Love Of Brethren

by G. Jarvie, Glasgow, Scotland | Category: General | Nov 1990

Simon Peter was a bondservant and an apostle of Jesus Christ. He knew that shortly he would die as the Lord had indicated to him. In view of this he was diligent to write his epistles, so that on every occasion the disciples could recall them after his decease (2 Peter 1).

The apostle reminded the disciples that they had received the same precious faith as the apostles, and the same grace and peace multiplied to them, in the knowledge of their God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. His divine power was granted to them also in things that pertain to life and godliness. He also granted to them His precious and exceeding great promises; that through these they might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust.

All that was granted to the early disciples has been granted to us in our day. What has been wrought for us requires that we give heed to what the apostle has written of the steps by which we also can make our election sure, that we may not stumble, but that we may be supplied a rich entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (v.11).

The steps which the apostle wrote about are, firstly, diligence. Without this we shall make no progress in our spiritual lives. Reading the Word regularly, to learn and to practise what we learn, is vital. We must be regular in our times of private prayer and praise. Praise must mingle with prayer.

Remember Matthew 6:6, and Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21.

In our faith, looking unto Jesus, the author (or captain) and perfecter of faith, we must supply virtue. This is goodness; stability; reliability; moral excellence.

Then we consider knowledge. The knowledge of God from His Word. In Psalm 119:9 the psalmist wrote "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to Thy Word". This psalm is helpful to us all, and especially to younger disciples.

And then temperance is our next step. It is self-control. It is the grace by which the flesh, the old nature, is controlled.

Patience, waiting as with a load, without murmuring.

Godliness, fellowship with God, reverence in all we do and say. Paul wrote to Timothy to follow after godliness (1 Tim. 6:11).

Love of the brethren; how important this is in all the assemblies of the saints. Any division of heart takes away the joy of the Lord and leaves us fruitless. The weak in the faith can be stumbled.

In Psalm 133 David wrote, "Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! ... For there the LORD commanded the blessing". The multitude of the saints in Jerusalem were of one heart and soul, and with great power the apostles gave their witness, and great grace was upon them all (Acts 4: 32,33). The love of the brethren, in Greek, is "philadelphia".

The word for love which follows philadelphia in the Greek text of 2 Peter 1 is agape. It is the love that loves those that have little or none. It is the love of God!

For love is of God; and every one that loveth is begotten of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love (1 John 4:7,8).

This chapter is full of the love of God. How searching it is for us all!

In Paul's great chapter of love (1 Cor. 13) he wrote of faith, hope and love: the remaining three, and agape excels. How can we reach such love? We cannot reach it by our own efforts. Surely it can only come when we abide in God; when we spend time with God, in prayer and praise. But the Spirit of God will lead us if we wait on Him, when we yield our bodies our lives, as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is our reasonable service, not being fashioned according to this world, but by being transformed to prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God (Rom. 12:1,2).

G. Jarvie, Glasgow, Scotland | Nov 1990
General