The Duties of Church Members One to Another

Now, if you'll open your Bibles
with me to 1 Timothy 3, 1 Timothy chapter 3. In verse 14, the Apostle
Paul says, These things write I unto you, hoping to come unto
you shortly. These things he's talking about
concerns the office of a bishop or a pastor or a minister and
his qualifications. These things, which Paul says,
I write unto you, are concerning the office of deacons and the
rules for selecting those who serve in this capacity, the qualifications
of the deacons, the work of the deacons, the hope of the deacons.
And then he says, I hope to come to you soon, but if I do not
come, if I'm not able to come, if I carry then these things
that I have written unto you will be instructions to you about
how you ought to conduct yourself or behave yourself in the church
of our Lord Jesus Christ. And in verse 15, he calls the
church of the Lord Jesus Christ a house, that you might be able,
that you might know how to behave yourself in the house Now, that's
not talking about this building, not talking at all about this
building. It's talking about the family.
The Lord Jesus Christ Church is called the house or the family
of Christ. If you'll turn to Hebrews 3,
you'll see that in the third chapter of Hebrews, reading verse
6. But Christ as a Son over His
own house, whose house are we. If we hold fast the confidence
and rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end, that's not talking
about Christ as a son over a building, but over a household. Joshua
stood and said, as for me and my house, as for me and my family,
we'll serve the Lord. And that's what he's talking
about here, that you might know how to behave yourself in the
family of Christ. in the household of Christ. Now
the family of Christ bears the name of Christ. My family bears
my name. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Mahan and
their children, Robbie Mahan, Becky Mahan, Danny Mahan, Paul
Mahan, they all bear my name. We bear the name of Christ. We're
Christians. We're the family of Christ. We're
His house. He's the master of the household.
And we're children adopted by His grace. We've predestinated
us to the adoption of children. by His grace. We are adopted
into the family of Christ. And there are certain duties,
that's what Paul's talking about here, I'm writing to you, that
you might know how to behave yourself in the house, in the
family, in the household of Jesus Christ, if you're a member of
that household, if you're a member of that family. There are certain
duties set forth in the Word of God for the pastor. There
are certain duties set forth in the Word of God for the elder.
There are certain duties set forth in the Word of God for
the deacon. There are certain duties set
forth in the Word of God for the men, for the women, for the
young people, in the family. And that's what he's talking
about. I'm writing that you might know
how to behave yourself in the house of Christ, in the family
of Christ, in his household. Now turn with me to Romans chapter
14. Romans chapter 14. Now this is something all of
us need to learn. That we're not separate islands,
we're a holy nation. We're not self-sustaining bodies,
we're members of a body. In Romans 14 verse 7 it says,
none of us liveth to himself, no man dieth to himself. We live
for the glory of God. We die for the glory of God.
We don't live for the attainment of our purposes. We live for
the accomplishment of His purpose. We don't live to do what we want
to do. We live to do what He wants us
to do. We don't set out to accomplish
our goals. We set out to accomplish His
goals. And we're not self-sustaining
bodies. We're members of one body. We're
not islands, separate islands. sustaining ourselves, we are
a unit, we are a nation, a holy nation. And here in chapter 14
of Romans, he's talking about here's a man that's weak in the
faith and he only eats certain things, and here's a man strong
in the faith that eats meat. Here's a man that observes the
Sabbath. Here's a man that observes every
day to the Lord. One day means nothing to him.
Every day belongs to the Lord. But this man is not to sit in
judgment on this one, nor this one to sit in judgment on this
one. They are answerable to their Master. That's what he says in
verse 6. He that regardeth the day, regardeth
it to the Lord. He that regardeth not the day
to the Lord, he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to
the Lord. He giveth God thanks. And he
that eateth not to the Lord, he eateth not, and giveth God
thanks. None of us lives to himself.
