Yes, I Am My Brother's Keeper!

Introduction

As I was preparing for today’s message, the story of Cain and Abel came to mind.

We find their story in Genesis 4. If you are not familiar with their story, I will summarize it. God removed Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, from Eden after they sinned against Him. Sometime after their dismissal, Eve gave birth to her first son, Cain. Later, she gave birth to his brother and her second son, Abel. Both boys grew up becoming strong young men. Cain became a farmer, and Abel became a shepherd. Both of them desired to bring an offering unto Jehovah God as the story goes. Cain brought fruit from his fields. Abel brought of the firstlings of his flock.

Scripture records, “the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering. But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect.” God accepted Abel’s offering but rejected Cain’s offering. Cain became very angry over the fact God refused his offering. The Bible states, “his countenance fell.” In other words, he began to pout, making it evident to the LORD and others that he was not happy with the LORD’S rejection. The LORD questioned Cain about it, saying, “Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?” Of course, God knew evil was working in Cain’s heart. God counseled him, saying, “If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if you doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.” However, Cain did not heed God’s advice. Scripture goes to record that one day Cain and Abel were talking together in a field. Cain then “rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.” Cain committed the first murder. Later, the LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel they brother?” Cain answered, “I know not: Am I my bother’s keeper?” God goes on to say to Cain, “What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.”

This story came to mind this week because of Cain’s response to God’s question. God asked Cain, “Where is Abel they brother?” Cain said, “I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?” Cain’s response is typical of the unsaved. Essentially, Cain said, “I am not responsible for my brother. I only look out for myself.” That is the attitude of so many in society today. Every day the selfish nature of men and women grows rampantly. People are more concerned about what they want and desire than they do about each other.

For the unsaved, it is natural. The unsaved are doing just what the sinful heart tells them to do. It is why the LORD warned Cain that sin was lying at his heart’s door. The wicked heart always seeks to rule over the individual. Cain is no different than any unsaved person today. As the first man born into this world, Cain’s actions are a painful reminder of Scriptural truth.

Romans 3:10–12 KJV 1900

10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Romans 3:23 KJV 1900

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

There is only one person born into this world without a heart of sin. That person was the Lord Jesus Christ. He was virgin born and, thus, born without man’s sinful nature.

1 Peter 2:21–24 KJV 1900

21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Christ’s birth paved the way for His sacrifice. As a sinless man, He became the perfect sacrifice for our sin, bearing our sins in his own body. The man who did no sin became sin for us. Through His death, we can now be made righteous before God.

2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV 1900

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

All that Christ did enables us as sinful people to break free from the chains of sin. Today, we have the opportunity to embrace all that Christ has done for us. All it takes is faith.

Ephesians 2:8–9 KJV 1900

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Faith is believing. We must accept the fact we are indeed sinful people. We must repent of our sin and wickedness, confessing our hopeless and helpless condition to God. We are to believe in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection as our only path to salvation. It must be a belief that comes from the heart erupting with joyful words for all that He has done. When we do, Scripture states we become new creations.

2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV 1900

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

We are born again spiritually, and we become something new the moment we accept Christ personally. The life of selfish desires and wants is no longer our focus. The Holy Spirit moves in and creates within us new desire. We now have a new longing to please and glorify God. The Holy Spirit then begins to work in our lives, helping us “put off” the old life we lived. In turn, He helps us to “put on” the new life we now enjoy.

The new life is at the forefront of our message today. The old life says, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” The old life focused solely on self. However, now, as born again children of God, we are given a new focus. We are to love God first and foremost. Before our salvation, loving God and the things of God was an impossibility. Now, it is very much a reality.

Additionally, we are now truly able to love others. Our new life in Christ says, “I am my brother’s keeper.” That is the title of my message today.

Yes, I Am My Brother’s Keeper!

Look with me at our text. We will pick up where we left off last week in 1 Corinthians 8.

1 Corinthians 8:13 KJV 1900

13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

Now, remember the issue of this chapter is eating meat offered to false idols. The heart of the issue is whether doing so causes another brother or sister in Christ to stumble.

1 Corinthians 8:9 KJV 1900

9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.

Starting with verse 13 and continuing into chapter 9, the Holy Spirit uses Paul as an example to all of us. As He does, we are going to learn two valuable principles. These principles help us be good keepers of our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

Yes, I Am My Brother’s Keeper by putting:

Their Spiritual Development before My Freedoms!

