Love of the Brethren

In this part of the sermon: Martin introduces the sermon's subject: 'love of the brethren' (Philadelphia), distinguishing it from general love for all humanity. This peculiar love is for fellow Christians…

Martin uses the common experience of listening to someone speak and not knowing their subject to highlight the clarity of Paul's introduction of 'love of the brethren'.

He says, this is my subject, but concerning love of the brethren. Isn't it wonderful when someone's talking about something, when you know what they're talking about? Often when I've heard someone talking, I've had to say, what's he talking about? When he gets all done, in the middle, at the beginning, I wonder what's he talking about?

4:41 - 4:57 Read in full sermon

Driving home: It's speaking of a kind of love that is the peculiar possession of the people of God who have been born into the family of God by the mighty, by the operations of the Spirit of God.

He uses the city name Philadelphia to illustrate the Greek word for brotherly love, making the term more accessible.

Well, Paul says, I want you to know what I'm talking about. So anywhere at the beginning, the middle, or end, my subject for the next few sentences is the subject of brotherhood, brotherly love. Now, the particular word that he uses to introduce this subject is the word from which the city of brotherly love is named, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. And that's just a transliteration of the word, taking the Greek letters and giving them English equivalents.

4:58 - 5:28 Read in full sermon

Driving home: It's speaking of a kind of love that is the peculiar possession of the people of God who have been born into the family of God by the mighty, by the operations of the Spirit of God.

Martin uses the saying 'blood is thicker than water' to explain natural family ties, contrasting it with the spiritual ties of brotherly love that transcend natural affinity.

This is speaking of that peculiar love that we have to people because of their peculiar position as children in the family of God. For you see, there are some people whom we naturally love because of blood ties. The old saying, blood is thicker than water. It's true.

6:27 - 6:48 Read in full sermon

The point: We've got to get away from this idea that the only thing that matters is if I'm right with God. No, God made me as his creature in community with other people and it's his will that I be right vertically and horizontally…

He illustrates God's design for community by starting with Adam and Eve, showing that man was not created in isolation but in relationship, which would naturally multiply.

So anyone who professes faith in Jesus Christ who associates with the people of God and who in the judgment of charity may still be recognized as a brother or sister we are thus to extend to them this love of the brethren. Now, before we proceed to see what the apostle says about this very vital subject I want us to set it in the larger context of the, what we might call the whole perspective of scripture. For this is not some surface or some surface or peripheral issue that the apostle is confronting us with in this paragraph. In creation God did not create man in isolation but he made man in...

11:07 - 12:02 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin places brotherly love within the grand narrative of creation, fall, and redemption. He explains that God created man for both vertical (with God) and horizontal (with…

Martin uses the imagery of Adam and Eve hiding from God (vertical rupture) and Cain murdering Abel (horizontal rupture) to demonstrate the comprehensive damage of sin.

That beautiful relationship with the creature and this God was ruptured by sin. And we find Adam and Eve running from the presence of God to hide amongst the bushes of the garden. But not only was there a rupturing vertically but horizontally. And we find Adam bringing accusation in terms of the woman.

13:51 - 14:08 Read in full sermon

The point: God wants that life to come to development in the community of his people. So he no sooner imparts life than he brings that life into the cradle of the church that there it might develop. There it might grow. There it mi…

He uses the metaphor of sin putting a 'roof over us' (separating from God) and a 'wall between us' (separating from fellow man) to explain how redemption removes both barriers.

He intends to have a people in whom not only there is a healing of the relationship vertically, but horizontally as well. For sin has not only put a roof over us, it's put a wall between us and our fellow man. And in the work of new creation, God is not only taking off the roof and bringing us into right relationship with himself, he's knocking down the walls and bringing a people into right relationship with each other. And because this love of the brethren is loving people for their peculiar characteristics wrought in them by the grace of God. They have the same values, the same goals, the s...

16:02 - 17:25 Read in full sermon

The point: God wants that life to come to development in the community of his people. So he no sooner imparts life than he brings that life into the cradle of the church that there it might develop. There it might grow. There it mi…

Martin describes the local assembly as the 'cradle of the church' where new spiritual life is brought to develop, grow, and expand, emphasizing the necessity of community for spiritual growth.

of their conduct, his son as the pearl of great price. It's only those people that can have this peculiar love of complacency as the old theologians call it. A love that has as its basis common interest, common goal, common values, a common savior. So then there must be a peculiar love in this recreated community of God so that at the very threshold of the Christian experience God not only brings you into right relationship to himself but 1 Corinthians 12 13 says that the same spirit by which we are joined to Christ is the spirit by which we are baptized into one body and then we are brought i...

17:25 - 18:27 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin argues that love is the most vital quality for God's people living in community, citing Colossians 3:14, 1 Peter 4:8, and 1 Corinthians 13 as evidence that love is the…

Martin offers caricatures of how some might define Christian discipleship (e.g., 'five-point Calvinists,' 'busy beaver Christians,' imitating worldly culture) to contrast with Jesus' actual teaching on brotherly love as the identifying mark.

What should be our badge that we wear before the world? Are you thinking of the passage I'm going to quote? John 13, 35. By this shall all men know that you're my disciples. If you are consistent five point Calvinists, that's the way some would write it. By this shall all men know that you're my disciples if you're busy beaver Christians stirring up a cloud of dust working for Jesus. That's the way some would read it. Boy, if the world can look at your church and see a cloud of dust around the doors all the time, they'll say, boy, that's a going outfit.

