Mark 3:31-35

Our Pastor, Kurt Gebhards, continued his sermon study of Mark:

Mark 3:31-35 31 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. 32 A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.” 33“Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked. 34 Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

Jesus calls us in this passage to be part of His spiritual family. He told His listeners that those who were following Him and listening to His teachings were more His family then His physical brothers and mother.

We are adopted sons and daughters of God by His Grace.

How are we related to Him spiritually? We might answer that it happens because we believe in Him. But in verse 35 Jesus says something quite different. “Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

This has confused people in the past. Can’t you just hear people say, “Wait, I thought you only get to heaven because of your faith? Are you saying it’s works now too?”

No! Jesus wasn’t describing here how to become a Christian. He was describing a Christian’s walk. Salvation is authenticated by our service. We are saved (justified) by our faith, but grow (are sanctified) by our good deeds.

John 3:36 says, “He who believes in the Son has eternal life: he who does not obey the Son shall not see life.” Belief must include obedience. True belief includes action.

Ephesians 2:8-9 says we are saved by grace alone. Not works, lest we boast. But verse 10 goes on to say we are created in Christ Jesus for good works.

That’s why Jesus describes Christians as those who do the will of God. In the next post Kurt tells us how to know if we are in God’s will.