Good Morning!
As I opened my Bible this morning my hands brought me to Romans 15. That chapter begins with a long talk about helping one another in the gospel of Jesus Christ. There is a call out to the strong to assist the weak, and for neighbor to help neighbor in order to bring edification to all, and lastly we hear an admonition from the Apostle to receive one another as Christ has received us. Each of these exhortations come with an interest from Paul that we would in every way seek to build up the congregation of the holy so that we might end our walk further down the road of sanctification than where we began it. This kind of mutual association of growth is, as he states elsewhere in 1 Thessalonians 5:11, based on the old rubric that a rising tide lifts all boats. I’m the kind of person who always wants to know how to get things done. The purpose is important, but if I’m going to do something getting from point A to point B needs laid out. It’s part of the reason why I over plan for things. The other thing to take from this section is the fact that this joint labor is to be done with the Scriptures, those things written for our learning. Through prayer, gospel fellowship, and Bible reading we accomplish what we are exhorted to do. The means of grace is not rocket science. In today’s worship and prayer help we are going to think through a little bit more about why instructing one another in love is vital to both a healthy church and our own personal spiritual life.
In Acts 8 when Philip was called on to help his Ethiopian neighbor it was in the context of the man in the chariot reading Isaiah 53 to himself as he rode along the way. That’s not quite sitting around the Fellowship Hall eating finger foods and going through the latest approved women’s study book, but it’s really not that different either. It’s two people talking about the Bible and through that coming to a better understanding of what it means, in such a way that there is growth for both and a sense of accomplishment for all. There was a shared experience in which their persons were lost in the word which made them neither slave nor free, male nor female, but one in Christ. The strong evangelist helped the weak follower comprehend how the Old Testament prophesied of the Messiah and the way in which Jesus fulfilled in every way that testimony. His willingness to come alongside has had generational blessings to the people of Africa’s first Christian nation. Likewise so does the fulfillment of Titus 2 in the older women and the younger women getting together to mutually grow over pie and coffee to ensure the continuation of the faith once for all delivered to the saints. If you are not engaging in Bible study with other believers, for whatever reason, then there is a hole in your holiness that needs plugged up. We should never be too busy, or to selfish, to forsake this covenantal blessing. The older ladies need the younger ones as much as the younger needs the older ones. Same goes for men and children as well. We cannot be as foolish to believe that an hour of worship on a Lord’s Day morning will be sufficient to enable us to withstand the constant barrage of the wickedness of the world. We need each other.
In the military there is a saying that a unit can only march as fast as its slowest part. Part of the purpose of drill is so that the whole regiment moves on one foot. Considering what Paul has laid out in Romans 15 et al (and Jesus likewise taught in Mark 10) there must be a concerted effort to understand that we are members of something bigger than ourselves. There is probably no greater distinction between the world and the church than the interest that we love one another as Christ loved His bride, giving His very life for her, and always selflessly working for her benefit. The flesh always is seeking its own, and how it can improve its own estate, but in keeping with the 5th, 6th, 8th, and 10th commandments believers must prefer, and honor, others before we think about our own needs.
Is that something we are even willing to do?
How often do you think about a neighbor, either in the literal of spiritual sense, before considering what might benefit yourself? Don’t feel bad if you can’t think of many examples. My purpose this morning is not to fill you with more law and do this’s and live. The goal is to cause us to remember first of all the glory of Christ and His example unto us. Believers are always to begin any “duty” of obedience with first considering their identity in their Savior. The aforementioned Apostle reminds us in Colossians 3:1-3, “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Evangelical faith is a response, not the source, of our conformity unto God, and undergirds in every way the call of Romans 15:1-4.
In closing, not to stick too much to the writings of Paul, but he repeats this same message in Philippians 2:1-7. I’m not going to quote the whole thing, though it would be worthwhile for you to go and read slowly through this portion of Scripture to really get a sense for the point being made in this morning post. Let’s look at v.4, “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” If we have one another’s spiritual backs then we are not going to have to worry about our own six. We can confidently look forward to the beauty of the holiness of Christ and what He has accomplished for us at the Cross.
A short message this morning on the importance of Bible study:
https://www.reformation21.org/blogs/the-problem-of-corporate-praye.php
By His Grace,
Rev. Benjamin Glaser
Pastor, Bethany ARP Church