Unity of the Chruch and its Members Part 3

Over the last few week we have been talking about the unity of the church and how important it is.

How the stronger more experienced members are to help and encourage the weaker or less experienced members.

The unity of the chruch is much like that of a symphony orchestra where there are different types of instruments but they all play together to make beautiful music together.

If one of them is out of tune or off the beat you can hear it.

It makes the whole song suffer.

We are much the same in that if one person is not reading from the same music there is no unity.

Other than outright sin nothing shatters the fellowship and spiritual growth, and witness of a congregation so much as disharmony among its members.

Regard for Others (v1a)

As with the instructions in chapter 14 we see that it falls to the older or stronger believers to set the example of pleasing each other.

The word here for obligation means to owe a debt or to have a strong obligation.

The other interesting word here is to bear which means to pick up or to carry a burden.

Acts 21:35 ESV

35 And when he came to the steps, he was actually carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd,

Mark 14:13 ESV

13 And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him,

Acts 15:10 ESV

10 Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?

Therefore, to bear the failings of fellow believers is not simply to tolerate those failings but to help carry them—by not being critical or condescending.

But by showing respect for sincere views or practices that we may not agree with.

The idea is that of showing genuine, loving, and practical consideration for other believers.

We are not to argue about minor issues or be critical of those who may still be sensitive about a former religious practice or habit.

He was not speaking of compromising the gospel or godly standards of living in order to gain acceptance and approval by the world, a sin he strongly condemned.

On the contrary, he was speaking of relinquishing personal liberties and advantages for the sake of fellow believers—even for the sake of unbelievers, if doing so might be instrumental in leading them to Christ.

It is worth it to make yourself just a little uncomfortable to win someone for the kingdom.

Disregard of Self (vv1b-2)

The right use of Christian liberty, which the strong believer understands and appreciates, often involves self sacrifice.

When we truly want to help others we can expect to forfeit certain legitimate liberties.

Especially when exercising them would harm a weaker brother or sister.

We are given these liberties not to selfishly please ourselves but to free us from the chains of religious superstitions and the need for human intervention.

Look at Pauls reaction to who the leaders of Philippian chruch who were not using their freedom in the right way. Phil 2:21

Philippians 2:21 ESV

21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.

If we are busy holding up our neighbor then thats ok because guess who is going to be holding us up? Our neighbor.

Philippians 2:2–5 ESV

2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

Conformity to Christ (v3)

Had Jesus wanted to please Himself and not His Father He would not have divested Himself of His glory and become a man.

He most certainly would not have allowed Himself to be hung on a cross.

But we see Jesus’s mind set in John 17:5

John 17:5 ESV

5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

We must be conformed to Christ and allow Him to take control and then our will becomes His will.

Submission to Scripture (v4)

In order to please others and bear the burdens of others we must be willing to submit to Gods word.

All of Gods word is useful for us to use in our lives to bring glory and honor to God and to bring new people into the kingdom.

Just because we are no longer under the law of the Old Testament dose not mean it is not good to lead and guide us in our lives.

The scriptures also provide encouragement for us when we need it.

There is nothing that we encounter that the answer cannot be found in the Bible.

Dependance on Divine Power (v5)

We in our earthly bodies cannot and do not want to do the things of God.

Even Paul had wars and struggles with His fleshly side. Good and bad.

He was human and he was a former Pharisee, the words he writes he in this book are the words and things that He has dealt with and was still dealing with.

Giving Glory to God (v6)

In a world where there are many voices, saying anything is allowed and all things are ok.

We must stand in one voice and in one unified spirit and say what is right and what is wrong.

We must hold each other up, and give the support that only we can give each other.