25:25 - 26:02 Read in full sermon

Driving home: He said, by this shall all men know that you're my disciples. If you have what? Love, not to them, but one to another.

Martin shares his personal experience of speaking at a conference followed by a gospel folk rock outfit, illustrating his concern about worldly methods of evangelism and witness.

I've got to speak at a conference next Saturday. I don't know what'll happen. If you hear a rumbling way up here about four o'clock in the afternoon, you'll know. I speak twice during the day on a Saturday and the closing session is a gospel folk rock outfit that's going to bring some entertainment. Well, I'm going to stay on as long as I can stand.

26:20 - 26:40 Read in full sermon

Driving home: He said, by this shall all men know that you're my disciples. If you have what? Love, not to them, but one to another.

Martin quotes Lucian, a second-century Roman writer, to show how the early church's fervent brotherly love was a powerful and observable witness to the pagan world.

By this shall all men know that you're my disciples. If you have love, love one to another. Lucian, second century Roman writer said this. This is how it worked that day.

28:24 - 28:36 Read in full sermon

Driving home: It is an actual communication of knowledge that affects a transformation. For notice what Christ said in John 6, All that hath heard and learned of the Father, come to me.

Martin contrasts Paul's likely message to the Corinthians (who needed instruction on love) with his message to the Thessalonians (who were already practicing it), illustrating the Thessalonians' commendable state.

What was it? But concerning love of the brethren, he says, ye have no need that one write unto you, for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another, for indeed ye do it to all the brethren. In other words, Paul says, the reason I'm picking up this subject is not because you've been at each other's throats and fighting like cats and dogs. Now, he couldn't say that to the Corinthians. He says to the Corinthians a similar phrase in 2 Corinthians 9, it's superfluous for me to write to you about ministering to the saints. They've been very good about giving. Now, he nowhere in the Corinthia...

29:44 - 30:29 Read in full sermon

Driving home: It is an actual communication of knowledge that affects a transformation. For notice what Christ said in John 6, All that hath heard and learned of the Father, come to me.

He uses the analogy of a human teacher merely exposing students to information versus God's teaching, which effectively communicates knowledge and transforms the heart, to explain the depth of 'taught of God'.

And they shall not teach every man his fellow citizen, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord, for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. The Lord Jesus had said in John 6 and verse 45, Everyone that hath heard and learned of the Father cometh unto me. I believe I've quoted it right, John 6 and verse 45. It is written the prophets, and they shall all be taught of God. Everyone that hath heard from the Father, and hath learned cometh unto me. Now this, being taught of the Father, is something more than merely being exposed to instruction. We call a per...

32:42 - 33:34 Read in full sermon

Driving home: It is an actual communication of knowledge that affects a transformation. For notice what Christ said in John 6, All that hath heard and learned of the Father, come to me.

Martin uses himself as an example, stating that while he teaches everyone present, only some are 'taught of God,' meaning their hearts and lives are transformed by the truth, illustrating the difference between human and divine teaching.

There is always the commensurate result when the Father teaches, he teaches with power. He teaches in such a way that the heart and life come under the power of the truth that is taught. Now this teaching of God does not bypass or nullify human teachers, but it goes beyond that which human teachers can impart. You see, I am teaching you the word of God this morning.

33:57 - 34:25 Read in full sermon

The point: There's only one way you can know that you love the brethren. That's by the actions of your life with respect to the needs of the brethren.

He highlights Paul's wording 'ye do it' rather than 'ye have it' to emphasize that true love is demonstrated through action, not just feeling or profession.

Ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another, for indeed ye do it. Now, didn't he throw us a curve? We'd expect him to say, for indeed ye have it. That is love of the brethren. He didn't say, indeed ye have.

37:00 - 37:16 Read in full sermon

The point: Do you find yourself willing to forego personal rights and liberties for the sake of your brethren? Brethren, that's how you know whether or not you love them, not because you think you do, or you may feel that you do.

Martin uses the idiom 'the proof of the pudding is in the eating' to convey that the evidence of love is in its active demonstration, not just in thinking or feeling it.

Do you find yourself willing to forego personal rights and liberties for the sake of your brethren? Brethren, that's how you know whether or not you love them, not because you think you do, or you may feel that you do. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. And the proof of the presence of this love is in the activity when you're conscious of the need of your brother.

39:19 - 39:44 Read in full sermon

The point: We exhort you, brethren, that ye abound more and more. You've already got this grace present in you, but don't take your hands off the oars and coast.

He uses the metaphor of taking 'hands off the oars and coasting' to warn against spiritual complacency, even in areas where believers are doing well, emphasizing the need for continuous growth.

That's what these people claimed, and Paul said I think their claim's valid. Why? Because ye do it. To all the brethren. You demonstrate that peculiar love which the saints have for other saints because they're saints. Because they have a common Lord, a common goal of holiness, a common passion to walk well-pleasing to him. Well, after announcing his subject, describing their own experience, then he exhorts them, and we'll have to pick up that thought next week, Lord willing, but we exhort you, brethren, that ye abound more and more. You've already got this grace present in you, but don't take...

41:23 - 42:08 Read in full sermon