The mercy of the one who has received mercy… treating others as we have been treated: Mat 18:21-35

The mercy of the one who has received mercy… treating others as we have been treated, loving others as we have been loved, extending mercy to others as it has been extended to us, granting the gift of grace to others as it has been granted to us - forgiveness - the gift, that truly, keeps on giving - if we’re willing to give it…

The Lord’s prayer:

Luke 11:1-4

Matthew 18:21-35

Some things to consider:

Sin – in utter opposition to God, worthy of condemnation – what is it realize the enormity of the debt of which I have been forgiven in Christ?

What has being forgiven of this debt done for me?

How do I view other’s sin?

How do I view other’s sin against me?

How do I treat others according to my view of that sin?

What can I do to change my view of sin – mine and others’, especially if that sin was committed against me?

How can I practice gratefulness to God for His forgiveness?  Am I grateful, or do I lose sight sometimes of God’s mercy toward me?

How can being in more consistent view of that mercy effect how I see and treat others in light of their sin – especially against me?

Who am I treating with contempt, forgetting that I myself have been forgiven of such great a debt?

To whom do I need to show mercy?

Who in my life do I need to forgive?

We ARE our brother's keeper. Genesis 4:1-10

We ARE our brother's keeper. Genesis 4:1-10 

What is a privilege of walking with Jesus and one another?  That we would have those around us who love us enough to safeguard us. It is our great privilege to walk with another in life - at all.  That we would have those in our lives with whom we share our joys and sorrows, our elation and pain, our hopes and dreams, and when those dreams are dashed.  

It is also our privilege to be the one to whom someone would come, or would have come to us - to speak loving truth into each other’s lives, to enrich and guide, to encourage when struggling, and correct when wrong.

We have been granted such a great gift, first in and with a Father who loves us - in forgiveness, instruction, and correction by God’s word and Spirit, to experience the love of a Father who would be willing to bring a moment of pain for a life of peace, even bless:

Hebrews 12:4-13 “...7Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as His children… 11No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

This is the compassion at the Hand of the Father that comforts us, even, when it doesn’t “feel” when it doesn’t comforting…  

Then, the gift of one another - to extend the love we have mercifully and graciously received - from OUR heavenly Father - to our brothers and sisters: 

Can we, will we, will I remain in view of the privilege of not only receiving our heavenly Father’s comfort - as His loving discipline - but, also see, ourselves, each other, as the instrument through whom this discipline sometimes comes? 

 Will we/I, then, see the times of pain, as an act of loving discipline, and patiently walk through life with my brothers and sisters, lovingly speaking truth and having truth spoken to me? 

 Remembering our own being comforted and provided peace by our Father’s loving discipline, and having His mercy in mind, do I treat others as mercifully and lovingly as I have been treated?

How might we do this?  Being in view of God’s mercy, remain humble in our own estimation.

It is in one’s own sober view of self (Ro 12:3), humbly recognizing one’s own sin, God’s mercy on them in the face of their sin, and the relief and release of their heart’s and mind’s conscience at the forgiveness of their sin, that allows them to love much the One who has forgiven them and those around them who suffer also their sin… 

Luke 7:36-50 “...I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

…they truly mourn and therefore are truly comforted and therefore desire, with compassion, to comfort others:

Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

2Cor 1:3-4 “3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 

…and then recognize the incredible privilege of being counted among those to whom someone would dare come to confess their sin and seek aid, to be comforted…

James 5:16 “...and confess your sins to one another and pray for one another…”

 …as you have been graciously and deeply loved, turn toward others with a gracious and deep love… 

1Peter 4:8 “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”

…and having cultivated and demonstrated this attitude, this sober view of self, you become a welcome sight when someone in need, sees you approaching them - with care -  lovingly, and humbly - to walk with them, restoring them when they’ve sinned…

Luke 6:42 “...take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

Isaiah 52:7 “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns!”

Romans 10:15 “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

…as one is honest with themself, and humbly recognizes their own sin, they have not ignored or hidden their own sin but have allowed themselves to be examined by the light, to have their sin exposed, and when seen, turned to confess receive the peace of forgiveness.  Now, having seen their own, and having been cleansed, they can see rightly, and love much, as to humbly, carefully, and gently approach another’s sin and render loving aid and walk with them through repentance. 

41“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 42How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Galatians 6:1-3, 7-10 1Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. … 7Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

What is the good we should not be weary of doing?  

One would be: That we would treat others the way we would want to be treated…

Luke 6:31 “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

Another would be:  That we would forgive others as we have been forgiven…

Matthew 6:12 “...and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.”

