Cristo queda más que demostrado, su origen es divino.

El debate esta vez jira en torno al origen mismo de Jesús, pero se usan términos tanto sucios Los opositores plantean sus argumentos y premisas falsas para su origen (1. Nacido de Fornicación( v.41) Eres Samaritano (48) Tienes Demonio (V.48) y el Señor responde de la manera más estupenda como siempre lo hace.

TENIA SEÑORIO SOBRE LA MUERTE(V.51):A travez de sus palabras.

No era algo nuevo. El había dicho esto antes en su sermón en la sinagoga (Juan 6:39–40, 44, 54). De nuevo los dirigentes no tuvieron la perspectiva espiritual para comprender lo que estaba diciendo. V.53 Todos los hombres grandes murieron ¿eres tu mejor que ellos? Jesús no responde a tan absurdo argumento. Ellos están en modo completamente carnal. La perspectiva de Dios es distinta que la del hombre (ellos no estaban muertos). Como fallamos en entender esto nosotros hoy.  Abraham murió, aunque fue justo; y los profetas fieles también habían muerto. Todo lo que hizo esta plática fue convencerles aun más de que Cristo tenía un demonio (Juan 7:20). Al afirmar ser Señor sobre la muerte, Jesús estaba afirmando ser Dios (Juan 5:21–29). Esto no era un honor que se tomó para sí mismo; el Padre se lo dio. No nada más lo enseñó más tarde ellos iban a ser testigos en Juan 11 que a travez de sus palabras él tenía señorío sobre la muerte. Resucitar a alguien como Lazaro requiere con todo y todo, a un elemento extra. Pero la mas grande prueba de su señorío sobre la muerte es la su propia resurrección (Juan 10:18).

CONOCIA A ABRAHAM(V.56). El Señor por un lado estaba afirmando existencia contemporánea con alguien que había vivido casi 2000 años antes que él. Esto puede ser una de las cosas mas interesantes que Jesús haya dicho. Sabemos que Jesús vio a Abraham pero cuando vio Abraham a Jesús partiendo de lo que afirma Hebreos 11:13 ¿Cómo fue que Abraham vio el día de nuestro Señor, o sea su vida y ministerio en la tierra? De la misma manera que vio la ciudad futura; por fe (Hebreos 11:10, 13–16). Dios le dio a Abraham percepción espiritual para ver estos eventos futuros… “vio mi día” (Ministerio). Por cierto que

  1. Abraham pudo ver el nacimiento del Mesías en el nacimiento milagroso de su propio hijo, Isaac.
  2. Seguramente vio el Calvario cuando ofreció a Isaac a Dios (Génesis 22), (Heb.11:19).
  3. En el ministerio sacerdotal de Melquisedec (Génesis 14:17–24) Abraham pudo ver el sacerdocio celestial del Señor (Heb 7).
  4. En el matrimonio de Isaac, Abraham pudo haber visto un cuadro de las bodas del Cordero (Génesis 24).

Mencionar a Abraham y su relación con él traía a la mente y ratifica en completa unidad lo que había dicho anteriormente y que fue el primer punto de esta lección, su señorío sobre la muerte En Mateo 17:1 el había visto a Moisés y Elias cuanto más a Abraham el dijo: “el que guarda mi palabra nunca verá muerte.”  Ahora deja caer la BOMBA.!!!! 

 SE HACIA  A SI MISMO DIOS (V.58) “Yo Soy” (Ego EIMI) (Vr.Pre.Act.Ind.1Per,Sing.) El verbo indica YO siempre he sido. El siguiente es una traducción literal de las notas de un erudito llamado Calmet. “Yo soy desde toda la eternidad. Yo he existido antes de todos los tiempos.Ustedes consideran en mi a alguien que ha aparecido en un tiempo en particular, pero más allá de su naturaleza humana que ustedes creen conocer, existe en mi una divina y eterna naturaleza de la que usted no tienen la remota idea.” Las palabras traducidas “fuese” y “soy” son bien distintas. La una quiere decir que “Abrahán fué introducido en la existencia”; la otra, “que yo existo” (“existia, continuaba existiendo y continúo existiendo” todo en la forma del verbo). La afirmación no es pues que Cristo empezara a existir como fué el caso de Abraham (como dicen los arrianos que es el caso. Los testigos Alegan eso, observe lo que dice su versión.) Lo que Jesús hace aquí es mostrar no nada más que tiene señorío sobre la muerte, que conoce a Abraham sino que lo lleva a otro nivel a cual???? Al más Alto. Muchísimo antes que Abraham él ha sido.. está apelando a Ex3:14 e indiscutiblemente (en la mente de los judios) El único mayor a Abraham era Dios.. Este hombre merecía Morir inmediatamente.

 Reacciones al Majestuoso “Yo soy de Cristo”. V.58

  1. Tomaron piedras… NO había margen de error en lo que ellos habían entendido (Los Testigos de Jehová hubieran ayudado a pasar piedras).
  2. Se fue entre medio de ellos del templo. Habiendo tantas personas ahí (8:2) Inclusive guardias y alguaciles que estaban constante en el templo…nadie le prendió. Esa gente seguramente estuvieron al igual que yo lo hubiera estado atónitos y helados de la declaración y la seguridad con la que habló el Señor.

CONCLUSION

El origen de Cristo queda más que demostrado, su origen es divino, el es deidad por todo lo que dice, por todo lo que hace y por todo lo que es. El debate termina con un triunfo de la verdad. Hay varias lecciones que podemos aprender: No podemos dejar de admirar su valor al presentar la verdad e invitar a los religiosos ciegos a confiar en él y ser hechos libres. ¡Qué ejemplo!.

Los lideres estaban contra él, estaba en el templo, los Romanos estaban contra el, el pueblo estaba contra él, mi pecado estaba contra el, aún así Jesús no desistió. El mundo también está contra nosotros pero no estamos solos no importa lo que venga.  Este gran “Yo soy” no está en listado dentro los 7 “Yo  soy “de Jesús en Juan sin embargo es uno de los más grandes. Cada vez que el cristiano observa de cerca la  grandeza de la naturaleza de nuestro Cristo no queda más que caer rendido a sus pies. La cena del Señor cada domingo no es como una eucaristía que hay que golpearse el pecho si tiene pecado primero y luego participe de la cena…no la cena del Señor ese espacio para que Jamás olvidemos el sacrifico intenso de aquel que era Dios en la carne por amor mío. Cuando caemos rendidos ante eso, precisamente estamos adorando.  Este debate nos enseña la naturaleza divina de Cristo. El es Dios. La pregunta crucial es: Es CRISTO ¿Su Dios? ¿Es el Dios que gobierna su vida publica como su vida privada? ¿El es Dios de su dinero? ¿Es el Dios que está incluido en sus planes del futuro? Hagamos el mejor de nuestro fuerzo los 365 días del año para honrar su naturaleza y persona divina.

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