No one is a brother or sister if they do not accept Him as the Saviour, the Messiah, Jesus the Christ .. That I take it is what you meant , right ?
>No one is a brother or sister if they do not accept Him as the Saviour, the Messiah, Jesus the Christ .. That I take it is what you meant, right ?
No, I mean the word obey. The Lord said in John 15:14, Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. We are not his friends if we don't. Those who are true believers DO what the Word says, their lives show it and they are brothers and sisters. Those who have compromised with the world and are hypocrites are not brothers or sisters and we are not to fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness even though the whole world is being sucked in the whirlpool of ecumenicism and deception.
The word "hear" in Hebrew is Shema which means hear/obey/understand. The word "hear" in English means "perceive sound." There is a world of difference in the two understandings. Simply, if a person will hear and obey, God will give that one understanding. If that person on hearing hardens his heart, God will not give him understanding and that person is at a dead stop in his walk. Can two walk together, except they be agreed? Am 3:3. No, they can't.
The gospel of easy believism says "all you have to do is accept Jesus Christ." A person may have "accepted Jesus Christ," but has the Lord accepted that person? Many false teachers will wrest scripture to say so, but the Word says we must continue and be found faithful to the end and that is not works, just our reasonable service. The gospel of minimalist thinking is the one to which Cain subscribed when he brought his offering which was unacceptable to the Lord who knows the thoughts and intentions of each heart. Gen 4:5. Esau despised his birthright and he was unacceptable and found no place of repentance though he sought it with tears. Heb. 12:17. These are examples for our instruction.
People have been claiming promises of a mutual covenant without doing their part of the covenant, which is obedience to the Lord/Word and walking in holiness. There is no forgiveness without repentance. There is no forgiveness without restitution. Lu 17:3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.