Kingdom development Brotherly Love

2 Peter 1:5-11

2 Peter 1:5–11 NKJV

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Introduction

You have to ”add” to your faith

• - 5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue

•Add – epichoregeo - 1 to supply, furnish, present. 2 to be supplied, ministered to, assisted.

•Epi – to be upon, to position, across

•Choregeo - to procure and supply all things necessary to fit out a chorus at one’s own expense

•Choreographed development of our character.

We have to be developed!

•The act or process of advancing in state or form

•The process in which someone or something grows or changes

•The act of improving by expanding or enlarging or refining

•growth, growing, and maturation

• - 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ

Faith - the foundation of all Christian virtues. A complete trust in the work of Christ.

Virtue – a course of thought, feeling and action. Excellence in how we go about our daily lives.

Knowledge - a deep accurate understanding of our Christian faith.

Self-control - mastery over sinful human desires in every aspect of

life.

Perseverance – steadfast endurance in the face of difficulties

Godliness -

Vine defines this word as, "piety, which, characterized by a God-ward attitude, does that which is well pleasing to Him." Thayer says, "Reverence, respect, in the Bible everywhere piety towards God, godliness."

Godliness comes from the Greek word "eusebia" and is used in the New Testament to express the idea of inner piety or spirituality. Vine defines this word as, "piety, which, characterized by a God-ward attitude, does that which is well pleasing to Him." Thayer says, "Reverence, respect, in the Bible everywhere piety towards God, godliness." Thus, there are two parts to godliness. First, there is the "God-ward attitude" of "reverence and respect."

When you take a look at the first five, faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control and perseverance this is all God dealing with you. This is you/us and God time wear God is requiring us to participate in our spiritual development.

The remaining three, godliness, brotherly love and love is you/me as Christians brothers and sister in relationship with each other.

The first five is God and me, the remaining three are me and you.

Message

Brotherly Love

2 Peter 1:5–7 NKJV

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.

2 Peter 1

The fourth great Christian quality is love. Christian love was something so new that the Christian writers had to invent a new word for it; or, at least, they had to employ a very unusual Greek word—agape.

In Greek, there are four words for love.

There is eros, which is the love between the sexes and which involves sexual passion.

There is philia, which is the warm affection which exists between those who are very near and very dear to each other.

There is storgē, which is characteristically the word for family affection. Cherishing one’s kindred, especially parents or children.

And there is agape, which the Authorized Version sometimes translates as love and sometimes as charity.

The real meaning of agape is unconquerable benevolence. If we regard people with agape, it means that nothing that they can do will make us seek anything but their highest good. Even if they hurt us and insult us, we will never feel anything but kindness towards them.

In Greek mythology, Eros (/ˈɪərɒs/ or US /ˈɛrɒs/, /ˈɛroʊs/;[2] Greek: Ἔρως, "Desire")[3] was the Greek god of sexual attraction. His Roman counterpart was Cupid[4] ("desire"). Some myths make him a primordial god, while in other myths, he is the son of Aphrodite. He was one of the winged love gods, Erotes.

The Erotes (/əˈroʊtiːz/) are a collective of winged gods associated with love and sexual intercourse in Greek mythology. They are part of Aphrodite's retinue. Erotes (Greek ἔρωτες) is the plural of Eros ("Love, Desire"), who as a singular deity has a more complex mythology.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 1:5–7

The first five virtues pertain to one’s inner life and his relationship to God. The last two relate to others. Brotherly kindness translates the Greek philadelphian, a fervent practical caring for others (1 John 4:20). Peter already urged this attitude on his readers in his first epistle (1 Peter 1:22; cf. Rom. 12:10; 1 Thes. 4:9; Heb. 13:1).

7. Whereas brotherly kindness is concern for others’ needs, love (agapēn) is desiring the highest good for others. This is the kind of love God exhibits toward sinners (John 3:16; Rom. 5:8; 1 John 4:9–11).

Interestingly this “symphony” begins with faith and ends with love. Building on the foundation of faith in Christ, believers are to exhibit Christlikeness by supplying these seven qualities that climax in love toward others (cf. faith and love in Col. 1:4–5; 1 Thes. 1:3; 2 Thes. 1:3; Phile. 5).

Believer’s Bible Commentary II. Call to Develop Strong Christian Character (1:3–21)

1:7 Brotherly kindness identifies us to the world as Christ’s disciples: “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).

Love of the brethren leads to love for all mankind. This is not primarily a matter of the emotions but of the will. It is not a sentimental exhilaration to experience but a commandment to obey. In the NT sense, love is supernatural. An unbeliever cannot love as the Bible commands because he does not have divine life. It takes divine life to love one’s enemies and to pray for one’s executioners. Love manifests itself in giving. For instance, “God so loved the world, that He gave …” (John 3:16). “Christ also loved the church and gave …” (Eph. 5:25). We can show our love by giving our time, our talents, our treasures, and our lives for others.

T. E. McCully was the father of Ed McCully, one of five young missionaries slain by Auca Indians in Ecuador. One night as we were on our knees together, he prayed, “Lord, let me live long enough to see those fellows saved who killed our boys, that I may throw my arms around them and tell them I love them because they love my Christ.” That is Christian love—when you can pray like that for the guilty murderers of your son.

These seven graces make a full-orbed Christian character.

The Letters of James and Peter The Ladder of Virtues (2) 2 Peter 1:3–7 Contd

(7) To this piety must be added brotherly affection. The word is philadelphia, which literally means love of the brethren. The point is this—there is a kind of religious devotion which separates individuals from one another. The claims of other people become an intrusion on our prayers, our study of God’s word and our meditation. The ordinary demands of human relationships become a nuisance. Epictetus, the great Stoic philosopher, never married. Half-jokingly, he said that he was doing far more for the world by being a philosopher without any ties than if he had produced ‘two or three dirty-nosed children’. ‘How can he who has to teach mankind run to get something in which to heat the water to give the baby his bath?’ What Peter is saying is that there is something wrong with the religion which finds the claims of personal relationships a nuisance.