Let us be careful then to remember God’s mercy, to be in full and regular view of it, and to offer the same to others… Matthew 18:21-35

…having sinned and suffering its consequences,  we all have hope of being forgiven, and of being healed, to be relieved of guilt, shame, and the anxieties that come with sin and its consequences, to let us, loving one another deeply…

James 5:16 “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

…to be restored to right relationship with God and others, renewed and strengthened, restored and re-assured of our position in God in Christ. (2Peter 1:1-11; 3:14; Ro 2:4)

Psalm 51

Some follow-up questions:

Do I make a regular practice of exposing my heart to God’s word, to the Spirit in prayer, and to the fellowship of believers, so that my heart might be examined?  If not, what do I need to change to start doing so or to be more consistent?

Do I make a regular practice to keep in view God’s mercy toward me AND others?

• Where was I when I met Jesus?

• Who was it that loved me and was patient enough with me to share Jesus with me?   What was their attitude toward me?  

• What do I need to do to remember God’s grace and mercy on me?

• What brothers and sisters in my life need me to show them

Do I have 2 or 3 close believing friends with whom I can share and confess and expose my sins to so that I might not hide my sin or shrink in guilt and shame and be gently restored?

Do I have a few in my life who love me enough to come to me when they see me struggling with sin and gently confront and restore me?

Are there those in my life, with whom I walk, who if I see in sin and mourn for them, that I would go to them and gently confront and restore?

“...blessed are those who mourn… they will be comforted…” and ready and equipped to “comfort those in trouble…” Matthew 5:4; 2Corinthians 1:2

“...blessed are those who mourn… they will be comforted…” and ready and equipped to “comfort those in trouble…”  Matthew 5:4; 2Corinthians 1:2

What do we mourn?  Our sin and its consequences. When we humbly recognize our sin and confess it to God and others, we are acknowledging our need for God and others - that we cannot do this alone.  In our mourning, in our having brought grief to those who love us, we seek forgiveness and restoration - healing.  It is in the confessing and the forgiving that we find our comfort and are healed of our guilt and shame, our anxious thoughts, and our remorse for having hurt those we love.  

The great privilege of being the extension of God’s loving mercy. (Luke 6:36; Mat 5:44-48; Rom 12:14-21). What is perhaps most astonishing, is it is at the acknowledging and the confessing of our own sin, that we actually become one who another can approach when they have sinned and are seeking comfort and healing - it is when we have a right and humble view of self, that we become one to whom another can come and confess and be healed. 

What do we mourn?  Other’s sin and its consequences.  Having experienced our own brokenness and sin, the mercy we have received from God by His love softens our hearts toward others who suffer the same pain - this should shape our attitude toward sin and one another - and compel us to develop a life and environment, a safe space, that promotes confession, forgiveness, and restoration - the healing salve of forgiveness - for all we encounter. 

How we view ourselves and our sin will go a long way in telling us how we will see and view another and their sin - and whether they will feel safe coming to us for help.  It is a spirit of humility that will ensure one’s ability, to be honest with God, self, and others, and then will allow others to come to you for the comfort they need.

Luke 18:9-14

On the other hand, self-righteousness, and pride, before God and people, make a person who is self-deceived, believing they are something they are not and doing so at their own peril (Pr 16:18-19).  If we do not see ourselves as having sinned, not mourning our sin,  we will go neither to God nor another, because we do not see our need to - we have shown that we actually do not love God much (John 13), and in turn, we are not likely to have an attitude or countenance that would allow another to come to us - because we see little need for forgiveness, we have little capacity to love. 

It is in one’s own sober view of self (Ro 12:3), recognizing one’s own sin, God’s mercy on them in the face of their sin, and the relief and release of their heart’s and mind’s conscience at the forgiveness of their sin, that allows them to love much the One who has forgiven them and those around them who suffer also their sin… 

Luke 7:36-50 “...I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

…they truly mourn and therefore are truly comforted and therefore desire compassionately to comfort others:

Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

2Cor 1:3-4 “3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 

…and then be counted among those to whom someone would dare come to confess their sin and seek aid…

1Peter 4:8 “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”

James 5:16 “...and confess your sins to one another and pray for one another…”

…or would be a welcome sight when they see one in need and making an approach…

Luke 6:42 “...take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

…as one sees their own sin, being honest with oneself, humbly recognizing their own sin, they are not blind to their own sin but have allowed themselves to be examined by the light, to have their sin exposed, and confess their sin and receive the peace of forgiveness, they now, having seen their own, and having cleansed themselves from their own sin, can see rightly, and love much, as to humbly, carefully, and gently approach the other’s sin and render loving aid and walk with them through repentance. 

41“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 42How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Galatians 6:1-3, 7-10 1Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. … 7Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

…in hopes of being healed, and relieved of guilt, shame, and the anxieties that come with sin and its consequences…

James 5:16 “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

…and restored to right relationship with God and others, renewed and strengthened, restored and re-assured of our position in God in Christ. (2Peter 1:1-11; 3:14; Ro 2:4)

Psalm 51

Do I make a regular practice of exposing my heart to God’s word, to the Spirit in prayer, and to the fellowship of believers, that my heart might be examined?  If not, what do I need to change to start doing so or to be more consistent?

