The Christians Obligations to Fellow Christians
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I. Introduction.
A. Continue w/our series. 3rd installment of 6 lessons. Hope you are enjoying the series of lessons.
B. We spend a great deal of time discussing important parts of God's law which all men need to heed & obey.
1. subject we are discussing tonight not talked about as much.
2. Not practiced as readily as it should be by members of the Lord's body.
3. Obligations we talk about this evening just as important as other obligations we have.
C. A failure to comply with these will result in a loss of eternal life just as much as a failure to fall short of the other obligations we have. Let that not be misunderstood.
1. Tragedy to get to judgment and find out we have missed out & neglected obligations.
2. Num. 32:20-23 - may not find us out on earth, but it will sometime. Wait till judgment? Then it will be too late.
D. In our lesson tonight we will discuss three main area of responsibility toward brethren.
E. Remember we defined "obligation" as: binding power of a vow, promise, or contract; a bond to which a penalty is annexed on failure of due performance.
F. Are you meeting these obligations?
II. How are we obligated to our brethren?
A. Through Hospitality.
1. Heb. 13:1-3- basic teaching of Christ & one of the fundamentals of Christianity is hospitality.
a. v. 1 - starts off w/brethren. BL should come out of a genuine affection, love, and concern for one another. NOT important to some!
b. a shame with some that the relationship they have w/brethren is only at the church building! Hard to build/demonstrate love only seeing brethren twice/week!
2. Other passages focus upon need for brotherly love:
a. Rom. 12:13 - a code of conduct for the Christian.
b. 1 Pet. 4:9 - w/o grumbling.
1. grumbling/complaining about one another goes on more than it should.
2. Done too much - lowers morale of entire congregation.
3. back to Heb. 13:2 - also to be hospitable to strangers - those outside the faith. Can demonstrate the way of Christ in this capacity!
a. doesn't mean place oneself in harm's way! <ask for trouble>
b. But….help, encourage…when able. Present the attitude of Christ!
4. Christ thought hospitality so important that it is a qualification that elders need to exhibit!
a. Notice Tit. 1:8; 1 Tim. 3:2
b. don't have elders here. Should have men striving for eldership. Is this a qualification you are striving for?
c. obedience not only profitable to those striving to be elders but to everyone as well!
1. strengthened/ built up by hospitality of others!
2. Makes one feel as if part of the group. Draws people close to one another!
3. MUST look out for the needs of others.
5. How we perform in the area of hospitality could very well determine our salvation!
a. Mt. 25:31-46 - hospitality played a role here. Jesus giving us a picture of judgment day!
b. Wish to be pleasing to Christ - must be demonstrate hospitality to ALL!
c. Visiting preacher or closest friends/associates not only candidates for hospitality.
d. SHAMEFUL & SINFUL to be cold/indifferent to brethren & strangers.
e. Make sure your obligation is fulfilled in this area!
B. To Restore Weak Brethren.
1. The Christian should be concerned to help ins brother in every possible way! Should make every effort to assist brethren to obtain the end of faith - even the salvation our your souls. (1 Pet. 1:9)
2. Gal. 6:1-2 - This is a work for those who are spiritual. Doesn't refer to just preacher, elders, but ALL who are living by the spirit and manifest the fruit of the spirit. Refer to last chapter…
a. If I neglect my responsibility in this area, perhaps I am not as close as I should be to Christ.
b. Must approach brother/sister b/c under a different set of circumstances, we fall in sin & would want brethren to snatch us out of fire!
c. Rom. 8:14 - as children of God - we must be led by spirit in order to be pleasing to Him!
3. Many have bad/poor attitude toward those who have fallen away!
a. although there comes a time when person must be left alone & withdrawn from - we should not:
1. forget them!
2. Rub their name in the dirt etc.
3. Humiliate them when talking w/them. REMEMBER Gal. 6:1….in a spirit of humbleness!
b. Js. 5:16-20 - must try to win them back to the Lord!
c. If person doesn't turn back - he is destined to hell! Have we done our part to warn them of impending doom?
4. Subject is often neglected by our brethren! Neglecting this could cause us to come up short in eternity!
C. Obligation to help/admonish those who are physically sick/afflicted.
1. Js. 5:12-15….called for those who worked miracles in FC church.
a. today don't have power of divine healing. SO….responsibility falls upon ALL to help do the best they can for one another.
b. Acts 3:1-6 - what I have…I will give…This should be our attitude. Have: love, time, errands, etc.
c. Can't hire or pass off responsibility to someone else - individual in nature.
2. Jesus says things such as this will have bearing at judgment.
a. Remember Mt. 25:31-46
b. As we care for our brethren, so we care for Christ!
c. Terrible thought: to be lost ETERNALLY b/c didn't do my part to visit those who were in need b/c of physical illness.
3. Gal. 6:10 - continues the thoughts along this line.
a. can't visit to reciprocate.
b. Can't have attitude of Ill visit only those who visit me! Wrong attitude. God looks at our motives!
D. Obligation to set an example for one another.
1. Goes along w/what we talked about this AM!
2. Mt. 5:16. Different brethren look up to you/me. Everyone looks up to somebody! Who have you let down by your example? Someone is depending upon/looking up to you!
3. Phil. 1:27; Eph. 4:1; 1 Tim. 4:12 - Paul encouraged the FC Christians to be examples for one another.
4. This only built one another up & helped all become stronger in the Lord
III. Conclusion.
A. We certainly can not expect the Lord to be pleased with us here if we don't have the proper respect and love for our brethren!
B. Jhn. 13:34-35
C. Jas. 2:10
D. Psa. 14:7
E. How are you doing in this area? Are you meeting your responsibilities?
F. I N V I T A T I O N