Built Upon

Brotherly is really what ministry is built upon.

Ministry is built upon the people.

When Jesus Christ began His ministry He gathered twelve men and called them disciples.

Matthew 10:1–4 NKJV

And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.

1 Peter 1:22 NKJV

Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,

1Peter 1:22

Romans 12:10 NKJV

Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;

Rom 12:

1 Thessalonians 4:9 NKJV

But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;

1 thes 4:9

Hebrews 13:1 NKJV

Let brotherly love continue.

heb 13:1

John 13:35 NKJV

By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

john 13:

Jesus built upon them.

Jesus built upon them.

If you look in the Book of Acts you will see the acts of the apostles. You will see the gathering leaders and putting them over churches. You the apostles finding people to build upon.

This what your Pastor does, he is looking for people he can build upon.

Visitors and repeat visitors walk in hear and they feel the brotherly love of this ministry.

Who would not want to come into an environment filled with this type of love, this brotherly love, this type of kindness and affection.

The united states military understands brotherly. They don’t attach these soldiers to a general, they are attach to another soldier, wear they are trained to cover a care for each other, to watch each others back. My life is your life and your life is my life.

But there is something additional between christian brothers and sister.

Their is the divine relationship, the God centered, believing the same for the same reasons.

This type of love stops gossip, back biting, insults, hatred, distrust, using people for you own gain.

This type of love doesn't hold you to something you shouldn't held anyone to in the first place. You only hold people to what the bible says, not what you say.

This is the greatest of love (Philia) the divine makes it special.

This is wear the break down occurs.

When we confuse Philia with Eros!

We began to confuse the closeness of brotherly love with the sexual attraction of eros.

God didn’t bring Eve to Adam until Adam spent time with God. Not until God saw that Adam was ready.

We think God is approving these feeling and He isn’t.

We really didn’t fully experience brotherly love because it was superseded by eros.

You cannot build on Eros.

I have told men and women that your time right now should be spent with God and God alone.

Learn how to love God, learn how to love yourself and learn how to love your brother.

The benefit of brotherly love

John 3:15 NKJV

that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16–17 NKJV

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

john 3:

John 3:15

Showing Love to my brother and sister

John 13:35 NKJV

By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John 13:35

, 5. Why is it important that we show brotherly love to fellow believers?

4 Why is it important that we show love to fellow believers?

Put simply, love is the essence of true Christianity. Without love we cannot have a close bond with fellow Christians, and more important, we amount to nothing in God’s sight. Consider how God’s Word highlights these truths.

5 On the final night of his earthly life, Jesus told his followers: “I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves.” (, ) “Just as I have loved you”—yes, we are commanded to show the kind of love that Jesus displayed. In Chapter 29, we noted that Jesus set a superb example in showing self-sacrificing love, putting the needs and interests of others ahead of self. We too are to display unselfish love, and we are to do it so plainly that our love is evident even to those outside the Christian congregation. Indeed, self-sacrificing brotherly love is the mark by which we are identified as true followers of Christ.

6, 7. (a) How do we know that God’s Word places a high value on showing love? (b) Paul’s words recorded at focus on what aspect of love?

6 What if love is lacking in us? “If I . . . do not have love,” said the apostle Paul, “I have become a sounding piece of brass or a clashing cymbal.” () A clashing cymbal produces a harsh noise. What about a sounding piece of brass? Other versions say “a noisy gong” or “a resounding gong.” What apt illustrations! A loveless person is like a musical instrument making a loud, jarring noise that repels rather than attracts. How could such a person enjoy a close relationship with others? Paul also said: “If I have all the faith so as to transplant mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.” () Just imagine, a person without love is “a useless nobody,” despite any works that he might perform! (The Amplified Bible) Is it not clear that Jehovah’s Word places a high value on showing love?

This is what grows the church.

Evangelism brings them in the church, your brotherly love that lines up with the preached word keeps them in the church.

This brotherly love is needed

God sent His Son into the world not that you wanted Him, but we needed Him.

We need God to love us, we need to love God, and we need to love each other.

Third reason

2 peter 1:

2 Peter 1:8–11 NKJV

For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

This is how i show Kingdom love, and i;m barren without it.

Believer’s Bible Commentary II. Call to Develop Strong Christian Character (1:3–21)

Failure to persevere in the development of Christian character leads to barrenness, unfruitfulness, blindness, shortsightedness, and forgetfulness.

Barrenness. Only the life lived in fellowship with God can be truly effective. The guidance of the Holy Spirit eliminates barren activity and insures maximum efficiency. Otherwise, we are shadow-boxing, or sewing without thread.

Unfruitfulness. It is possible to have considerable knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and yet to be unfruitful in that knowledge. Failure to practice what we know leads inevitably to barrenness. Inflow without outgo killed the Dead Sea, and it kills productivity in the spiritual realm as well.

1:9 Shortsightedness. There are various degrees of impaired vision which are spoken of as blindness. Shortsightedness here specifies the form of blindness in which man lives for the present rather than the future. He is so occupied with material things that he neglects the spiritual.

Blindness. Whoever lacks the seven characteristics listed in verses 5–7 is blind. He is not aware of what is central in life. He lacks discernment of true spiritual values. He lives in a dark world of shadows.

Forgetfulness. Finally, the man who lacks the seven virtues has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. The truth of his redemption has lost its grip on him. He is going back in the direction from which he was once rescued. He is toying with sins that caused the death of God’s Son.