Sunday, August 14, 2016 am
Others 2016
Love One Another - 2
As
we have begun examining the various “one another” passages of the New
Testament, last week we addressed the subject of Love.
In our lesson we emphasized how important it is that we love one
another. We did this by
noting several passages that command brotherly love.
We examined John 13:34-35 where
we noted that the world has a right to judge us by how we love each
other. And then in 1
John 3 & 4 we examined these texts seeing how it is absolutely crucial
that we love one another as brethren.
We also noted that the example of that love is God’s love for us
in sending His Son. Having
established that need, today we want to notice how we love one another.
a.
Love is a primary action
that comes at the foundation of everything we do for one another.
While the context is not limited to how we love our brethren – it
applies to all mankind though in different ways – our emphasis will be
as it relates to one another as brethren.
Paul has already begun addressing how we treat each other in this
book (Romans 12:9-16).
b.
We sometimes use this
text to address the subject of debt. It applies in the sense that
we are obligated to pay what we owe (i.e. Psalm 37:21, “The wicked borrows and does not repay, but the righteous shows mercy and
gives.”). When we
borrow from our brethren (or anyone) we need to pay it.
We might also consider this in light of our need to have honorable
conduct (cf. 1 Peter 2:12), even among our brethren.
We should not cheat each other or unduly take advantage of one
another. Just because
they are brethren is no justification to demand they give you whatever
you want.
c.
But here the emphasis is
how our conduct affects them in every aspect of life.
Live in such a way that we see
love in each other.
Live so that you are loving your brethren.
d.
We owe it to each other
– that is what this text says.
Because we are brethren there has to be love there.
Consider again 1 John 4:11 – if God so loved us, we ought to love
one another (we addressed this last week).
That means we’re going to demonstrate that love with our words,
but also with our deeds and truth (1 John 3:18).
Don’t live so that you owe your brethren: 1) an apology, 2) the
need to make amends, 3) the need to prove yourself (because of
dishonorable conduct), 4) the need for them to take disciplinary action
against you, or 5) the need to be sorrowful and grieved because of your
reckless and sinful conduct, 6) because they have had to clean up some
mess that you created, etc.
e.
This is also a debt that
will never be paid off.
Both “owe” and “love” here are present tense verbs, meaning this
is ongoing action. We will
NEVER stop loving our brethren.
Even when they are behaving in an untoward fashion.
1 Corinthians 16:14 – let all that you do be done with love.
a.
Our affection toward one
another -
Romans 12:10 – “be kindly
affectionate to one another with brotherly love…”.
The word affectionate is φιλόστοργος, (philostorgos) and means to love
dearly. The love of those
close to you, as in your family. It
is the love of a husband and his wife, as well as parents and children
toward one another.
In Greek, there are 4 words (at least) that we would translate love in
the English language. 2 of
those we refer to frequently.
The 3rd is not used exclusively, but is the Greek word
storge – which is a part of this word we are discussing.
The other two are also in this text (vs. 9-10), agape and
philadelphia (kindness toward a brother, taking special interest in one
because of this close association).
The idea of this love is that we are warm toward one another.
This will manifest itself as we seek to develop brotherly love
and a caring relationship.
As a result, being around each other will be pleasant (e.g. seeing our
brethren will bring a smile with it).
Because of this love we will think about how our words and
conduct might adversely affect our brethren and that could motivate us
to not engage in something ungodly.
The NKJV continues this verse saying, “in
honor giving preference to one another.”
(Most versions are similar).
The word for preference
primarily means to go first and lead the way, or to do something
exceedingly. We sometimes
hear it say, “outdo one another in honor and brotherly love.”
But clearly this is NOT about a competitive spirit, but simply a
desire to excel at this. The
point being that this love is something we seek to excel at, even more
so than the recipient if needed.
Imagine if everyone had this attitude toward each other as
brethren!
b.
How we serve one another
through love
- Galatians 5:13 says, “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.”
While Paul emphasizes our liberty in Christ (as opposed to the
bondage of sin, and even the constraints of the Old Law) in this text,
he calls for us as brethren to guard against using our liberties as
opportunity for selfish fulfilment.
In other words, we realize that as brethren we are to be there
for one another and willing to do whatever we can for each other;
however, because I know this doesn’t give me the right to take undue
advantage of my brother for self-serving gains.
INSTEAD, through love we
serve one another. THIS
demonstrates this attitude is reciprocating.
Let it be love for a brother that prompts him to respond when he sees or
learns of a need. Consider
this in light of James 2:14-18, 1 John 3:17-18, Acts 4:32-37, 11:27-30 -
notice that the helping brother finds out about the need and responds –
not by compulsion, but because he wants to.
c.
How we bear with one another - Ephesians 4:2, in our efforts to walk worthy of our calling
we are to, with lowliness and gentleness,
bear with one another in love.
The word bear is a word that means to endure, put up with or tolerate
something.
Colossians 3:13 says that not only do we bear with one another, but we
also forgive one another.
When we love one another, we are going to be more patient in dealing
with their quirks, weaknesses and even issues of concern.
This is why love conceals a matter – Proverbs 11:13 & 1
Corinthians 13:7 (bears all things – a different word, with a similar
meaning).
Colossians 3:14 continues by saying, “But
above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.”
The love that causes us to bear with and forgive is the BOND
(something that connects or unites together; i.e. think of the marriage
bond) of perfection. Yet another
phrase that demonstrates love for one another that has been mastered.
d.
How we deal with the
sins of one another.
Related to bearing with one another, 1 Peter 4:8 says, “And
above all things have fervent
love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”
With a fervent (diligent)
disposition, our bearing with one another will prompt us to be willing
to keep to ourselves the faults of our brethren and deal with them as
discreetly as possible. This
means going to them instead of everyone else.
We are not ignoring them and their sins - For that is NOT walking
in love (Jude 22-23, Galatians 6:1, etc.)
But we are trying to keep the exposure and damage to a minimum.
We will do that for people that we genuinely care for (e.g.
notice how families will at times intervene in a problem rather
than making it public).
e.
How we consider one
another -
Hebrews 10:24, “And let us
consider one another in order to stir up love and good works...”
When I think of consideration, I think of one who thinks about a
matter. This is one who
before he acts will ask, “How will my conduct affect my brethren?”
Proverbs 15:28, “The heart of the
righteous studies how to answer…”
IN context, the Hebrew writer has concluded his discourse on how the
priesthood of Jesus is better than the Levitical priesthood (and many
other better things). He now
begins to make some application.
In this process he tells us to consider our brethren by the
decisions we make and what we do and do NOT do.
As an example of this in vs. 25 we read that as we consider one
another we will not forsake the assembling of ourselves together.
a.
1 Thessalonians 3:12 –
Paul’s prayer is that this love increase and abound.
b.
1 Thess. 4:9-10 – we are
taught by God to love one another.
Let it increase more and more.
We mentioned this last
week as we concluded our lesson.
It bears repeating here as we remind ourselves we are NEVER done
loving one another as brethren.
Nor will we master that love in our lifetime.
But we keep working at it.
Truly, loving one another is a fundamental trait of our concern for one
another as brethren.
If we can master loving one another the other qualities we are going to
address will easily fall into place.
The only question we will need to ask is, “How do I do that?”
And such will be our task.
So
how is YOUR love for your brethren?
Think about it?