Loving Kindly
Growing in the Knowledge of Jesus • Sermon • Submitted
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INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Up until know we’ve discussed that growing in the knowledge of Jesus Christ has an inward focus and is evidenced by:
Building upon one's personal faith
Striving for excellence as an individual goal
Increasing one's own knowledge
Controlling the passions and desires of the self
Bearing up under trials with a positive attitude
But last week we learned that this growth also has an upward focus with the addition of godliness (a pious conduct based upon a desire to be pleasing to God).
Today we will look at the outward focus of this growth with the addition of brotherly kindness.
to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.
Brotherly kindness, along with next week’s grace - love, affect and define how we should act toward others. This week we’ll look at how brotherly kindness is a necessary element in developing a Christ-like character.
The Definition of Brotherly Kindness
The Definition of Brotherly Kindness
The Greek Word is:
φιλαδελφία
philadelphia
"the love of brothers"
New Testament Use
New Testament Use
According to Thayer, It describes the love which Christians cherish for each other as brethren (Thayer). Believers are charged to display this virtue.
Let brotherly love continue.
They were to increase in it more and more.
But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more;
They had been purified for this very purpose.
Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,
In Romans it is revealed that it is through brotherly kindness we can have "kind affection" toward one another.
Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;
It is brotherly kindness, therefore, that provides a true sense of family in our association as members of the Lord's body. Why is such love of the brethren important?
As with our previous lessons, we now look to the demand.
The Demand of Brotherly Kindness
The Demand of Brotherly Kindness
Necessary to Know God
Necessary to Know God
Without sincere love for brethren, any claim to know God or love Him is impossible.
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.
If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.
If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.
If we truly desire to know God (and grow in the knowledge of Jesus), then it is essential to develop brotherly kindness!
Necessary to be a Disciple of Jesus
Necessary to be a Disciple of Jesus
Jesus made love for brethren an identifying mark by which the world can know we are His disciples.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Right doctrine is certainly important.
Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.
But the world pays little attention to what is perceived as minor doctrinal differences. What people do notice - especially in this day and age, is love in a world filled with hate. Especially when such love is observed among individuals who come from various social, economic, and racial backgrounds. If we think that we can be effective in ministering the Gospel to anybody, we deceive ourselves if we attempt to do so without a visible demonstration of Philadelphia among Christians.
Necessary to Answer Jesus’ Prayer for Unity
Necessary to Answer Jesus’ Prayer for Unity
Unity among brethren is also very important, as indicated in the prayer of Jesus.
“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
The unity made possible through the cross of Christ is maintained as we endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Crucial to that endeavor is "bearing with one another in love"
with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
There will be times when brethren sin against one another, but where brotherly kindness prevails there will also be forbearance and forgiveness. This provides time for the repentance and reconciliation that is necessary to remain united. Unless we develop brotherly kindness, churches will be prone to split at the earliest indication of conflict!
I trust that we see the importance of adding brotherly kindness. How does one go about doing this?
The Development of Brotherly Kindness
The Development of Brotherly Kindness
Requires Purity of Soul
Requires Purity of Soul
Brotherly kindness can easily be misdirected, especially in a sex-crazed society. Through obedience to the gospel, our souls are purified
Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,
We have been born again by incorruptible seed. Sincere and fervent love of the brethren is now possible If we desire true brotherly kindness, make sure that we have purity of soul!
Requires Being Taught by God
Requires Being Taught by God
Those taught by God need little to be said.
But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more;
The Father teaches the meaning of love through the giving of His Son.
In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
The Son demonstrates true love by the example of His sacrifice.
By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
The more we reflect upon the love and sacrifice of Jesus, the sooner we understand the true meaning of brotherly kindness.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
Requires Spending Time with One Another
Requires Spending Time with One Another
This I have learned from personal experience. The more I am around people, the more I come to know them personally, the more I share experiences with them (both good and bad), the easier I find it to fall in philadelphia with them! It is not much different than with one's own physical family. I had no choice who my sister would be, but as we experienced life together our love and appreciation for one another deepened. I find it to be the same with my brothers and sisters in Christ; spend time together!
It Requires Praying for Your Brothers and Sisters
It Requires Praying for Your Brothers and Sisters
This also is learned from personal experience. Pray fervently for your brethren, especially those with whom you may have a personality clash. It is hard to remain angry or maintain a strong dislike for someone when you spend time praying for them. As it says in James 5:16 “pray for one another”. Do that saints, and there will be brotherly kindness.
So finally, let’s look at
The Display of Brotherly Kindness
The Display of Brotherly Kindness
As it Affects Our Attitude Toward the Bretheren
As it Affects Our Attitude Toward the Bretheren
Brotherly kindness will lead one to be considerate. A brother who is strong will be considerate of his weak brother.
We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
Where a brother may have liberty in Christ, he is willing to limit that freedom if it is beneficial to the spiritual well-being of his brother.
Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
Brotherly kindness that will lead one to be cautious, about what they say about them.
Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.
About judging a brother -
Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?
As it Affects our Service Toward The Bretheren
As it Affects our Service Toward The Bretheren
Brotherly kindness will lead us to truly care for one another.
Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.
Brotherly kindness will prompt us to pursue the right things.
Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.
What are the right things? How about, things that make for peace, or things by which we may edify one another.
Bringing it All Together
Bringing it All Together
As we give thought to.what it means to grow in the knowledge of Jesus and what it means to develop a Christ-like character, may we appreciate the importance of developing a strong love for the brethren!
We may think that we have a strong love for the brethren, and we very well might, but we need to always increase more and more!
But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more;
And so may this prayer be fulfilled in us:
And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.