Do I have 2 or 3 close believing friends with whom I can share and confess and expose my sins to so that I might not hide my sin or shrink in guilt and shame and be gently restored?

Do I have a few in my life who love me enough to come to me when they see me struggling with sin and gently confront and restore me?

Are there those in my life, with whom I walk, who if I see in sin and mourn for them, that I would go to them and gently confront and restore?

Facade to Fellowship

READ 1 John 1:1-10 (ESV)

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life. 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. 5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

REFLECT

Main Idea: This passage is a call to move from facade to fellowship.

Main verse: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

“Walk in the light”

What does it mean to walk in the light?

Why does it matter that we walk in the light?

What does walking in the light look like?

RESPOND (Self Examination and Application)

Self Examination

What sins are you hiding that you’re too ashamed or afraid to expose?

What impact has hiding your sin had on your relationship with God and others? What impact is wearing a facade having on your spiritual growth?

What would change in your relationship with God and others if you confessed these sins to God and others (using wisdom and discretion)?

Application

Pray Psalm 139 23-23 (ESV) “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me and lead me in the way everlasting!”

First, pray that God would give you wisdom and discernment to find a couple of mature brothers or sisters in Christ to confess your sins to and have pray with you. Then take action to confess the sins you’re hiding to those brothers/sisters. Pray that God would help you be a mature and trustworthy brother/sister in Christ for someone that needs to confess their sins.

Add to brotherly-affection, love: a work in progress: Acts

Add to brother-affection, love: To love one another has always been a work in progress… but, it is the purest demonstration of our being disciples of Jesus, His Body.

Great Commandment - a new command I give you…

Deuteronomy 6:5 & Leviticus 19:18  “5Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength….  18“ ‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.”

Not new, but, ongoing and eternal… Jesus is bringing forward God’s eternal heart and will

Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30,33; Luke 10:27 29“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

Then, Jesus reframes it… 

John 13:34-35  “34“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

…and explains what our loving actually expresses - love for Him and the Father… (Deut 15:7; Prov 14:31; 1John 2:5; 3:17; 4:12,17, 20)

John 14:15, 21,-24; 15:10-14 (1John 2:3; 5:3; 2John 1:6) 14:23 “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them… 15:10 “Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him."

Jesus’ commandment to the disciples with regard to now having experienced that love - no longer in theory, but in the flesh.

John 13:1,4,34  “Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end, showing them the extend of His love… he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet… a new command I give you: as I have loved you, so you must love one another”

After Jesus’ death and resurrection, but prior to the Spirit’s coming, the disciples clung to one another in fear, trying as they might to love one another - We’re trying, we are… 

Acts 1 gathered in a room, together, grieving, praying, wondering what will become of us.

After Pentecost, the coming of the transforming Holy Spirit, God’s love for us, in us, and His love through us to Him and one another, with our cooperation, we can love as Jesus.

Galatians 5:13-15,22,25 “13You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh a ; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself…15walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh…22the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control…25since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” 

This love, by the Spirit’s power and their devotion, is first demonstrated in the church. 

Acts 2:42-47 42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Acts 4:32-37 32All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.  36Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), 37sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.

The Church and its love were tested by scope, sin, persecution, and, prejudice… not much different than what we experience today.

Acts 5:1-11 the sin of Ananias and Sapphira

Acts 6:1-6 the increased scope of the fledgling church, including the proliferation of Grecian Jews and the stress involved in loving and serving…“In those days the number of disciples was increasing…”  & “...the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.” (Lev 19:9; 23:22; Deut 24:19; Ja 2; 1Jo 3:17; Pr 3:27-28)

Acts 7; 11:19  the death of Stephen and the scattering of the church

Acts 10 & 11 Peter’s vision and subsequent visit with Cornelius and his family - entering his house and his having to explain to the other disciples his actions 

Acts 10:28 “Peter said them” ‘You are well aware that it is against our Law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile.  But God…”

Acts 11:2-3 “So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him and said, ‘You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.”

…and theological wranglings… 

Acts 11; 17:17-26 (Rom 3; Gal 2&3; Heb 10)

Then Paul, instructing how we sould live, breaks down the Great Commandment in very real terms, expressing both the substance and the essence of the love we are here for one another and how we demonstrate it. 

Romans 12:3-21

How will we love those among us?

With what gifts and talents might I bless my part of the Body of Christ?

Am I willing to receive the love of others - as sometimes it is hard to be served? (see Jesus and Peter in John 13)

Can I, will I, trust God to do what He promises to do, and in the meantime do what He is asking of me, empowering to do, and love sincerely?