None of us lives to himself, no man dies to himself. Whatever
we do, we affect one another, we influence one another, either
for the glory of God or for evil. And whether we live or whether
we die, we are the Lord's. We belong to Him. In 1 Corinthians
12, I want you to turn over there just a moment, this is an important
scripture here. 1 Corinthians 12. Now the church
of the Lord Jesus Christ is a family, it's a household. The church
of the Lord Jesus Christ, I'm not talking about the individual
local churches now, I'm talking about the house of Christ, the
body of Christ, the family of Christ, those who are really
regenerated, really born again, not just church members, but
redeemed people. He says in 1 Corinthians 12,
verse 12, now watch this. As the body is one and hath many
members, and all the members of that one body, being many,
are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all
baptized into one body, whether we're Jews or Gentiles or whatever,
whether we're bond or free, we've been made to drink into one spirit. The body is not one member, many
members. Now if the foot shall say, because
I'm not the hand, I'm not of the body, is it therefore not
of the body? If the ear shall say, because
I'm not the eye, I'm not of the body, is it not of the body?
What if the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing?
What if the whole body were hearing, where would be the smelling?
But now God has sent the members, every one of them in the body,
as it pleased Him. And if they were all one member,
you wouldn't have a body. But now there are many members,
yet one body. The eye can't say to the hand,
I don't need you. The head cannot say to the feet,
I don't need you. This is what I'm saying. We're
not separate islands. No man lives to himself. No man
dies to himself. Whether we live, we live unto
the Lord. Whether we die, we die unto the Lord. Nay, much
more, those members of the body which seem to be more feeble.
are necessary, and those members of the body which we think to
be less honorable. Upon these we bestow more abundant
honor, and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness,
for our comely parts have no need. But God hath tempered the
body together, having given more abundant honor to that part which
lacked, that there should be no schisms or divisions 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 honored, all
the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ,
and members in particular. And God has set some in the church,
first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that
miracles, the gift of healing, helps, governments, diversities
of tongues, all apostles. Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles?
Do all have the gift of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do
all interpret? But covet earnestly the best
gifts, and yet I show you a more excellent way. Though I speak
with the tongues of men and of angels and have not love, I am
become as a sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. So the first
duty of the members of the body of Christ to one another is to
love one another. Now turn with me to Romans 12.
That's the very first obligation. That's the first duty that believers
have to one another, that members of the church have to one another,
is to love one another. Romans 12, verse 10. Be kindly
affectioned one to another with brotherly love in honor preferring
one another. Now look across at Romans 13.8. Oh, no man anything, but to love
one another. For he that loveth another hath
fulfilled the law. Now let's look at that 8th verse
a minute. Oh, no man anything. Now John Gill had this to say
about that and I think it is an excellent comment on the verse. When our Lord says, Oh, no man
anything, Material debts may be intended here, may be intended,
such as borrowing, buying, commerce, and contracts. And these debts
cannot be avoided if we carry on business. But what the Lord
is saying is that they are to be conscientiously paid as soon
as we're able. Material debts may be here intended,
such as borrowing, buying, commerce, and contract. These cannot be
avoided. It's impossible for a man to
be in any kind of business and not owe somebody something at
some time. Generally, business is conducted
that way. A man can't carry around a load
of cash in his hands to pay his bills, and sometimes he doesn't
have it. But these contracts are to be
consistently and conscientiously paid as soon as we're able. But
now watch this. And John Gilso goes on to say
that he believes that this verse means more than that. It deals
with more than that. Oh, no man anything but to love
one another. For he that loveth another hath
fulfilled the law. And here's what he says about
that. To love one another is a debt that is never fully paid. You'll always owe the debt of
love. While you pay it continually,
it must be regarded as a debt you'll always owe. Owe no man
anything. Pay your debts materially. Get
them discharged conscientiously and consistently when they're
due. But here's a debt you'll never
fully discharge. Here's a debt you'll never fully
pay. Here's a debt you'll always owe. love. You'll always owe it. But
to love one another, for he that loveth another hath fulfilled
the law. For this is the law of Christ.
