10250 North Freeway @ West Road
Houston, Texas 77037
Tel: (281) 447-8484

The Responsibility of Church Relationship
by H. Frank Fort

Lesson Three

Brotherly Love

The expression we consider today occurs three times.

First, "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another." (Rom. 12:10)

Second, "But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another." (I Thes. 4:9)

And, third, "Let brotherly love continue." (Heb. 13:1)

There are two things observable in the above texts.

1) There is a beginning of the love specified, and

2) it is the obligation of the one possessing it to let it continue in the interest of others of "like precious faith." (II Pet. 1:1)

Let us consider first the beginning of brotherly love. Paul said "ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another," and said this "as touching (with respect to) brotherly love." Concerning this, Paul said, "ye need not that I write unto you."

In some way, every child of God, by virtue of being children, are taught of God to love one another. We believe it is within the establishment of the relationship itself; that is, instead of being verbally taught, the children of God spontaneously love one another upon the consciousness of the relationship. Notice in the text which precedes, "God...hath also given unto us his Holy Spirit," (I Thes. 4:8) and remember that it is written that "the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us." (Rom. 5:5) This was done as Paul said, "Because ye are sons." (Gal 4:6) The very fact that they were sons was proof that "God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts." (Gal. 4:6)

Why must this be true? Because the new birth is not of the "word" (James 1:18) alone, but also "of...the Spirit;" (John 3:5) thus we read that the Spirit was received by the "hearing of faith." (Gal. 3:2) In the very act of becoming the children of God, the love of God was shed abroad in the hearts of those thus born, and they were thus taught of God to love one another.

What then does Paul write about as "touching brotherly love?" He writes, not as to it's origin, but to the end that "ye increase more and more." (I Thes. 4:10) Paul therefore says, that being the children of God, love was in their hearts, but "brotherly love" is to continue, (Heb. 13:1) thus "increase," as shown above, will be found where the members of Christ are scripturally joined together, as it is written, "maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." (Eph. 4:16) Paul says Christians are to be found "forbearing one another in love," (Eph. 4:2) and to be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another." (Eph. 4:32)

Love unhindered enables us to do this. We are commanded to keep ourselves "in the love of God....have compassion," (Jude 21:22) where believers in Christ are characterized by "brotherly love," "forbearing one another in love," and being "kind, tenderhearted," then we know that they are keeping themselves "in the love of God," and "love worketh no ill to his neighbor." (Rom. 13:10)

Peter wrote "love the brotherhood." (I Pet. 2:17) This commandment is addressed to the children of God involving "brotherly love." Concerning this love, John wrote, "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God, for God is love." (I John 4:7-8) This we have before shown. The love in question is inseparable from the new birth, for it was shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit in connection with the new birth. (Rom. 5:5, John 3:5, I John 4:7, Gal. 3:2)

Faith and love originate in the heart, (Rom. 10:9, 5:5) but when it can be said in truth, "the love of Christ constraineth us," (II Cor. 5:14) then shall we see "faith which worketh by love," (Gal 5:6) and thereby prove the existence of love to God's glory and man's good. How do we know? Because it is written, "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep his commandments." (I John 5:2)

In this text we have two objects of love.

1) God, the begetter, and

2) those whom God has begotten. Notice, "every one that loveth him that beget (God) loveth him also that is begotten of him." (I John 5:1) God says this is true in every one that is born of Him. Then why would He command, as John wrote, "Beloved, let us love one another," (I John 4:7) if they did this anyway, in the very fact that they had been born again? The answer is simple. Every child of God has the love of God in his heart, but how to express this love is another matter. John says, "Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another." (I John 4:11)

Notice the two words, "so" and "also."

1) "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son." (John 3:16) God loved us even before Christ died, (John 13:1, Eph. 5:25, Rev. 1:5) but the "so" manifests the fact. Thus John wrote, "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him." (I John 4:9) And again we read, "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us." (I John 3:16)

a) "God so loved" (Jn. 3:16)

b) In this was manifested the love of God. (I John 4:9)

c) "Hereby (the manifestation) perceive we the love of God." (I John 3:16)

2) Now apply this principle to God's children. "Every one...loveth him also that is begotten of him." (I John 5:1) Here is the fact of love.

a) "I will shew thee my faith by my works;" (James 2:18) thus is manifested love for faith thus "worketh." (Gal. 5:6) Here is love manifested.

b) "Be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men." (Titus 3:8)

Now compare. God loved, manifested it, and we saw it. Those born of God love, manifest it, and we see it and thereupon say with Paul, "We give thanks to God...since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints." (Col. 1:3-4) Here is love perceived.

The love which profits is that which constrains to the obedience of faith. Thus is God glorified (John 16:8) through the works of men, (Matt. 5:16) and men are profited, (Titus 3:8,14, Gal. 6:10) and the worker is blessed, (John 13:17, James 1:23-25) and shall be rewarded. (Col. 3:24, Eph. 6:8)

Now we are to "let brotherly love continue." This teaches that what God caused to begin, we are responsible for continuing. Notice the following:

1) "The Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart...to love the Lord thy God." (Deut. 30:6)

2) Paul said, "We are the circumcision which worship God in the spirit." (Phil. 3:3) They who thus worshipped were "circumcised with the circumcision made without hands in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ." (Col. 2:11) Remember that this was in order that the worshipper might "love the Lord." (Deut. 30:6) Thus John wrote, "We love him because he first loved us." (John 4:19) This love we perceived in the fact that "he sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins," (I John 4:10) and in the redemption through that propitiation "we love him." (I John 4:19) This is what the prophet said the circumcised in heart would do. (Deut. 30:6)

3) Now this love in action would "do all his commandments," (Deut. 30:8) which in the New Testament is "faith which worketh by love." (Gal. 5:6) As John wrote, "This is the love of God that we keep his commandments," (I John 5:3) and since doing God's commandments will result in doing "good to all men, especially them of the household of faith," (Gal. 6:10) then we know in so doing, "we love the children of God." (I John 5:2) Therefore:

a) The love which was shed abroad in our heart by the Holy Spirit when our hearts were circumcised, or when we were born again, was from God.

b) God requires that this love manifest itself in obedience and worship, through which God is glorified, men are profited, and the worshipper is blessed.

Now whatever we offer in worship that is not directed by faith (Rom. 14:23) and presented in love (I Cor. 13:2-3) "it profiteth me nothing." Brotherly love considers the brethren and is "kindly affectioned." Love in the natural relationship of life may viciously express itself toward those who seek to do injury to the objects of its affection, but the love of God will not prompt you to "avenge yourselves," (Rom. 12:19) leaving judgment in personal matters to Him who said "Vengeance is mine; I will repay saith the Lord." (Rom. 12:19) The love of God "suffereth long, and is kind;...envieth not...vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil: Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth: Beareth all things, believeth all things,...endureth all things. Charity (love) never faileth." (I Cor. 13:4-8)

Brethren, by the grace of God, let us all "let brotherly love continue," (Heb. 13:1) and God will open doors and lead us down the paths of blessings and fruitfulness.

"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"