Christians Should Be Together

Christians Should Be Together in Love

Introduction:

One thing lacking in many congregations of the Lord’s people is true Christian fellowship. Yes, they meet together and worship and they fellowship in this manner. Yet, when services end, most of the time so does the relationship with one another until the next collective meeting time. It seems as though we want our own lives away from our brethren. Why? Do Christians not realize that Heaven will be an eternity with brethren and God?

I. How should Christians treat each other?

A. So that all men can identify them by their actions one towards another John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

B. Can’t love God and not your brethren I John 4:18-21 “18. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19. We love him, because he first loved us. 20. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21. And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.”

1. Loving each other is COMMANDED John 15:17 “These things I command you, that ye love one another.”

C. We are to have unfeigned (sincere) love I Peter 1:22 “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:”

D. We are taught of God to love one another I Thessalonians 4:9 “But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.”

E. Christian love is summed up by the inspired apostle John I John 3:14-18 “14. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 15. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 16. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18. My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”

II. Fellowship among first century saints (They did not act as though some brethren had “cooties”)

A. O.T. principle applies Psalms 133:1 “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”

B. Daily with all things common Acts 2:42-46

1. Not divided, like minded I Corinthians 1:10 “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”

2. Having the same love Philippians 2:2-5 “2. Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”

3. Obeying the same rules Philippians 3:16-17 “Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.”

C. Not division but true affection, feeling the same pains and joys I Corinthians 12:25-26 “That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.”

D. Being of one heart Acts 4:32 “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.”

1. The heart, being the soil in which the seed (word) is planted, if the same will then be good ground and receptive of the truth Luke 8:15 “But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”

III. The issue of “withdrawing fellowship”

A. When there are those that walk disorderly the bible COMMANDS we withdraw ourselves II Thessalonians 4:6 “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.”

1. Urging a brother or sister to repent is an act of love Revelation 3:19 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”

2. It is to be done in a way in which we treat that individual as a brother not enemy II Thessalonians 3:14-15 “14. And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish [rebuke B.A.Y.] him as a brother.”

B. Those times in which one causes division he/she must be marked and avoided Romans 16:17 “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.”

1. Marking a divisive person is an action of protecting the flock. Those from within are Satan’s most effective tool Acts 20:28-30 “28. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.”

C. Private issues among brethren need to be handled the biblical way Matthew 18:15-17

D. When brethren REPENT we must be forgiving Matthew 18:22-35

Conclusion:

All things done to and for brethren ought to be done in love, with consideration for their souls. Brethren should act as family, for we are all one in Christ Jesus Galatians 3:27ff. We are the children of God Galatians 3:26.