Turn to John 13, 34. In John 13, verse 34, this is
the law of Christ. This is the commandment of Christ.
He says in one place, bear ye one another's burdens and so
fulfill the law of Christ. In John 13, 34, our Lord says,
A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another
as I have loved you, that you also love one another. This is
a commandment which our Lord frequently repeats over and over
again. This is a new commandment. I
write unto you that you love one another as I have loved you. This is the example of Christ.
Turn to John 15, the 15th chapter of John, verse 12. This is my
commandment. That you love one another as
I have loved you. Now turn over to the next page,
verse 16. You have not chosen me, but I
have chosen you and ordained you, that you should go and bring
forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatsoever
you shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
These things I command you, that you love one another. That's
the example of Christ. This is the evidence of discipleship. Turn back to John 13.35. Look at what he says in John
13.35. By this shall all men know you
are my disciples, if you love one another. By this shall all
men know you are my disciples, if you love one another. Then,
when believers love one another, this is what makes a church state
delightful. This is what makes a family happy. Turn to Psalm 133. This is a
beautiful psalm. Psalm 133. Three verses, all
that it contains. Three verses. Psalm 133. Behold how good and how pleasant
it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. It's like the precious
ointment upon the head that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's
beard, that went down to the skirts of his garments, as the
dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains
of Zion. For there the Lord commanded
the blessing, even life forevermore. Where this is, God blesses. Where
this is, God blesses. The first duty of the believers
to one another, the first duty of the household of Christ, the
first duty of the family of God to one another is to love one
another. That's Christ's commandment.
That's evidence of the new birth. That's the example of Christ
and that's what brings God's blessing. And that's what makes
a church state delightful. Now the second, turn to Ephesians
chapter 4. The second duty of church members
to one another is found in the fourth chapter of Ephesians.
I'm going to read verses 1 through 3. Ephesians 4, verse 1 through
3. I therefore, the prisoner of
the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith
you are called. You walk in a way that is worthy
of the vocation. wherewith you are called. You
are a child of God. Walk like one. You are the family of Christ. Walk like the person of His family. "...with all lowliness and meekness,
humility, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love."
Now watch the second thing here. Verse 3, "...endeavoring..."
Endeavoring. This is diligently trying, putting
forth an effort. "...endeavoring to keep the unity
of the Spirit in the bond of peace, endeavoring to keep the
unity of the Spirit. Why? Well, look at verse 4. There's
one body, that is one true church. There's one body, one true church.
That's what he calls it. Look over here to Ephesians 2,
verse 16. And that he might reconcile both
under God in one body, talking about Jew and Gentile, by the
cross, having slain the enmity. One body. There is one, but one
household, one family. One family. Go on, verse 4. There's one Spirit, one Holy
Spirit. Look at Ephesians 2, 18. For
through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
There's one Spirit. There's one hope. Look at verse
4, Ephesians 4. There's one body, one family,
one Spirit, one hope to be like Christ. Every one of us has the
same hope to be like Christ. All right, verse 5. There's one
Lord, our Lord Jesus Christ. There's one faith to know Christ. Look at verse 13, Ephesians 4.
Till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge
of the Son of God. That's what it's all about, to
know Christ. One Lord, one faith to know Christ. One baptism,
that's the baptism of believers. That's the water of baptism is
what it is then. That's one baptism, one confession
of faith, one identification with Christ. one setting forth
of his death, burial, and resurrection. And verse 6 says, And there is
one God and Father, who is above all, and through all, and in
you all. So knowing this, there is one church, one family. You are not in that one, you
are not in Christ's family. There is one Spirit, the Holy Spirit.
