Member Care: How living out the gospel gives assurance of eternal life.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
As John is writing to these people whom he loves, he gives them some tests of how they can know that they have eternal life and how they can assess the individuals who have left the body. Love is the test of our current passage, but it is a certain kind of love.
Illustration: Evidence Image
Of interest is that fact that how we care for one another can serve as a powerful way to assuring us that we have eternal life, and this can serve as assurance to others that we have eternal life.
Now, we have used the phrase Member Care to speak of members caring for each other, and for the purposes of this study tonight, I want to allow I John 3:17 be the central text for understanding what it means to care for one another. Here is a statement of definition so that we are on the same page:
“Member care is gospel-caused, material-enriched, and affection-filled love for all the members by all the members.”
Body:
Member care is gospel-caused love for all members by all members
Member care is gospel-caused love for all members by all members
Illustration: Cart before the horse problem. This old adage teaches us that we must be careful not to put the cart in front of the horse because the horse is what pulls the cart along. The power or energy that makes the cart get from point A to point B is the horse, as opposed to the other way around.
I John 3:17 is not an imperative command. It is an indicative statement.
17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
This verse is given as part of a test of how one knows if they have passed from death unto life. See I John 3:14-15.
14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
I John 3:16 confirms how v. 17 becomes a description for someone who has truly received life. I John 3:16 teaches us what kind of love we have known in God. He [God] laid down his life for us!
Consequently, the implication of the passage is that when someone truly experiences this kind of love, it will be evident in his life. Thus, loving brethren is NOT something that can be manufactured. Caring for members of the church is the result of the gospel. It is gospel-caused love.
Application:
(1) One of the hindrances to this kind of love is when unbelievers are trying to live the Christian life.
(2) A second hindrance to this kind of love is mixing up the indicative with the imperative. Christians must continually remember that I John 3:16 is the cause of I John 3:17-18. Your faith must be in his power in you.
(3) Lastly, Christians should continually allow the gospel to be the test of their practice. Are you struggling to live consistent with the love you’ve received?
Member care is material-enriched love for all members by all members
Member care is material-enriched love for all members by all members
I John 3:17 says, But whoso… It is important to see the general nature of what John is saying.
17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
Application:
Caring for members is not just for leadership of the church. All members should take seriously and personally the command to love in deed and in truth.
Illustration: There is a shocking story about a very rich man. He had abundant wealth, and was a tremendously productive farmer. In today’s terms, he had the private plane, the fancy off-road Jeep, the luxury Lexus SUV, the electric Tesla crossover vehicle, and the 5,000 square foot estate. The money was coming in so prolifically, that he was well-invested and invested in multiple stocks and bonds.
His wealth was so much that he had to decide where to store all of his expensive toys. He was sitting one evening, and thought to himself, “I will build myself an additional garage to store my sports and recreational vehicles.” He also decided that he would retire, take it easy and just live off the proceeds of his investments.
Notice what the Bible says to his man n Luke 12:20.
20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
This is a shocking illustration that should awaken member of Christ’s body to what should never characterize their lives. We have materials goods, but they are to be used for those in need among us.
17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
“…hath this world’s good...” [livelihood, means of living] - this is especially important considering the context of John’s time. It is possible that there were the early seeds of Gnosticism, in particular Docetism, during the time of John. These individuals held to a dualism between the spiritual and the physical, often identifying the material world as evil.
This idea that the material world is evil is not consistent with biblical Christianity. In fact, God created the physical world for his glory, and God came as physical man to restore fallen creation to God — this is inclusive of a future material restoration.
Application:
How we use our material wealth can serve to show that we have eternal life or that we don’t have eternal life.
Illustration: Luke 14:12-14 This presents an upside down approach — a kingdom teaching that adds certainty to who Christ is by showing clear distinction from what we naturally do.
A second application is found in the word “hath”. Part of the hindrance to rightly loving members is that we do not rightly inventory our material wealth.
Member care is affection-filled love for all members by all members
Member care is affection-filled love for all members by all members
17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
Notice the phrase seeth his brother have need. There are two important parts here:
(i) There is the matter of observation. Members are looking for the need of their brethren. There is an implied closeness that is noted in this phrase.
(ii) There is the matter of relationship. Members are not simply paying dues as part of an organization, but they are brothers and sisters who have been bought by the blood of Christ.
Application:
One of the hindrances to proper member care is an unintentional oversight from cultivating these kinds of relationships — relationships where we become increasingly aware of the needs of others.
Notice also the phrase, “…and shutteth up his bowels of compassion...” which means pity, seat of tender affection. This phrase confirms that the kind of relationship that exists is not a sterile, passionless relationship.
Application:
The kind of compassion spoken of here would eliminate the cold, professionalism that characterizes some relationships.
Illustration: picture of professionals
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
Member care can serve as a powerful evidence that we have life. It is an evidence that helps us believe that we have life, and it is an evidence that convinces us about others and their profession of life.
Here are a few ways we have are set up to help the church function within Member Care ministries:
Member care groups with leaders within a geographical location
Member care group information initially provided by church administration
Member care informal gatherings for scripture reading and prayer
Member care leaders serving as initiators of Christlike development
Member care leaders who pray by name weekly or bi-weekly for all members
Member care groups who take the formal church gatherings as opportunities to love
Member care service opportunities not based on personal giftedness but considerate of bodily needs.
“Member care is gospel-caused, material-enriched, and affection-filled love for all the members by all the members.”