Note Paul’s determination.

1 Corinthians 8:13 KJV 1900

13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

The word “wherefore” points us back to verse 12 which says:

1 Corinthians 8:12 KJV 1900

12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

To do something deliberately to cause a fellow believer to sin is sin itself. Some would argue that they have the liberty to do whatever they wish. And, no one can disagree that God has indeed given us great freedom in making choices. Yet, at the same time, we must be cautious about the choices we make. Every believer should ask themselves these three questions before making any choice.

· In what I am about to do, will it displease God?

· And, in what I am bout to do, will it cause a fellow believer to stumble?

· Additionally, in what I am about to do, will it ruin my testimony for Christ before unsaved family and friends?

If the answer is yes to any of these questions, it is best not to do it.

That is the essence of Paul’s determination. He decided to limit his liberty if it brought harm to the cause of Christ in any way.

Note the extremes Paul was willing to go so that he might be his brother’s keeper.

1 Corinthians 8:13 (KJV 1900)

13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

Paul was willing to make that sacrifice if it meant never eating meat again. For him, the spiritual welfare of others was way more important than personal desires. He made their spiritual development his top priority.

Note also Paul’s explanation.

1 Corinthians 8:13 (KJV 1900)

13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

The word “offend” literally means causing to stumble conceived as triggering someone to sin. Paul was greatly concerned that he would be a snare to anyone, especially a fellow believer. He literally would rather starve to death than be the cause of sin in another ‘s life.

Paul determined he would not budge from this principle. Self-denial was a permanent part of Paul’s life to help others grow spiritually.

Here is the application for us.

We need more believers today with this same attitude. Selfishness is not only growing rampantly in American society, but it is doing the same in the lives of believers. American society is a breeding ground for self-importance. We hear and see it all the time. We have a right to do this or to do that. And, praise God, we still have rights, the liberty to do many things others around the world cannot do. Unfortunately, we now live in a world that is constantly screaming me, me, me, and no one else. Even in local churches, we find that same selfishness. Believers today are more concerned with personal comforts and desires than they are for the souls of others. We have even come to the point of doing what WE think is best and not what God has said. We sacrifice obedience to God for worldly pleasures. We only do what is convenient for us. If forced to choose satisfying ourselves versus being obedient to Him, we do what pleases us. We no longer seek to please God, much less lookout for the spiritual welfare of those who do.

Imagine with for a moment, a church full of people determined to live by this same principle Paul did. A group of people committed to making the spiritual development of others more important than their freedoms and desires. We would see revival in our church. We would see parents looking out for what helps their children spiritually instead of physically and mentally satisfying them. We would see grandparents doing all they can to help their children and grandchildren live lives pleasing unto the Lord. We would see believers who are more concerned about seeing their co-workers come to Christ than being afraid to hurt someone’s feelings. We would have a church full of believers who love one another, pray for one another, and seek to encourage one another. We would be a church that welcomed every visitor who comes through the front doors with open arms seeing them as opportunities to win them to Christ. Our church would be on fire for God simply because each of us determined to please Him and be our brother’s keeper.

It is what is needed here in Bedford. It is what our world needs. It requires a local church committed to following Christ seeking to help others follow Him.

Yes, I Am my Brother’s Keeper by putting their spiritual development before my freedoms.

Here is the second principle this morning found in the first six verses of chapter 9.

Yes, I Am my Brother’s Keeper by putting:

God’s Divine Authority before My Wants or Desires

The Holy Spirit continues to use Paul as an example in chapter 9. Look at these first six verses with me as I read them.

1 Corinthians 9:1–6 KJV 1900

1 Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord? 2 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord. 3 Mine answer to them that do examine me is this, 4 Have we not power to eat and to drink? 5 Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? 6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?

Here were find a series of questions. The easiest way to answer a question is by turning it into a statement. For example:

Am I not an apostle? - I am an apostle.

Am I not free? - I am free

Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? - I have seen Jesus Christ our Lord.

Are not ye my work in the Lord? - You are my work in the Lord.

As you can see, Paul clarifies some things about himself under the Holy Spirit’s direction. Note that these things about Paul.

He is an apostle.

He is free.

He saw the Lord Jesus Christ personally.

These believers at Corinth were indeed his work.

