Christ Calls Us Brothers and Sisters

How can it be that we are considered Christ's brothers? Christ is the first-born of many brethren (Rom. 8:29). He is the Son of God by nature; and all others are his brothers and sisters by grace and adoption (Rom. 8:17). Christ is the first-born among many brethren; and in Christ we have one Father with Christ. 'If sons, then heirs' (Gal. 4:7). Now we are all in Christ sons of God, heirs with him. He took our nature; and therefore, having our flesh, he is our brother (Heb. 2:14). It is a ground of comfort that he is a man as we are. But that is not the main thing to consider. He is our brother in a spiritual respect, in regard to adoption. He is the first Son of God, and we in him are sons. He is the first heir of God, and we in him are heirs. Beloved, it is a point of marvellous comfort, that Christ is not ashamed to call us brethren (Psa. 22:22): ‘I will declare your name among my brethren,’ says Christ. He is 'a second Adam,' and therefore a father in that regard. The first Adam is the father of all that perish; the second Adam is the father of all that will be saved. He is our head, husband, friend, father, brother, and whatsoever can convey comfort to us.
And the truth of it is, he is these things more truly than any relation is made true on earth. For these relations of husband and wife, and brother and sister, and father and child, are but shadows of that everlasting relation that Christ has taken upon himself. We think there is no brother but the brother in flesh, no father but the father in flesh. Alas! These are but shadows and quickly cease: ‘the fashion of the world passes away' (1 Cor. 7:31). These do but represent the best things that are in heaven. Christ is the father, brother, friend, and whatsoever is comforting in heaven. When he out of his free love will own us as brethren, will not we own him?

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
A Heavenly Conference, pp. 35-39
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