Love the Brethren

I am told that about 80% of children are born with a birthmark. Of that number, only about 10% of the those birthmarks remain into adulthood. Our own granddaughter, Addy was born with a bright red splotch on one of her arms. There is some clinical term for it, but in common speech, it was a birthmark. Given time, the spot faded away and is completely gone. However, for a while, we could clearly identify Addy from just that birthmark.

I relate that for this reason: in the book of 1^st John, the apostle states there are several birthmarks that every Christian bears, from the moment they are born-again until death. These indelible marks are present on 100% of those who are saved, and never fade away. In fact, these marks are permanently embedded on the child of God from the time of their spiritual birth and only grow deeper and become more prominent.

In case you are not aware, one of the major themes of 1^st John is identifying true conversion from false. We know this is one of his primary reasons for writing, because John says so near the end of the letter. If you, like many Christians, are searching for assurance of your salvation, or questioning whether you have truly been born from above, I highly recommend you read and study the little book of 1^st John.

In that letter the inspired author lists numerous beliefs and behaviors that help identify the true convert. If you want to determine whether you have become a disciple of Christ, I would urge you to give serious thought to those distinguishing marks that John states are clearly visible in the life of every believer. One of the most clarifying characteristics of a Christian is their love for the people of God. John states repeatedly one of the more readily recognizable birthmarks of a child of God is a love for the children of God.

Take note how clear the apostle is in 1 John 3:14, “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.” Much could be said from this one short verse, but let me draw your attention to just a few things.

First, for those who say no one can truly know whether or not they are saved, or whether or not they are going to heaven when they die – they need to read 1^st John. John employs the word “know” over 30 times in that brief book. Including in the passage I just shared. He does so, for the very purpose of emphasizing assurance of salvation. The writer says we can KNOW we have passed from death to life, (and that is the language of regeneration and salvation), because we love the brethren.

So, in this passage, we learn that one of the most distinguishing marks of every Christian is their love for one another, or their love for their brothers and sisters in Christ. You can know you are a Christian if you have a deep, abiding, and growing love for the people of God.

Contrastingly, John goes on to write, in the most candid language, you cannot be a child of God and not love the children of God. Friends, God is love; and one of the most distinctive marks of His children is their love for one another. So here it is in plain language, if you do not love people of the Christian faith – you are not a Christian. Simply stated, you cannot be a follower of Christ, if you do not love the family of God.

However, if you do love God’s children this is one of the identifying marks of those who have been regenerated and indwelt by the Spirit of God. And if I may, if you will look back up at the verse I quoted, you will note there is no qualifying clause about which of God’s children we are to love. Or said another way, there is no supplemental attribute here that limits the scope of the brethren to whom we are to love. We are commanded to love every blood-bought, born-again believer. Every single one of them. Even those (like me) who are hard to love.

Which is exactly what Jesus did! He loved the unlovable. The love of Christ is a selfless, sacrificial love. And He commands us to love one another in the same way: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35). By this Jesus said, will all people know you are my disciples … when you love one another.

If you are asking yourself, am I a Christian? Answer this, do you truly love the people of God? Because, love for the brethren is a prominent and permanent birthmark of every child of God.

The Supremacy of the Gospel

Without even realizing it, churches and church leaders can drift away from the foremost message of the Christian faith, the gospel of Jesus Christ. Perhaps you think this is impossible. If so, I point you to the church at Corinth.

In 1st Corinthians 15 the Apostle Paul reminds the church of something they seemingly had forgotten. That is, the principal doctrine in Christianity is the good news of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus! While there are numerous important doctrines in the Bible, the gospel is of greater value than them all. Surprisingly though, the saints in Corinth had become sidetracked with lesser issues and had neglected to rightly value Christianity’s premiere message.

A study of the book of Corinthians reveals the members were divided by factions and split by cliques (1 Corinthians 1:10-17). They had also become obsessed with flamboyant displays of the supernatural and used (or abused) spiritual gifts to promote themselves, rather than edifying the body (1 Corinthians 12-14). This was a church that was clearly out of order.

As Paul nears the end of his letter, after giving inspired instructions on how to bring order from chaos, he reiterates to them the supremacy of the gospel. Note 1st Corinthians 15:1-4 “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”

These few verses contain the shortest summation of the Gospel in all the Bible. Unwritten, but implied within the passage is the virgin birth and perfect life of Jesus Christ, both of which are essential parts of the gospel. Verse three in the KJV uses these words, “first of all.” This could rightly be understood to mean, “of first importance.” The Greek word that forms those three English words literally means, “chief, best or foremost.” In other words, the superlative subject addressed in the Christian faith is the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is not only the first message Paul preached to the Corinthians, it is first in importance.

This is not to say that other Bible truths are insignificant, no not at all. The Apostle Paul conveys many other fundamental truths in this same epistle and other letters he was inspired to write. Truths that are worth learning and living. Yet we must concede that while important, not everything the Bible teaches bears the same weight of eternal consequence.

As a Baptist preacher and pastor, it is my conviction that Baptist theology most closely aligns with Biblical theology. By God’s grace, I hope to contend for the body of truth that (I believe) was once delivered to the saints. Yet however strong my convictions may be, Paul writing under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, adamantly declares that the Gospel is the supreme doctrine in human history. It matters not if we are correct on every Bible teaching, if we are incorrect about how lost sinners are saved!

You either believe that Jesus was who He claimed to be and that He died for your sins, was buried and rose again or you are not a true disciple of Christ. If you are trusting in anything other than the finished work of the Messiah for eternal life, you are not a born-again believer. This is what makes the Gospel eminently important!

Simply put, someone can be wrong about many Bible doctrines and still go to heaven, but the Gospel is the one truth everyone must get right. We might disagree on how much water it takes to properly baptize someone. We can debate the proper method of interpreting prophecies and parables. Furthermore, we might strongly disagree on when the church started and which denomination most rightly represents apostolic doctrine, etc. etc. While these issues are all weighty, and many of us have strong convictions about them, you can be mistaken on these truths and still go to heaven. However, you can not be wrong about the Gospel and truly be a Christian.

Have you or your church drifted away from the central theme of Christianity? Has your focus shifted elsewhere? This is not just an ancient issue, it still happens today. If so, I encourage you to once again declare the supremacy of the Gospel, according to the Scriptures!