Brotherly Affection: There is a general attitude in our hearts and mind: do not be overwhelmed (by the world): From all, to every, to each

Brotherly Affection: the general attitude of our hearts: do not be overwhelmed

John 3:16-21  16For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but (each would) have eternal life…

An affection, an affinity for; a friendly demeanor, a general sense of kindness and benevolence (generosity) toward - all, the whole body - all those with whom I fellowship and worship - leading to a cheerful welcoming and accepting that brings a sense of joy and belonging to all who enter.  (2Pe 1; John 13)

Doing nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, I come with a willingness to serve as opportunities arise - being available, alert, and aware, to provide an act of kindness to everyone you encounter, anyone who has a need in the moment - direction, help, a smile, a moment of friendly caring.  (Lev 19; 23; Ruth 2)

Taking me from my own interests to (also) the interests of others, we develop an affection for those around me and the willingness, and eagerness, to serve, born out of this growing sincere affection for those with whom you share this common space deepening our affection and moving us to love - each person we serve. (Phil 2)

Deepening affection leads to wanting to serve the body even more profoundly - intentionally, finding a space, a place to share me and my gifts with others, to serve the body with our gifts and talents - to bless and edify those around us to build all up, everyone, as each does its part. (Ro 12; 1Co 12)

All of this leads to expressing our part of the body, displaying a mutual concern for all parts, to everyone, as each has need, further expressing our mutual connection to the head - Jesus - because we are following His lead - dignifying all, everyone, by the touching of each. (Eph 4)

And as we edify others and help them grow we are being affirmed as to our own part in the body and confirming for them, theirs, and we do this, as we express our affection to others, showing the extent of our sincerest loving affection in being generous with our care and service. (Jo 13; Ro 12; 2Cor 9)

This all reminds us of why we are where we are, who we are as a part, and why we are here - for our own encouragement and to encourage those with and for whom we are connected - and with each act of kindness, sharing of affection, we are increasing all of our confidence and assurance and producing in us and among us a spiritual zeal that carries us through these times. (Ro 8;21; Jo 17)

To have and share such affection, to serve the body, is to love Jesus, expressing that love by obeying His loving and life-giving commands, by participating in the building up of the body - all who are a part, everyone, each, loving one another - as Jesus has loved us.  (Jo 12-17; 1Jo 3; 4)

1John 4:19-20 19We love because he first loved us. 20Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

Sometimes we wonder how my presence can make any difference, how one small moment’s gesture, by one small part, can have an impact, how one tiny prayer can carry any power… I am sure that is how the disciples must have felt.  And the boy, what was he thinking, but, here he was, offering what he had, such a small thing in the presence of this large crowd.  This story is the story of God’s economy, not just the way it works, but what is intended by it - that His glory would be seen and that each of everyone, all of us, would sense our part - our belonging - our contribution to the lives of those with whom we share this eternal bond. The truth that this God works through the smallest things to accomplish His most profound works - we are His choosing to accomplish His chosen purpose - and this by His wonderful grace! (Deut 7:7; 1Co 12:12-26)

John 6:1-14; Mark 6:30-44 - “I have compassion for these people” feelings for from the “seat of affections and love”.  Going from all, to everyone, to each… the feeding of the 5,000 - all these people, we don’t have enough food to feed everyone, even if each only had…, …in God’s economy, each one had more than enough, as everyone ate to the full, and all were fed…, …as this one boy, gave everything he had, that everyone would be fed, as all would eat.

And as all ate, every one being fed, each one was satisfied, taken care of, taken into consideration, because in the mass of all these people, every one of them counts, because each one mattered, and matters - to Jesus.  Having a mutual brotherly-affection for the “one anothers” is to imitate – Jesus (John 13)

Led by the Spirit

2 Peter 1

Encourage Christians to grow in their faith and knowledge of God.

2 Peter 1: 5-9

Climb the ladder of virtues … To our FAITH we add GOODNESS, add KNOWLEDGE, add SELF CONTROL, add PERSEVERANCE, add GODLINESS, add BROTHERLY KINDNESS, and add LOVE

James 2: 14-17

“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds?” … “faith by itself, if it is NOT accompanied by action, is dead.”

John 13: 1

Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of His love.

John 13: 12

Do you understand what I have done for you?

John 13:15

I have set you an example that you should do as I have done.

Ephesians 4:1

God has chosen us to be Christ’s ambassadors here on earth. We have been given a tremendous opportunity, with enormous responsibility!

Ephesians 4:3

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit …. Focus on God.

What's Most Important: Peter’s Desire for us is That We Would Be Confident of our Relationship with Jesus, Assured in our Faith

Make every effort: Peter’s desire for us is that we would be confident of our relationship with Jesus, assured in our faith.  I believe that this is the reason he implores us to make every effort to add to the faith we have been granted those disciplines that will enhance and make effective our relationship with our heavenly Father, Jesus our Brother, and the Holy Spirit who indwells us.  

