Additions to Faith
“Brotherly Kindness”
2 Peter 1:1-11
Introduction
Over the past few weeks we’ve talking about the Apostle Peter’s seven additions to your faith found in 2 Peter 1:1-11:
“Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: 2Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,3as His divine power has given to us all things thatpertainto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,4by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruptionthat isin the world through lust.”
“5But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,6to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness,7to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.8For if these things are yours and abound,youwill be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.9For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;11for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
So far we have studied virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance and godliness. The last two additions to our faith come from a subject that was well-known to the Apostle Peter. Before we can develop a true concern and passion for those who do not know Christ, we must learn to love and respect our own brothers and sisters in Christ. In Christ, we are family! We are brothers and sisters in the Lord. We are united together with those who are the heirs of the grace of life. The bible says we are the sons and daughters of the Almighty God. The Apostle Paul says that we are members one of another. We are brothers and sisters united in Christ from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named. In a strong family the family members stick together.
1 Corinthians 12:26 says that in a family, “if one member suffers, all the members suffer; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice together.
Brotherly Kindness is a love without partiality and without distinction. Colossians 3:11 says, “In Christ there is neither Greek nor Jew, there is neither circumcision nor uncircumcision, there is neither Barbarian, Scythian, there is neither bond nor free, for Christ is all in all.” While we all may have individual distinctions we all still possess the unifying characteristics of being made in the likeness of God. For Christians this means we should have an attitude of true Christ-likeness. People ought to see the reflection of Jesus in you! It is His image that makes us all fit together.
Where there is a family likeness there is also a basis for family love. A healthy family love also allows for the powerful reflection of the individual relationship of each member to the family. No matter what someone else’s place in the family of God is – there is still a place for you, and your place is special and unique to you! No one else can take your place in the family. Brotherly Kindness provides an atmosphere of love and respect for the other members of the family.
Jesus said, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, by your love one to another.” The Apostle John writes, “We know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren. If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? Let him that says he loves God see to it that he loves his brother also.” (1 John 4:20) Peter says you must “Add to your faith” – Brotherly Kindness.
- A Tender Affection
The original Greek term that Peter uses here is “Philadelphia”The meaning of the word “phileo” is love expressed with tender affection. It is more emotional expression than the word Agape, which is used to describe divine love. The word agape expresses esteem for the value and worth of others, but phileo reaches out with tenderness and feeling. In life we all have to learn how to get along with people. But in a family you also have to learn how to like them. In the family of God we have to learn not only how to get along with people, but how to like them because they’re part of the body of Christ.
Some people won’t participate in the family because they don’t want to risk getting hurt.
Sadly, there are people who have got their feelings hurt in the church and won’t fellowship with other Christians any more. Hurt feelings have led them into isolation and withdrawal from life in the body of Christ. Yet God has called us to fellowship and relationship! Slights and misunderstandings, and hurts will inevitable occur in every family. It’s inevitable. But withdrawal from the family runs directly counter to this very important trait that God wants us to develop!
Our relationship together makes a statement to the world about who we are as the family of God. I don’t have any problem relating to people that I can change. I don’t have any problem loving people who see things my way! But as a Christian, I am to accept people the way that God accepts me! How does God accept us, church? Just as we are! He doesn’t require us to be perfect, or wealthy or even well-connected. God takes us with all of our hang-ups and short-comings and failures, no matter how hard we have tried to hide them from others. God accepts you this morning just the way you are! I saw a bumper sticker once, “Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven.” You may not be the person God wants you to be yet, but thank God you’re not the person you used to be! We must learn to accept people for what they are and for who they are and let the Holy Spirit do the changing while we learn to do the accepting. That is the proof that we truly believe God accepts us!
- A Touch That Heals
One problem that we face as a body of believers is that many churches are made up of more spectators than participators. Some people want to experience and observe family life, but they don’t want to participate or contribute to it. Some people want the benefits of a family without having to get involved. Unfortunately, in the body of Christ we can’t effectively fulfill God’s plan without one another.
A healthy family cooperates and works together to achieve their goals. In Romans Chapter 12 Verse 4, Paul gives us some instructions for working with one another.
He writes, “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith, or ministry, let us wait on our ministering, or he that teacheth, on teaching; or he that exhorteth on exhortation; he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity, he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.” “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another.”
