We are family all of my brothers, sisters in Christ and me!

Being a Christian means you are apart of a family. The family of God.

I want to bring out some definitions of some words starting with family. And then see they apply to our daily walk with other believers.



Family: a group of individuals living under one roof and usually under one head. A group of persons of common ancestry. A people or group of people regarded as deriving from a common stock.



Looking at those definitions from a biblical standpoint let me do this: A group of individuals living under one roof (the kingdom of God) and under one Head (Jesus).

A group of persons with common ancestry (Adam and Eve) and ultimately (Jesus Christ) of which He is still alive and in us.

A group of people regarded as deriving from a common stock. Again Jesus Christ.



Community: a unified body of individuals. Joint ownership or participation.



Hum! A unified body (in Christ Jesus) from individuals.

Joint ownership (in Christ Jesus) of which we participate in His death and resurrection.



Personality: the quality or state of being a person. The complex of characteristics that distinguishes an individual. The totality of an individuals behavioral and emotional characteristics. Set of distinctive traits.



We may be of the same body, but have different personality's. As individuals in Christ we still have a complex of characteristics that distinguishes us in the body. IE. gifts etc.

Our behavioral and emotional characteristics continue in our walks as believers. One body, but differing....etc.



True believer: a zealous supporter of a particular cause.



Christianity! The Way! Jesus Christ and Him crucified!



Sanctification: the state of growing in divine grace as a result of Christian commitment after baptism or conversion.



That is pretty much self explanatory.



Now when you put all of these together you get a small complilation of what the body of Christ is made of. I said, small and not all ok?

Yet we as an earthly family may have the same parents (in most cases) and yet are very much different from our siblings. (for those who have siblings) And I am not leaving out the others who don't. So please bear with me as I explain.

We may not look alike and again we don't act the same way.

I for example have 4 children. Three daughters and one son.

Two of my daughters are twins. Yet they both look alike and act alike, yet have two very distinctive personalities.

One is very errr and the other is more passive.

Yet they love each other and when one is gone the other really gets beside themselves without the other.

My oldest daughter is very independant and has social anxiety. She can exert her dislike by crying and such.

My son on the other hand is very laid back and self aware.

My children don't always get along with each other, yet when the dust settles they continue to love each other and move forward.

They have two things in common though. They both came from the same parents. And they each have the traits of each of us.

I have a strong personality along with social anxiety.

My wife is a very quiet passive person.

In time we have grown and are growing closer to each other. All the while our personalities conflict at times.

Yet again in the 20 years we've been together the sanctification if you will has been taking effect as a believing married couple.

The Lord uses each individual trait to make a family who through marriage became one.



So it is in the body of Christ we are individuals with different traits brought together striving for one unity all along having the One who brings us together. Jesus! The Head.



We may not always see eye to eye and may have our times of errr, yet we must be able to come back together in LOVE!

As we still have the same Dad! Our heavenly Father.



So the next time you get together with the fellowship of believers remember this, "We are family all of my brothers, sisters in Christ and me!"

And though we are one we will still have different traits.



Love one another in brotherly affection, putting up with each other knowing that the time is drawing near. (paraphrased).

Welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

The answer is in the following scripture:



"May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God." Romans 15:5-7



Jesus our only hope in this dying world would have us as believers follow thru with the above word.

Yet there is so much disunity in our assemblies. Why? Because of so much false teaching, pride, and tares among the wheat.

Our lives as believers are not our own and when we come together we should live that out in front of the 'one anothers' or otherwise known as the saints.



We must be willing to stand for the truth in our meetings without compromise in order that we can be of one mind and body.

The end purpose of our meeting together is to Glorify God!

God gets the glory when we are in unity. He gets the glory when the focus of the meeting is about Him!

When the apostles were told how to pray, Jesus started it out by saying; "Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name..."

Our meetings should begin with acknowledging the Lord God almighty and end with acknowledging Him!

Words defined that effect how we function in the body of Christ

In our Christian walk we usually hear certain words used concerning why we should meet. Men in pulpits urge the people "not to forsake the assembling of ourselves".
Of which I agree that we as believers must be willing to meet with other believers. And in saying that I would like to show some of the words that are associated with what we do when we meet. Along with them I will post the definitions. All of the definitions I will use in this illustration is from the "Webster's New Universal UNABRIDGED DICTIONARY" in other words a really big blue book full of words and their meanings.

I urge you to read these words and see the meaning behind them, then relate all of this with how and why we meet. There has been too much weakness in our meetings. We seem to have become anemic in how we come together. We must all be willing to participate when we come together. And doing so remember the meanings I have given. Maybe this will stop a lot of confusion and hurt.
These words are all used in the Bible at various places in the New Testament;

ADMONISH: to caution, advise, or counsel against something. 2. To reprove or scold, 3. to urge to duty; remind

BUILD UP: a process of growth, strengthening; development. A process of preparation. An increase, as in potential, intensity, pressure or the like. Encouragement.

EDIFY: to build up or increase the faith.

EXHORT: to urge, advise, or caution earnestly, admonish urgently.

EXHORTATION: an utterance, discourse, or address conveying urgent advice or recommendations

REBUKE: to express sharp stern disapproval of; reprove, reprimand

STIR: to incite, instigate, or prompt , to affect strongly; rouse, foment, arouse, provoke, stimulate, goad, spur.


WARN: to give notice, or intimidation (to a person or group) of danger, impending evil, possible harm or anything else unfavorable

WARNING: the act of utterance of one who warns

Now I would ask this. Does this remind you of any meeting of the saints you have been in lately?
At anytime there should be one of these words being shown in action during our times of assembly.
Whether on a Sunday morning or other type of group settings.
We as Christians must be willing to operate in the Spirit which exudes LOVE in order to see people become stronger in our walk with the Lord.
The word says that we are to attain the unity of one faith.
So be prepared when you go to meet. You may be the one the Lord uses to bring about some of what is mentioned above.
The word of God is sharper than any two edged sword.

"Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another." Proverbs 27:17

When you do some sharpening of two pieces of iron there will be sparks. Yet the end result is to get the rough edges off and have a nice sharp piece.