Through our brother Peter, God reveals His desire for us.  God’s desire is that we would see and choose what is most important – experiencing His love, we would then Love Him with our whole strength, showing our devotion, in and to that love, by making every effort to show Him and others, that He and those that are His ARE most important.   In adding to our faith what is most important we are agreeing with God that He is wise and good and join with Him in His grand and most important purpose - that we would be like Jesus – to the glory of our Father. 

It is God’s intention that we see then, that this life of making every effort is not just with Him, but that we would receive from God His admonition that “it is not good for us to be alone” and thus recognize the privilege and joy of being part of the Body of Christ, those with whom God has placed us, and see the second part of the “Great Commandment” to love, for what it is, that it is like the first, that when we love one another, we are loving Him and His purposes, Him and His Body, we are loving what and who He loves.  That we would place much energy and effort into the loving of “one another”, just like Jesus did, like family, and therefore, see affection for our brothers and sisters in Christ, we agree with Jesus with what He believes to be most important among all things important – to love those with whom we will spend eternity (and in doing so, entice the lost to join the party!).

When we develop and foster brotherly affection, we are joining Jesus in calling one another “friend and brother, family”, and actually participating in Jesus’ declaration: my family is those who do the will of God by following me with full devotion, with one another. (Mark 3)

Brotherly affection - I love my relationship with you - I like you, I have a growing affection 

Mark 3:31-35

Hebrews 10:19-25

Phil 2:1-5

1Corinthians 11:17-34

Let us consider this: though we are responsible and will be held accountable for the maintenance of our own relationship, we are never meant to do this alone:

His Divine Being in His own Divine Community - “Let us make them…” (Gen 1:26) - a reflection of the fullness of the deity which is Jesus (Jn 1:16; Col 1:19; 2:9)

As God, in essence, is saying: “I AM not alone, neither have I ever been alone, therefore…”

His divine wisdom - “...it is not good for man to be alone…, …in Our image and likeness…” (Gen 2:18)  expressed most fully in Jesus, the wisdom of God, in whom is locked the wisdom of God, which is now ours in Christ Jesus (1Cor 1:24,30; Col 2:2-3; Ja 3:17)

And I will not leave you alone… John 14

His divine power - the indwelling Holy Spirit (Jo 14:16; Ro 8; Eph 1:13; 4:30 1Cor 1:12; 2:9-11; 2Pe 1:2-3)

His divine presence - “my Father and I will make our home in you” (Jn 14:21,23; 15:10 16:27)

His divine working - “it is God who works IN you” (Isa 26:12; Phil 2:13; 1Co 12:6) also works through you

His divine providence and placing - “...members of one body… given grace… to edify one another…” (1Co 12)

His divine prompting - “to will and to act, to desire to act, according to…” (Phil 2:13; 1Cor 12:6; 15:10; 2Co 5; Eph 1:5)

His divine keeping - the Lord knows how to keep His own” (ps 37:28; 97:10; 1Pe 1:4; 2Pe 2:5,9)

His divine finishing - promises to finish what He has begun - “He will finish the work that He has begun (Ph 1)

His divine purpose - creating and conforming us in and to Jesus - “to be conformed to the image of His Son…” (Ro 8)

His divine plan - to fill the kingdom of and for the Son He loves - “.... that He would be the first among many brothers and sisters” 

His divine going - “...as You have sent me, so I send them…”, “...therefore go… and I will be with you…” (Jo 17; Matt 28)

His divine intercession - Jesus and the Holy Spirit are interceding, advocating for us, defending us

To His divine glory - that in His grace upon us, not just for salvation, but for our privileged work with Him, that He would declare to the heavenlies His immeasurable grace - (Matt 5; Eph; Phil 2)

By His divine sovereignty - that everything would be placed under His feet (Ps 110:1; Dan 2:44; Mat 22:44; Heb 1:13; 10:13; Phil 2:5-11) and we would rule with Him forever

All according to… 

His divine breath - His Word, Jesus, and His words - the words that proceed from the mouth of God - and this according to God’s final Word, practiced and confirmed by Jesus (Matt 4:4; Luke 4:4; Jo 1; Deut 8:3; 29:29; Pr 6:23; Ro 2Tim 3:16; 15:4; 2Pe 1:20-21)

Experiencing the Love of God, We Love, and Making Every Effort to Grow in that Love: Hebrews 4

2Peter 1 - experiencing the love of God, we love, and making every effort to grow in that love, we then grow in love and the assurance of that love - the knowledge of Him, because He has made Himself and His love known to us: Having a real live encounter with God, is the moment God has made Himself known to us by His love and we realize His real presence and are moved toward Him by His love.  Meaning, that in meeting that love, our heart has been touched and has responded and turned, and now, we have come to know Him - really experiencing His mercy and grace, His love and forgiveness - and now, we are at peace with Him because we realize through this experience that He has made peace with us and it for us (Rom 8).  