If anyone had the authority and the freedom to do whatever they wished, Paul would be the one. As an apostle, Christ Himself commissioned him. As a believer, he was just as free as any other believer from the bondage of sin. Additionally, the Lord Jesus Christ revealed Himself to Paul. On top of all that, Paul personally invested himself in these believers and this local church in Corinth.

Yet, Paul based his determination not to cause a brother to stumble on something more than just their spiritual development. He centered his resolve on obedience to God. Paul wanted more than anything to please the Lord God of Heaven. As an apostle, a believer who enjoyed liberty and a personal relationship with the Lord, his desire was to the Lord first. Paul realized the importance of the two greatest commandments in Scripture.

Matthew 22:37–40 KJV 1900

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Paul knew that his love for the Lord drove his passion for others. And, here, in the first few verses of chapter 9, the Holy Spirit subtly reminds us of this same principle. We must be more concerned with what God has said and commanded than with our wants or desires. Clearly, God has said for us to love Him first and then love others. There is no room for loving ourselves. It is the reason that Paul did not hesitate in 1 Corinthians 8:13. He absolutely would have gone without food if it meant pleasing God with his life. An attitude that we need to have even today.

Thinking back to the story of Cain, I realize that Cain’s selfishness was the thing that opened the door to further sin. His attitude before God reflects a heart more concerned about pleasing oneself than loving God and loving others. Further proof is when Cain said, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Remember, he says this after he has already murdered his brother. An action that many of us would say is horrible. Yet, how many of us are guilty of the same. We say we love the Lord. We say we desire to obey Him. Yet, we care not about being our brother’s keeper.

I read this passage last week, and it applies just as much today.

1 John 4:7–11 KJV 1900

7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

Yes, as believers, we are to be our brother’s keeper. We are to do so because we desire to please God. God is love. He loved us and sent His Son to die for us so that we might live. Now, our obedience to Him is that we love others even as He has loved us. Thus, our commitment to putting others before ourselves must come from a desire to obey God.

The Holy Spirit knew that some would challenge Paul concerning his decision in 1 Corinthians 8:13, for we read this.

1 Corinthians 9:3 KJV 1900

3 Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,

What then was the answer. It was given again in the form of several questions.

1 Corinthians 9:4–6 KJV 1900

4 Have we not power to eat and to drink? 5 Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? 6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?

Have we not power to eat and to drink? - We have the power to eat and to drink.

Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife? - We have the power to lead about a sister, a wife.

Have we not power to forbear working? - We have the power to forbear working

The word “power” here speaks to the power or ability to do something. Yes, Paul, as well as others, could eat and drink. The fact was he could eat and drink anything he so desired as long it did not lead to sin. And, yes, Paul and other apostles could take a believing sister as a wife. In some cases, such as Peter and others, they married. It was not a sin to do so. To have a believing wife was a good thing.

Proverbs 18:22 KJV 1900

22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, And obtaineth favour of the Lord.

Additionally, yes, Paul and Barnabas could choose to work or not work for a living. In other words, he could do many things. In doing them, he is able to justify doing them or not doing them. However, Paul drew the line for each based on whether or not it pleased the Lord first, and second, if caused another believer to sin. All of these things the Corinthians already knew. Now, the Holy Spirit is encouraging them to do the same. He is encouraging us today to do the same.

Conclusion

We, as believers, are our brother’s keepers. We need to stop thinking in terms of “I” and “me.” Instead, we need to let the Holy Spirit develop more of a heart for others. We do this by determining to obey God. Instead of using our new freedoms in Christ as a means for self-enjoyment, we need to use those freedoms to seek the spiritual development of others. We must come to the point where we evaluate all that we do based on our love for God and others. Are we doing something to help others know Christ, or are we causing them to stumble?

Let me close with a practical example.

Lets’ say that you have some of your family visit from out of town over a weekend. It is Sunday morning. Your responsibility before God is to be in God’s house worshipping Him. Will you decide to stay home and entertain your family, or will you determine to please God by inviting your family to come with you? If you have the heart of a brother’s keeper, then you will ask your family to church. Regardless of whether or not they accept your offer, you have prioritized their spiritual welfare. Staying home to entertain them does nothing to help them spiritually. However, setting the right example by putting God first speaks volumes. A picture is worth a thousand words. A believer’s actions are worth a gazillion words. And, perchance, they accept your offer and come to church; you are most certainly helping them spiritually. I use that one example. However, hundreds of other illustrations would fit the same bill.

Yes, I am my brother’s keeper.