“Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling…” (Hebrews 3:1).
The holy lives and universal brotherhood of Christians are significant and distinctive New Testament truths.
Holiness is not optional for those who have been born into the family of the holy God, redeemed by the holy blood of the Lamb of God, and have become a temple of the Holy Spirit. “Be ye holy, for I am holy” summarizes as succinctly as possible God’s unchanging expectation of His people (Leviticus 11:44; 1 Peter 1:16).
The universal brotherhood found in Christ eliminates all partiality and preferencing (James 2:1-4). There is neither Jew nor Gentile, slave nor free, male nor female before God’s throne; we are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28). Sincere and fervent love of the brethren with a pure heart (1 Peter 1:22) is the Father’s expectation of all His children. We are to “love as brothers” (1 Peter 3:8).
All of the partakers of the heavenly calling are to live as holy brethren.