There's one hope to be like Christ. There's one Lord, one faith,
one baptism, and one God and Father. Therefore, because of
that, you endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond
of peace. Now, what is this unity of the
Spirit? All right, look at Philippians chapter 2. Philippians chapter
2. Let's read two verses here, verse
1 and 2. Philippians 2 verse 2. First
of all, the unity of the Spirit, which we endeavor to keep, is
that bond of love, that unity in love. Love covers a multitude
of secrets. Whatever I have, if I don't have
love, I don't have anything. If I have love, I have everything.
If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of
love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels of mercy,
fulfill ye my joy that you be like-minded, having the same
love, being of one accord and one mind." Having the same love.
That's the unity of the Spirit. It's the unity of love. All right? Secondly, it's the unity of purpose.
Look at the next verse. Let nothing be done through strife,
that which stirs up strife, that which divides brethren, or vainglory,
seeking my way, my end, my goal, my object, my praise. But let
everything be done in lowliness of mind, in humility. Let each
esteem the other better than themselves. Look not every man
on his own things. But every man on the things of
others. This is a unity of purpose. Finding
out what the will of God is in doing it. Finding out what the
purpose of God is in doing it. Not finding out what my purpose
is or your purpose. His purpose. His glory. We're
doing nothing if we're not accomplishing His will and His purpose. We've
got to find that and all strive in a unity of spirit to accomplish
that purpose. And then it's a unity of doctrine.
Turn to 1 Corinthians 1. It's a unity of doctrine. In
1 Corinthians 1.10, I beseech you, brethren, by the name of
our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, that
you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions
among you. but that you be perfectly joined
together in the same mind and in the same judgment. That's
the unity of doctrine. And then there's the unity of
worship. Turn back to Romans 15. Romans 15, 5 and 6. The unity of worship. Now the
God of patience and consolation grant you to be like-minded one
toward another according to Christ Jesus. that you may with one
mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ." So the second duty which we have as a family, as a household
of faith, as a body of Christ, is to endeavor to keep the unity
of the Spirit, and that's the Spirit of love, The spirit of
purpose, the spirit of doctrine, and the spirit of worship. The
spirit of worship. All right, thirdly, what are
the duties of believers one to another? This household of faith. Thirdly, they are to sympathize
with one another under all conditions. And they are to bear one another's
burdens. Now let me ask you to look up
several verses. First of all, Romans 12. We are
to sympathize with one another. We are to pity one another. We
are to enter into the needs and the trials and the burdens and
the sorrows of one another. We are to enter into those things.
Like David Estrada preached here several months ago or a year
ago, it's been nearly, on when the Canaanite woman came to Christ,
she wasn't sick, her daughter was. But she cried, Lord, have
mercy on me. Lord, help me. Her daughter's
burden was her burden. Her daughter's trial was her
trial. Romans 12 verse 15. Rejoice with them that do rejoice. Now this is not a hypocritical
rejoicing. This is not a feigned rejoicing. This is not an artificial rejoicing. This is a genuine spirit of rejoicing
over the prosperity of others, over the talents of others, over
the gifts of others, over the joys of others. Rejoice with
them that do rejoice and weep with them that weep. And then in 1 Corinthians 12,
there's another scripture having to do with this subject, 1 Corinthians
12, verse 26. I read this a moment ago, 1 Corinthians
12, 26, and whether one member suffer, all the members suffer
with him. Now if you have a real body,
you have that, because a person, if you have pain in a leg, the
whole body feels it. If you have pain in the head,
the whole body feels it. If there's a piece of glass gets
in the eye, the whole body feels it. The whole body is pained
and grieved over it. When one member is honored, all
the members rejoice with it. Now, Galatians 6, 2, these are
duties, responsibilities. And we can't get off this easy
by saying, well, that's beautiful. I can't attain unto it. We can't get off with that. You
might as well just say, well, faith is a hard thing. I can't
produce it and perish. This is God's Word. These are
commandments. And we can't get off with this thing of excusing
ourselves by saying, well, that's the utopia, I don't live there.