It is important we understand that this peace is a “positional peace” established by God.  It is this position in in Him that gives us peace based on hope or assurance. The peace we have might be better stated so that we better understand it as - assurance - as in our world, “peace” is often used as a “feeling of calm”, or an expressed moment in which we are in a “tranquil state” that is temporary and based on (feelings) in a circumstance and therefore can be taken. 

This peace, which is actually assurance (Col 1:23 NLT), rises from an inner confidence of what is sure to come, what we rightly anticipate because of the surety of its coming because of our position (where we have been placed by God’s grace) - this is hope, not wishful thinking, or a whim, but in particular, a firm and eager expectation of a what is sure - in this case: a sure and hardy welcome because of our confidence in God’s grace - having “met” God, we expect from His goodness and good promises to those who love Him - a joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation. (Rom 5; 1Peter 1)

This peace God has established with us, this gracious experience we have with God, has persuaded us that God is who He says He is, and, we are who He says we are, and this produces in us, assurance, or, peace.  (Phil 4) because now, being free (from accusation), we have a fearless confidence, giving us a cheerful courage, to approach God because of the good standing we have with him, in Christ, being accepted and adopted as children - we can with surety, anticipate a His being for us now, and in eternity - a rich warm welcome into the Kingdom of Heaven (1Peter 1:3-6).

• In the now:  Hebrews 4:14-16  14Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, f Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

And eternally: 2Peter 1:8-9 8Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls

Here, in Peter’s second letter, he gives a road map to grow in our faith - that we might be more and more persuaded of God and His love’s truth and promises.  So that as our relationship with God grows, our trusting hope would increase, and with our trust and hope, our assurance, or, confidence, and thus, our peace.

It seems it is our hope, our assurance, our confidence that Peter here is most concerned for us and gives us a map to increase and live in that confidence.

So a quick review: 2Peter 1:3-8

Faith - being persuaded by God that He is God, glorious and good, and that this God - love us - it is true and we can trust it.

Goodness - being the change He has made in us - we are like Jesus, we can speak and act as Jesus

• What is it? To think, feel, and act differently - moral goodness - Jesus, to see and hear, follow and be like - to act rightly, according to truth, or, what is good and gracious

• What can I do?  Bring what is good, the best of me, to bear on the body - my brothers and sisters – being the good I have been created to be and do what that goodness does.

Knowledge - 

• What is it?  The word of God, which is from God, about God that we might know more of Him 

• What can we do?  Make every effort to engage with God in His word so that we might know more about God and His will and purposes.  Read and listen to it; recite and remember it; remain in it allowing it to do its work and grow in it; believe it; do it and share it - with one another, with the lost.  

Self-control - 

• What is it? It is an unwillingness to be moved from - remain in that place God has me

• What can I do?  Persist in that place God has placed me and with whom looking for God’s promise to “work all things for the good of those who love Him…” 

Perseverance - 

• What is it? To see through to its end; bear up with joy; the joy of knowing that God has me in this time and place and is doing a work in me through it - that is my perseverance, godliness, hope, and assurance as Jesus is revealed through in our trials.

• What can we do? To not only remain but to see through to the end result of the circumstance and suffering that one finds oneself - looking forward with joy to the God-promised results of times such as these. 

Godliness -  

• What is it? character, Christlikeness, Christ’s righteousness - it is the fruit of remaining in and persevering through suffering - this life (Romans 5; Ja 1; 1Pe 1) 

• What can I do? Be godly!  Exercising my family right as a dearly loved child to be who I am in Jesus and act on it. (Is 56:5; Lu 11:2; Jo 1:12; Ro 8:15-16; 1Co 2:12; Ep 5:1) - 

All of this is our responsibility, but not ours to do alone, but by and with:

• The Holy Spirit (Jo 14; Ro 8; Ep 1) or, His Divine Power (2Pe 1:3)

• One another – the Body of Christ – of which He is the Head (Eph 4)

The next thing we are called to “make every effort to add” is - the one-another - to be a part and develop a “brotherly kindness”, or, affection.  And this can’t happen without being a part of the Body, and, as God ordains a “body” local - with one-another - and placed us each and every into one. 

Our making every effort to add all that we are asked to add, with make in us - brotherly affection - which means, we need to be a part of a local body to which we express that affection.  

So what of this brotherly kindness?  It is important that we understand the nature of fellowship, being part of the body, and that we see that it is not only being a member of the body, a body of which you have been made apart but developing our affection for it and those in it with us.

What is this brotherly affection?  The simple attitude and work of brotherly kindness or as Romans 12:10 phlostorgos “family affection” - tenderly loving, kindly affectionate to. 

