[Biblemat] The Messenger Vol 002 Iss 028

Sat Sep 1 15:51:58 CDT 2007

The Messenger

Published Weekly by Main Street Church of Christ

306 West Main Street, Newbern, TN 38059   731-627-3514

bibleanswers at charter.net                                    www.mainstreetcofc.com

Bulletin Editor: T. Sean Sullivan

VOLUME 002::ISSUE 028::September 02, 2007  

ARTICLE ONE: Diligent Development: 2 Peter 1:5-10 Lesson 007

ARTICLE TWO: Diligent Development: 2 Peter 1:5-10 Lesson 008

Article One: Diligent Development: 2 Peter 1:5-10 Lesson 007

We have followed the personal development of a Christian from 2 Peter 1:5-10. So far on our list we have considered our relationship with God and now we are concluding our list and our series of lesson with consideration for our relationship with our brethren.

We have also noted how each of these steps is necessary for the achieving of our goal and our effectiveness for God. This step is no different. We need our brethren to have a fully functional congregation. Maintaining a good working relationship with our brethren is necessary since we cannot survive everything in this life solo-we need our brethren. 

We have the greatest of goals set out before us, an ominous task at best-let's not try to be make it there by ourselves. In order to sustain our relationship with our brethren we must meet the needs of our brethren. Let's examine in closer detail the requirements of brotherly kindness and how it causes us to be more effective in our service to God.

What Is Brotherly Kindness

First, brotherly kindness is a sense of reliability. We need to be there for our brethren whenever or however the situation calls. This need exists simply because, among the world, we are the few and they are the many (Matthew 7:13-14). We know and trust in the fact that a few can be strong if they are of one mind (Philippians 2:1-2). We need to be able to rely on each other for strength.

Another aspect of brotherly kindness is the willingness to offer our brethren the benefit of the doubt. We have already established that we are in this together: "with the same goal", "on the same road". It should go without saying that we would give each other the benefit of the doubt but sometime things that make good sense and not put to good use. The Bible warns against those who would have "evil suspicions" (1 Timothy 6:4) and we are also instructed in dealing with personal problems expeditiously (Matthew 18:15-17).

The great factor of brotherly kindness is simply love. Love is all encompassing (John 13:34-35). Every aspect of brotherly kindness is wrapped up into the things that we have discussed so far in this lesson. I trust you because I love you. I can rely on you because you love me. 

Where Is Brotherly Kindness From?

            If the factors are reliability, trust, and love, we need to consider the source of those things. How can I establish my reliability? What can I do, to instill in my brethren that I can be trusted?

The easiest way! BE HERE (Hebrews 10:24-25). Be here to exhort one another. If you can be counted on at every service, that speaks well of you and your reliability.

How do I develop trust? We must fight suspicion. It is easy to fall into the trap of suspicion. We need to keep focused on the fact that none of us are perfect, but we all are after the same goal. So often we react without a true knowledge of the situations that we are involved in. When we have a problem with a brother or sister we need to go to that one and make sure we understood them correctly (Matthew 18:15-17 Go to that one privately and work it out). This is the only way to eliminate any doubt or to make right that which is wrong.

How do we develop love? Love is a command. The other aspects of trust and reliability will lock it in. Not mush! Not pretended love. The love of brethren is not to be conjured and canned waiting for the next time that it might be demonstrated. God expects our love to be much more.

Brotherly Kindness at Work

Epaphroditus is a great example of brotherly kindness (Philippians 2:25-30). He was willing to give and give and give for the needs of his brethren. We need to compare ourselves to his example. There is always room for additional things to be done and we will never run out of work.

No one can argue that Paul demonstrates brotherly kindness in his example as a Christian. He was willing to "spend and be spent" for the sake of his brethren (2 Corinthians 12:15). His willingness was much more than words (2 Corinthians 11:23-28 spec. 28).  

How about you and me? Are you living in and supplying brotherly kindness?         

