Now the rubber meets the road. We all try to justify ourselves and all of our actions. We all want to limit the definition of “our brother” to include only those we feel comfortable with. But what does the Scripture teach? First, the Book of Sin (1 John) says,
7 Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. 8 At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because[a] the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. 9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him[b] there is no cause for stumbling. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. (1 John 2:7-11 ESV)
John does not define “brother” in his letter. The question really goes all the way back the first generation born of Adam. When God confronted Cain regarding Abel’s murder he responded, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9) He had just murdered his brother because of jealousy. He hated his brother. Should he have loved him and become his “keeper,” his helper instead? Well, of course. We would all agree that brothers in the same family should love each other and “keep” each other safe and sound. But, were Cain and Abel of the same family? They were of the same natural family, but not the same spiritual family. Later in his letter John says,
We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous. (1 John 3:12)
Cain was of his spiritual father the devil and Abel of his spiritual father, Jesus. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 4:4 that the devil, or satan, is the “god of this world.” Cain was of the world; Abel was not of this world. Some have developed what is called “the serpent seed doctrine” in order to try to explain this idea of having different fathers. Following is a brief explanation of this teaching:
Simply stated, the serpent seed doctrine teaches that the sin of Eve was not simple disobedience, but sexual contact with the serpent, and that Cain was the son of Eve and the devil. Cain’s descendants are, according to this idea, the sons of Satan, and this includes most any race or group that the serpent-seed believer chooses to dislike. This idea is rooted in superstitious beliefs and is particularly popular with white supremacists and anti-Semites; the Unification Church also supports this idea. Noted false prophets and false teachers such as Arnold Murray of Shepherd’s Chapel and William Branham espoused the idea. Although an idea should not be criticized when it is wrongly applied, it is appropriate to condemn an idea when it logically leads to sin. A philosophy that teaches that some races or people are universally satanic, like the serpent seed doctrine, is one such philosophy.
Read more:http://www.gotquestions.org/serpent-seed.html#ixzz3OR6TxbhP
I have looked into the serpent seed doctrine a bit and have considered whether a child of satan can become a child of God at length. I agree with the above statement. The serpent seed doctrine is false. One of the best known Bible verses of all proves the falseness of the serpent seed claims,
16 “For God so loved the world,[i] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:16-17)
Earlier in this same chapter Jesus told Nicodemus, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again[b] he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3) Born again? Yes, you who were born of the devil and do the works of satan your father, believe in the LORD Jesus Christ and you will be saved! Change your father! Put off the works of darkness and put on the clothing of light! This is what Paul means when he says, “for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” (Ephesians 5:8)
Jesus came to deliver us, you and me, from the kingdom of satan’s darkness into the Kingdom of God’s light and love. All of Scripture concerns this. God desires that we exercise our wills to choose light instead of darkness, good instead of evil. His salvation is free, by grace and faith. Jesus died for all men, but most men remain in their prison of darkness, even those who claim to be Christians. “Love your neighbor as yourself,” proclaim Jesus and his apostles and prophets. But who is my neighbor?
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers,[i] what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:43-48)
Your brother is your neighbor; your neighbor is your brother. Jesus says to love him even if he is evil. What?! Do I then have to accept his evil deeds as being okay? No, preach the truth in love. Hate the sin, but love the sinner. If you see that evil neighbor’s cow on the road, take it back to him or tell him it is out. Treat all men with respect and courtesy. “But don’t evil men steal my property and cheat me?” Yes they do, but Jesus said to give to him who asks and don’t ask for it back. “But won’t they kill me if I preach against their sin?” They might. They killed Jesus. “But, but, but….”
But, You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. This is the mark of the overcomer. This is the making of the sons of God.