Well, we better start aiming in that direction. In Galatians 6, 2, it says this,
"...bear you one another's burdens." So fulfilled the law of Christ.
If a man thinks himself to be something when he's nothing,
he deceives himself. "...bear you one another's burdens."
And then 1 John 3, 17. 1 John 3, 17, listen to this, But
whoso hath this world's goods, and seeth his brother have need,
and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth
the love of God in him. How is it possible that God's
love dwells in such a person who cannot help and relieve the
distress of others? Not only are we to sympathize
with one another under burdens and trials and heartaches and
these things, but in spiritual things. Turn back, if you will,
to Galatians 6 again. Galatians chapter 6, and here
in verse 1. We are to sympathize with one
another in spiritual things. We are to have pity, the deepest
kind of pity and mercy as we have received. Brethren, if a
man be overtaken in a fall, you which are spiritual, And none
of us like to claim that tag for ourselves, but you who are
mature, you who have been around a while, you who know something
about the Bible, something about the gospel, restore such a one
in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. And then in Romans 15, let's
look, this scripture is important here, Romans 15, verse 1 and
2. Romans 15, we then that are strong
ought to bear the infirmities of the weak. All in God's household are not
the same. There are those strong in faith, those weak in faith.
There are those who are strong in knowledge, there are those
who are weak in knowledge. There are those who are fathers, there are those
who are young men, there are those who are babes, there are
those who are infants, there are children. The Bible recognizes
that. And it says, We that are strong ought to bear the infirmities
of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us
please his neighbor for his good to edification. That is, look
at Hebrews 3, and this is what we're talking about here. We
are to edify one another. We are to encourage one another. We are to exhort one another.
We are to rebuke one another. In Hebrews 3, verse 13, exhort
one another while it's called today, lest any of you be hardened
through the deceitfulness of sin. In Hebrews 10, look over
here, Hebrews 10, 24, we need one another. Hebrews 10, 24 says,
let us consider one another to provoke or encourage unto love
and to good works. And don't forsake the assembling
of yourselves together as the matter of some is. but exhort
one another, so much the more as you see the day approaching. And then last of all, the duties
of members of the Church to one another, the members of the family
of God, Ephesians chapter 6, they are to pray for one another.
They are to pray for one another. In Ephesians chapter 6 verse
18, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit,
and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication
for all the saints. And Paul says, verse 19, and
pray for me. Pray for all the saints and pray
for me, that utterance may be given to me that I may open my
mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel." Now another
verse, Ephesians 1. I want to read this one. Ephesians
1, verse 15. He says, "...wherefore," right
into the church at Ephesus, Ephesians 1, verse 15, "...wherefore I
also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and I heard
of your love unto all the saints, I cease not to give thanks for
you, making mention of you in my prayers." Now, one other scripture,
and I close. I want you to turn to 1 Thessalonians
chapter 5, the duties of church members to one another. And we're
going to begin reading with verse 11 of 1 Thessalonians 5. I want
you to turn there with me now. and follow along as I read, beginning
with verse 11 of 1 Thessalonians chapter 5. Wherefore, comfort
yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also you
do. And we beseech you, brethren,
to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the
Lord, and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love
for their work's and be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort
you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, disorderly, comfort
the feeble-minded, support the weak, be patient toward all men,
See that none render evil for evil unto any man, but ever follow
that which is good, both among yourselves and to all men. Rejoice
evermore, pray without ceasing, and everything give thanks, for
this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench
not the spirit. Despise not prophesying, and
this is, you'll go to 1 Corinthians 13, you'll find that's the preaching
of the word. Prove all things, hold fast that
which is good, abstain from all appearance of evil. and the very
God of peace sanctify you wholly. And I pray, God, your whole spirit
and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of
our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you
who also will do it. Brethren, pray for us. Greet all the brethren with an
holy kiss. I charge you by the Lord that
this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren. The grace
of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

The Duties of Church Members One to Another

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The Duties of Church Members One to Another

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