• A mutual love – one to another, given and received, gladly, even or especially when difficulties exist.

• This term is derived from storge - cherishing one’s kindred (especially parents and children)

• It is the special affection shared between members of God’s family - people born again - divinely adopted and serving the same heavenly Father!

Jesus sets this forward here in Mark 3:34 “who are my mother and brothers?  He asked.  Then He looked at those seated in a circle around Him and said, “Here are my mother and bothers!  Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” 

This brotherly affection is to be developed – with every effort - with God and toward the fellowship of believers - our adopted family - as it a large part of our growing confidence, our assurance, as we together spur one another on to grow in Christ bringing forward the good tha that we have experienced with God and have been made by God in Christ. 

And here’s how!

Hebrews 10:19-25  19Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Our assurance grows with one another - but this is not passive, it is active, as we do unto others, bringing ourselves to the party and allowing everyone to enjoy the favor of all the people (Acts 2)

What is it – this fellowship and our growing affection for it?  It is to realize that this fellowhip is Jesus’ body and that He has placed you in it - for your good, the good of others, and for His good!  It, the Body, is our family, truly, with God as our Father, Jesus our brother, and His DNA flowing through us - the Holy Spirit. 

What can I do?  We can adjust your attitude regarding the Body of which you are a part; then, be a part; commit to bringing your best - honest and transparent self; serve and be served. 

May we make every effort to calibrate it to God’s good pleasure of having made and formed the body as He thought this best and most wise and loving -

And just like in any other relationship, when we make every effort to maintain and enrich it, we grow in confidence in it, them, our love and are more and more assured that they are there with us and for us - and our love and affection grows. 

The Work, the Making Every Effort, of Believing, Beholding, Worshiping , Adoring, Loving - God - John 6; 2Peter 1

The faith you received - faith is the act of persuasion of God toward a person to enliven their heart to His love expressed through His merciful grace - that converts our knowledge about God, to experience God Himself and His love - from knowing to knowing.

Glory and goodness - 

• What evokes good opinion - honor, renown; glory, an especially divine quality, the unspoken manifestation of God, splendor.

• Excellence - moral excellence, goodness, virtuous, righteousness, perfections - is what it is about God which shines forth that calls to us (Ps 23; John 10)

If you can see and love God, then you have experienced God.  Faith is the moment of having been persuaded by God, that He is God, and rightly seeing God, I am persuaded to turn and place my faith, my believing trust, in God - this is the moment of transformation, of becoming God’s child, being born again - having known about God in my mind, I now know Him in my heart - I have experienced His glory, His goodness, expressed to me by His love, I see and believe that I am loved. 

In response to such love, I am to …make every effort to add to your faith - 

• Every - means "all" in the sense of "each (every) part that applies." The emphasis of the total picture then is on "one piece at a time." then focuses on the part(s) making up the whole – viewing the whole in terms of the individual parts.  Extensive-intensive force!

• Effort - haste, diligence, giving one’s best full effort by making haste; quickly obeying what the Lord reveals is His priority. This elevates the better over the good – the more important over the important – and does so with earnest swiftness (intensity).

To faith, goodness - an endowment from God, of God, the fruit of which is a virtuous course of thought, feeling and action; virtue, moral goodness - having experienced God’s goodness - His gracious act of love, His feelings which moved Him to action (Jo 3:16; 2Co 1: compassion to comfort), we turn, with like feelings toward others that move us to do what is good - gracious acts of service to one another that in turn bless God (2Co 1 to comfort with the comfort we’ve received; Is 58:6-14; Mat 25:31-40; Gal 5:22 goodness is a fruit of the Spirit).  The irony is that the act of serving does not exhaust our feelings and ability to act, but instead, our service makes deeper our feelings to the point that my spirit is enlivened - bubbling up to a boil, fervent, effervescent.  By exercising the faith God has distributed to us, we strengthen it, it is proven genuine, and our love for God and others grows in sincerity - we learn to hate what is evil and destructive and move to express God’s goodness to others by serving others with virtue and courage - seeing in God what is good, we do good 

Ro 12:1-11 “11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”

My spirit now being stoked, I want to grow, I want to know more about my good Father so that I might know Him, and His goodness, more and more, and make it known, better and better… 

To Goodness, knowledge - God’s word tells me more about God and His commands, it works to further persuade and affirm me - both my mind and heart - of what is true.  By making every effort to spend time with God in His word my understanding deepens, my experiences gain context, and I grow in my knowledge of God so that when I experience more of God, I can discern what is true, my mind and heart are calibrated to Him and each other.  God’s word informs me, guides me, and gives me direction, corrects my trajectory (Ps 119), affirms me in whose I am, convicts me of my wrongdoing (when I am not acting on who and whose i am), and reminds me of and brings me back to my Father’s love (Ps 51; Luke ) - we encounter the living God by His living word and it penetrates us working its way through our mind to our heart reinforcing everything we believe and further converting our belief to faith - thus deepening our faith through experiencing Him more