Conclusion:

So often we are of the mindset that wants to know, "what will I profit from this." As brethren we are in this not for personal profit, although that is taken care of, but for each other. We are all in this together (Ephesians 4:13-17). I need to rely on you so that you can help me and I can help you to become an effective working Christian.  We can and will reach our goals, together. ~tss

Article Two: Diligent Development: 2 Peter 1:5-10 Lesson 008

In the life of a Christian, love must be all encompassing. It is to be seen in every facet of our life. Love must be in our relationship with one another and God. Also, love must be in our relationship with those outside. 

Some have placed too much emphasis on love. The have exalted love higher than truth. This is a tragic mistake; a sin committed with a "loving pursuit" is still a sin. For example: love is given the wrong place when I place one's feelings before their soul: I may not want to point out a problem because it might hurt your feelings. I justify or rationalize my lack of action by saying that I love my brother to much to hurt their feelings.

We have been studying the characteristics of Christianity recorded by Peter in his second epistle. Each successive point or characteristic is built upon the last then finally our list culminated in with the term LOVE. As we develop each step in the list our love for God, for His truth, and for our brethren and our fellow man.

Let's take some time to consider the last stop on our way to effective working Christianity.

What Is Love?

            Love is our Cause: 1 John 4:8 states, "God is love". Because of love God created mankind, those who could be free choice seek Him and love Him in return (Acts 17:27). Love is our hope: God, through His love for us, provides a way of escape from our own wrongdoing (John 3:16; Romans 5:6-8). Love us to be part of our identity. We are recognized as the disciples of Christ by our love (John 13:34-35). Love is our hope. God has graciously provided freedom through His Son and also the promise of everlasting life in Heaven (John 14:1-6). Love is part of who we are.

Through Inspiration, Paul, writes a wonderful description of love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. This description is everything that love is and is supposed to be. The last description associated with Paul's list of things in 1 Corinthians 13 is "Love never fails". Love is to be unconditional. When times are good or bad we are to love each other (Romans 12:9-15). We love, even when we must discipline (Matthew 18:15-18; James 18:20). 

Where Is Love From?

Love must be from the heart-unto God (Matthew 22:37) and others (Romans 12:9 "without hypocrisy). Love is founded through knowledge. Our love of God is from knowing who He is-our Creator, and who we are-His creation (Acts 17:28). Our love for our brethren is from the knowledge of our shared goals and hope through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 3:6)-the knowledge of each other's faith (John 13:34-35). Our love for others is from the knowledge of the plight of their souls while in sin (Romans 3:23; 6:23). Also we know that we can, and must, help them know the truth (Matthew 28:18-20).

Love at Work

God's love toward man is clearly demonstrated by the offering of Jesus Christ, His Son, for our sins (Romans 5:6-8). Christ's love toward man is made evident by His willingness to participate in the Father's plan for our salvation (Romans 5:6-7). 

What about love in our own lives? Our love toward God: We have faith in Him (Romans 10:17; Hebrew 11:6). We conform to His standard-virtue (John 14:15). We desire to increase our knowledge of His word (2 Peter 3:18). We appropriately control our own selves (Romans 12:1-2). We persevere never doubting Him (Hebrew 10:35-39). We respect Him and His will in all things (Matthew 6:33). 

Our love toward our brethren: Are you practicing brotherly kindness? (John 13:34-35). 

Our love toward others is telling others about Christ (Matthew 28:18-20) and in so doing we share our hope through Him (1 Peter 1:3-9). 

Conclusion:

We now have a challenge. We must strengthen our love and commit ourselves to each of the things that we have studied thus far in this series. We end the series with these words-2 Peter 1:5-10 "But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble." 

If you are a Christian, rejoice in the knowledge of God's love and His salvation. If you are not a Christian, now is your opportunity to start on the course and begin your life anew as a Christian. Are you willing to begin building your new life in Christ? ~tss.

If you are enjoying The Messenger and you know someone else who would like to receive it. Please forward it to them or send me their email address and I will add it to the list.   Sean

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