A. Every church that knows and practices love for one
another should consider 1Thessalonians 4:9-10:
Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need
for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one
another; for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all
Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to
excel still more...
B. In the practice of love, there is always opportunity
to "excel still more" and strengthen the tie that binds us together as children
of our Father in heaven.
II. LOVE IS THE TIE THAT BINDS
A. In 1782, John Fawcett wrote the words for the hymn
"Blest Be the Tie that Binds." Consider
the first verse of this song, which describes the nature of brotherly love,
fellowship, and unity:
Blest be the
tie that binds
Our hearts in
Christian love;
The
fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to
that above.
1.
Indeed, the
hearts of Christians should be bound together in love and by love, for we are
"members of one another" who are to build up one another in love (Rom. 12:4-5;
Eph. 4:11-16).
2.
This love,
fellowship, and unity of Christians should be a reflection of those same
qualities that exist between Christ and His Father in heaven. Jesus prayed for this very outcome in John
17:21 when He asked the Father that His disciples "may all be one; even as You,
Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world
may believe that You sent Me."
B. The third verse of "Blest Be the Tie" explains how
brotherly love manifests itself.
We share each
other's woes,
Our mutual
burdens bear;
And often for
each other flows
The
sympathizing tear.
1.
The familial
quality of brotherly love, fellowship, and unity naturally leads us have sincere
concern, sympathy, and benevolence toward our fellow Christians.
2.
The Scriptures
declare this message frequently.
a. Speaking of the body of Christ, 1Corinthians 12:26 says,
"And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is
honored, all the members rejoice with it."
b. In Galatians 6:2, we are commanded, "Bear one another's
burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ."
c.
Consider Hebrews
13:1-3:
Let love of the brethren continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to
strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember the prisoners, as though in prison
with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the
body.
C. The fourth verse of "Blest Be the Tie" describes the
genuine bonds of love that exist between brethren and are made evident when
brethren separate from one another.
When we
asunder part,
It gives us
inward pain;
But we shall
still be joined in heart,
And hope to
meet again.
1.
Notice a few
examples of this sentiment from the New Testament.
a. The Ephesian elders wept and grieved because Paul said
they would see him no more (Acts 20:37-38).
b. To the Philippian church, Paul wrote, "For God is my
witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus" (Phil.
1:8).
c.
In 1Thessalonians
3:6, Paul said he was thankful to hear that the Macedonian Christians were
longing to see him just as he longed to see them.
d. In 2Timothy 1:3-4, Paul told Timothy, "I constantly
remember you in my prayers night and day, longing to see you, even as I recall
your tears, so that I may be filled with joy."
2.
Truly, it should
grieve us to part from our brethren, and the hope of rejoining them should fill
us with joy.
III. HOW STRONG IS THE TIE THAT BINDS YOU?
A. We read the Scriptures and sing the song, but are we
truly bound to one another in love?
1.
Are our bonds to
one another like those of the Father and the Son?
2.
Do we share one
another's burdens in sympathy and concern?
3.
Does it pain us
to separate from one another, and are we joined together in our hearts?
B. For all that is important in our lives, nothing is
more important than love.
1.
In the great
chapter of 1Corinthians 13, Paul shows us that without love, "I am nothing" (v.
2).
a. Notice that Paul did not specify whether he wrote of
love for God or love for the brethren, for both are necessary.
i.
Jesus said that
the greatest commandment is to love God and the second greatest commandment is
to love your neighbor (Matt. 22:36-40).
ii.
Therefore,
1Corithians 13 simply shows that love is the more excellent way.
b. If we do everything else right but lack the necessary
ingredient of love, then we have accomplished nothing. This is how important love is.
2.
Local churches
are measured by many factors, but the presence of love is the most important of
them all. That said, are we assessing
churches correctly?
3.
Christians are
esteemed by many traits, but nothing is more important than love. Notice 1John 4:7-8:
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from
God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God,
for God is love.
That said, are we esteeming our brethren correctly?
4.
Love is the foremost
commandment, and without it we cannot be faithful and obedient to God.
a. In John 13:34-35, Jesus gave the commandment of
brotherly love, demonstrated its essence, and stated its result. He said, "A new commandment I give to you,
that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one
another. By this all men will know that
you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
b. In John 15:12-14, Jesus gave this commandment again
and made it the basis for friendship with Him.
He said, "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I
have loved you. Greater love has no one
than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command
you." See also John 15:17.
c.
Love is to be our
only debt to one another. Notice Romans
13:8 -- "Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his
neighbor has fulfilled the law."
d. Sincere brotherly love is the natural outgrowth of a
soul purified by obedience to God's word.
Consider 1Peter 1:22-23 -- "Since you have in obedience to the truth
purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one
another from the heart, for you have been born again not of seed which is
perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of
God."
e.
The book of 1John
is overflowing with this message concerning love (2:9-11; 3:14-18, 23-24). This culminates in 4:7-5:3, which teaches us
that we cannot know God or love God unless we know love and love one another.
IV. CONCLUSION
A. Dear Christians, if we do not have love, fellowship,
and unity in the likeness of that which exists between the Father and the Son,
then we are falling short of Christ's will for us.
B. If we do not share with one another both suffering and
honor, then we are failing to function as the body of Christ should.
C. If absence from one another does not cause us pain and
the anticipation of joining with one another does not give us joy, then we are
lacking the tie that binds.
D. Indeed, love is the tie that binds. Therefore, "let love of the brethren
continue" (Heb. 13:1).