Brotherly kindness is the child of godliness. One writer says it is the river of charity that springs from the fountain of piety.It is encouraged throughout the New Testament.Romans 12:10 “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;” Colossians 3:12 “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;”
1 Corinthians 13:4 “Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,” Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”
One of the things that made the earthly ministry of Jesus so impacting was His healing touch. He reached out to people from every walk of life; from every economic and social level. It made no difference to Jesus whether you were a member of the Sanhedrin like Nicodemus or a tax collector like Zacheous, he was willing to reach out with kindness and a healing word or a healing touch. Believers who have added godliness to their Christian walk can’t help but go to the next level to add brotherly kindness to their faith life.Brotherly Kindness not only causes you to recognize the healing touch that is needed but to administer that touch in Jesus name.
- A Tie That Binds
Throughout the scriptures we find examples of those who have reached out with a healing touch and a helping hand. Brotherly Kindness causes you to recognize the need and reach out to meet that need; but it also helps you to make a connection with others that binds you together as family.
- In Ruth 2:16 Boaz show kindness to Ruth. He instructed his worker to, “purposely pull out for her some grain from the bundles and leave it that she may glean, and do not rebuke her."
- In 2 Samuel 9:1 King David said, "Is there yet anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?"
- In Genesis 50:21 Joseph tells his brothers, "So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones." So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.”
- In Exodus 2:17 when the women came to water their flocks it says, “The shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up and helped them and watered their flock.”
- In Acts 16:33 the Philippian jailer showed kindness to Paul and Barnabus when, “And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household.”
- In Luke 10:34 the good Samaritan found a man beaten and lying by the side of the road, “and he came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him.”
There are a lot of lonely and hurting people in this world. People have become isolated and introspective and yet are so starved for authentic relationship that they’ve resorted to internet “chat rooms” and “blogs” and “avatars” looking for quality relationship. Unfortunately many people are looking for love in all the wrong places, and consequently, they are suffering even more emotional and physiological damage.
Love is something you learn in a family or at least something you should learn in a family.In a family you learn to make personal sacrifices for the sake of others. In the family you learn to prefer others above yourself. You learn how to encourage and help others. You learn how to accept and get along with personalities that are different from your own.
You learn how to become connected to others in very powerful alliances and relationships.
Obviously, not every family is healthy. In some families the members are very destructive. They only criticize and complain. They are in constant competition with one another. They put each other down and mock any achievement one of them makes. They’re always offending, or guilt tripping or some other destructive behavior common among dysfunctional families. Peter says maturity loves! Christian maturity loves in a healthy way. With brotherly (or sisterly) kindness. It’s true in the family and it’s true in the church. A person who only thinks of themselves and goes around offending others is very selfish and probably immature. Those who grow and develop brotherly kindness think about how their behavior and attitudes affects others and consider others before they speak and do things.
People are this world’s greatest resource. Yet we spend fortunes on machinery and material possessions but feel uncomfortable if we have to spend even the least bit on missions and reaching out to people with the love of Christ. Life should not be about keeping up with the Smith’s or the Jones’. Life is about tending the garden of God and being our brother’s keeper. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 6:20, “You are not your own, but have been bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit which are God’s”
You can’t fake family and personal happiness! The first step to becoming a healthy person is to realize you aren’t one! The second step is to get involved with those who are.
Each of us has special gifts and talents that God has given us.You may not have as many talents as others and they may be different from others. But your gifts are your gifts!
Thank God for them. Embrace them. Develop them. A high expression of love is to use your gifts for the encouragement and benefit of others.Not as a slave, or because we’re commanded to. But because we choose to in brotherly kindness.
Conclusion
The bible says that whatever we do in word or deed, we should do it in the name of the Lord recognizing we are blessed by God to be a blessing to others. When a family pulls together it’s an awesome thing. But when they don’t it can be a disaster!
Don’t practice your gifts to the exclusion of others. Learn to share and give in the context of relationship and community. Families should be known for their diversity and uniqueness, but they should also be known for their unity and community. Christian maturity requires us to look after the interest and welfare of others. Life is not about what you want. It’s about what God wants to do through you.
We are all equally important in the eyes of God. We may have different abilities and gifts, but God does not value on the basis of talent. He values us on the basis of relationship.
When we learn to accept others just the way they are, we are becoming mature enough to experience true godly fellowship and exercise brotherly kindness. Don’t try to change everyone to act like you and think like you. Point them to Christ. Then they can be who God created them to be and yet have the same character and goodness that is true of all of God’s family. Then the world will sit up and take notice. Then we will hear, “My how they love the brethren.”
Jesus said, “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples” What was it? “If you have love one for another.”
So add to your faith Brotherly Kindness.
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