Hebrews 4:9-16 “12For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

Now, by ingesting God’s living word, which actively aligns my mind and heart to Him, I can engage more fully with the Holy Spirit and agree with God about what is good (Ro 12:1-2).  As I engage with God’s word, it works to further persuade me of what is good - right, just, and fair - and being further persuaded, I now look to act more in accordance with His word and less on my own desires.  As I make every effort to behold God in His word, His word patiently and powerfully works to convert my mind and heart to change my heart’s desire to His desires - the self-control I am now to practice is what allows God’s word to accomplish the conversion of my desires to His in each and every circumstance I find myself - to know what would He desire for me - here and now.

To knowledge, self-control - true mastery from within - dominion within, i.e. "self-control" – proceeding out from within oneself, but not by oneself - it is a fruit of the Spirit!  Through the word, I am persuaded of what is true, and by His Spirit, I am empowered to agree with His word and can have and exert mastery over myself (my desires) as I cooperate with God’s indwelling Spirit and choose to walk with Him, in His way - by that Spirit’s power, I can say no to my fleshly desires and say yes to Him by obeying His word (Jo 14:15-27). Self-control is the virtue of one who masters his desires and passions, especially his sensual appetites - and what’s even better is that self-control is a fruit of the Spirit!  (Gal 5:22-23)

BEHOLD!  As I make every effort to engage with God by faith and imitate Him in virtuous acts of service, God’s living word and Spirit living in me my faith bubbles up and is excited to know more and be more like Jesus - and I am miraculously able to look and act more and more like Jesus!

To self-control, perseverance - to remain, stay back, remaining under what God allots in life: exercising self-control by not running from this moment, but remaining under, staying put, in the circumstances in which I find myself.  I am learning to trust God more, being further persuaded by His word, that not only is God NOT surprised I am where I am, He knows and has prepared me for this moment apportioning grace to me to accomplish what lies before me.  This is truly trusting God’s sovereign plan and purposes, His working in me, on me, and through me, where He has me, and, is equipping and empowering me for this moment - if I will exercise self-control and remain - cheerfully enduring, He and I, together, can and will accomplish His will. (Rom 8:28-30; 12:1-2)

James 1:2-3 “2Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, a whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

And by beholding God I become like God, which is God’s loving intention for me…

To perseverance, Godliness - someone's inner response to the things of God which shows itself in godly piety (reverence); ."godly heart-response" naturally expresses itself in reverence for God, i.e. what He calls sacred - what He calls good.   Godliness is our acting more and more naturally like Jesus.  This is the fruit of the hard work of beholding, adoring, and abiding - we become who we behold, and we will most naturally express the attributes of who we spend the most time with and affix our heart to.  

John 13 “...the one who loves me is…

It is in and through the joyful persevering that we act like God (Ro 2:4) and become like God, as we remain in the place God has us to work in and on us - godliness is the JOYOUS result of persevering (our suffering and the joy of the becoming is the strength that enables us to stay - cheerfully!) 

Romans 5:3-5  “...we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

Hebrews 12:2-3 “...2fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured… ”

As Jesus loves the brotherhood, as I behold Him, and become more like Him, my love for my fellow believers grows and I have a deeper and deeper desire to be with and serve more the fellowship of believers.  Jesus, who loves me, is the head of the Body of which I am a part and as I behold Him, I want more and more, to bless Him by loving one another. 

To godliness, brotherly kindness and affection - philadelphia - the cherishing of one-another

And our brotherly kindness and affection will grow into love… storgepholeo (Ro 12:) - not just kind affection for the Body, our brothers and sisters, but also a deep and sincere love that celebrates our belonging with lavish care and provision for one another - and this - at our own expense - a Body of love, that loves, because it is loved and has experienced that love and now, because it has been loved, makes every effort to believe, behold, worship and adore - Jesus - together in love. 

John 13:34-35 34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

John 17:20-21  20“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

Acts 2:44-47 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

If you have these in increasing measure, it will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of Him… your experience with Him, your beholding of Him, your sincere worship and adoring of Him, your being like Him…

You will, instead, having made every effort to add your God-granted faith - this life-giving encounter with God, the work of beholding, will have the great and growing assurance that you are who God says you are, a dearly loved child possessed and held by a loving Father, a sympathetic Brother and savior, and the power of the Holy Spirit.

The work of beholding - Adding all of these in increasing measure - incrementally - I experience His goodness and love more and more and come to love Him more and more, sincerely. 

And we do this, together - with one another, the Body of Christ, each part belonging to all the others bringing with them gifts to give to build up their brothers and sisters.