Lesson 6: "RELATIONSHIP TO BRETHREN"
Introduction : It is essential that every babe in Christ appreciate the relationship he or she sustains toward brothers and sisters in Christ and the responsibilities that such a relationship involves. How we treat our brethren can affect the acceptability of our worship and service.
I. Our relationship to other Christians.
a. We are members of one family:
Galatians 3:26-27 “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
Romans 8:16-17 “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”
b. We are members of one body:
1 Corinthians 12:12-13 “For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.”
c. We are partners in a great fellowship (Acts 2:42; 2 Corinthians 6:1; 1 John 1:3-4).
II. What I owe to my brethren.
Under the Old Law, the Lord taught that we should treat people as we would want to be treated (Matthew 7:12), we call this the golden rule. However, in the New Testament, we are taught to consider others better than ourselves! Maybe we should call this the spiritually golden rule?
Philippians 2:3 "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.”
With this in mind, let us explore some of the specifics of this, “better than”, consideration:
a. Love (John 13:34 -35; 1 John 3:7-12; 4:19 -20).
1 John 3:16-18 “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. 17 But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”
b. Proper example and influence (Romans 14:13; 14:21; 1 Corinthians 8:9; 8:12-13).c. Forgiveness.Colossians 3:13 “bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.”
i. How often must I forgive? (Mathew 18:21-35).
d. Bearing others burdens (Galatians 6:2; Philippians 2:4).i. What are some other things we help bear?
Hebrews 13:1-2 “Let brotherly love continue. 2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.”
e. My obligations to preserve unity among brethren.i. Peace and unity are things for which we should all strive (Ephesians 4:2-3; Philippians 1:27; 2:1-3; Romans 14:19).ii. Things that destroy unity.
Ephesians 4:31 “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.”
f. Gods law of settling disputes.i. If you hear that someone has aught against you, go to them and seek reconciliation (Matthew 5:23-24).ii. If your brother sins against you, go to him (Matthew 18:15).iii. If this fails the matter should be taken before the church (Matthew 18:16-17).iv. Waiting in false pride for others to take the first steps towards reconciliation is not God's way (Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:19).