Reading 7 – Sabbath, December 12, 2020
Brotherly Kindness & Divine Love
T. Petkov, Bulgaria / USA
In the Bible we find many important topics, but nothing is as highly emphasized as the presence of love in the life and character of the believer. The Apostle Peter placed brotherly kindness and divine love at the top of his ladder.
“And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.” 2 Peter 1:7.
Brotherly Love
Brotherly love is translated from the Greek word φιλαδελφία, philadelphia. Brotherly kindness reflects the relationship we have with our family members but, even more so, with our spiritual family within the church. Jesus went even further, presenting brotherly kindness as a quality that believers should demonstrate not only towards their friends but also towards their enemies. In order to understand the importance and nature of brotherly love, we need to explore different aspects and applications of this love as it is presented in the Holy Scriptures.
As a Commandment
The Apostle John presented brotherly love as a commandment which the Lord Jesus Christ has given to His followers. “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” John 13:34. This means that the love presented as philadelphia is not just an emotional attachment from person to person, but it is also a principle
that believers should apply in their daily lives. We also understand that, because the Lord presented brotherly love as a commandment, then practicing it is not optional. Our Lord simplified the Ten Commandments into two – love for God and love for our neighbor. Matthew 22:36-40.
This means that the Ten Commandments are commandments of love, and only by practicing the principle of love may we fulfill the requirements of the law. “The second most important commandment” is love for our neighbor. Love for God is expressed externally in our daily practice as love for our neighbor. “And this commandment have we from Him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.” 1 John 4:21.
As a Fruit
Brotherly love is not naturally in our natures. Since the fall, selfishness, greed, and envy have taken possession of our sinful hearts. In order to have and express brotherly love naturally, we need to receive the fruit of the Spirit and be partakers of the divine nature. “But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.” 1 Thessalonians 4:9. We can receive this fruit by faith in Jesus. If we have been born again, the Holy Spirit will take possession of our hearts; and love for our neighbors will spring forth naturally. “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth Him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of Him.” 1 John 5:1.
The very essence of love is God Himself. The only way to express love is to have God in our hearts. It is an amazing privilege that, by the grace of our Lord, we may receive this gift and reflect God in our characters.
“No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us.” 1 John 4:12.
As a Testimony
There is no testimony more powerful than the expression of love. Jesus mentioned that “By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13:35. Once again we see that the expression of brotherly love is not optional but is a natural result of the presence of the Lord in our lives. If we do not have this brotherly love, we may be deceiving ourselves and
have an imaginary faith or religious experience. The presence of brotherly love is not only a testimony for the outside world but is also a way to examine ourselves. “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” 1 John 4:20. All sacrifices in the Old Testament were offered with salt, which means that only if love is present will our service to God be acceptable. Leviticus 2:13.
As Loyalty and Ethics
Brotherly love is also expressed in the Scriptures as loyalty towards God, His church on earth, and His commandments. The Apostle Paul was one of the most successful missionaries.
“Throughout his ministry, Paul had looked to God for direct guidance. At the same time, he had been very careful to labor in harmony with the decisions of the general council at Jerusalem, and as a result the churches were ‘established in the faith, and increased in number daily.’ Acts 16:5. And now, notwithstanding the lack of sympathy shown him by some, he found comfort in the consciousness that he had done his duty in encouraging in his converts a spirit of loyalty, generosity, and brotherly love, as revealed on this occasion in the liberal contributions which he
was enabled to place before the Jewish elders.” —The Acts of the Apostles, p. 402. If we want to follow in the footsteps of the apostles and fulfill our mission in the world, we have to apply the ethical principles of love, unity, and loyalty. Backbiting fellow pastors or leaders, spreading false accusations about them and others, is the destructive work of the enemy. A brief observation from the General Conference level shows that the main reason why members leave the church is not doctrinal disagreement but, rather, personal conflict and unresolved issues among the brethren.
We are also to use Christlike leadership in our churches, following the example and advice of the Apostle Paul. “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” Philippians 2:3. When leaders and members are bound together with brotherly kindness, the enemy will be helpless in his efforts to destroy our souls and
take away our salvation.
As a Knowledge of God
We are used to prioritizing theoretical knowledge of the Scriptures as a means to know God. Many theological discussions on doctrine have taken place over the centuries. Battles and wars have been fought throughout history in order to establish or eliminate certain beliefs.
Sometimes believers, following their selfish desires to appear as great discoverers of “new truth,” introduce strange teachings that create division among church members. This is the opposite of brotherly love. The Bible says that, if we do not possess the gift of God and express it in love for our neighbor, we do not know God. “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every
one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” 1 John 4:7, 8. Considering the writings of the apostles, we may say that the achievement and expression of love is the final, most elevated, and ultimate purpose of Christian belief.
All other doctrines are just a means to this end. “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:1, 2.
The Absence of Brotherly Love Since the Apostle Peter depicted brotherly kindness and charity at the top of his ladder, we may get the impression that love is something to be achieved in the future or at the end of our Christian experiences. However, in the Holy Scriptures we see that the absence of brotherly love at any time is condemned. “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.” 1 John 3:14. We are saved “by grace” “through faith” but not by works (Ephesians 2:8); but, if the grace and salvation we receive freely from Christ does not bring forth in us the spiritual gift of brotherly love, then we do not really believe in Christ and have not yet received His grace by faith. The Holy Scriptures describe this condition as deceiving ourselves, and it is clearly expressed in the message to the church of Laodicea in Revelation 3:17. Furthermore, the Apostle John compared the absence of love, or the presence of hatred, as equal to murder. “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.” 1 John 3:15. Not only may we transgress the Ten Commandments with our physical actions, but the sphere of our dreams, desires, motives, and thoughts is also subject to divine judgment. The concept of brotherly
kindness should be a serious matter of reflection and self-examination and a point of daily prayer.
Divine Love
Charity, in English, is the translation of the Greek word ἀγάπη, agape. Agape means divine love and describes our love for God as well as the love that God has for us. Sometimes it is difficult to differentiate between agape (divine love) and philadephia (brotherly kindness), because divine love is often expressed in our daily lives as love for our brethren. However, the Scriptures provide
some information that will help us understand the greatness and magnificence of divine love.
No Fear
Divine love convinces us of the existence of God, His salvation, and His providence, so that death or anything else will no longer torment the believer. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18.
Fear is part of our human instincts and manifests itself in different situations in different ways. Many times, we may fear to share the gospel with others, assuming that we may be rejected or ridiculed. What if the demonstration of our faith comes at the cost of life, and we have to make a decision to transgress God’s commandments or die? Which would you choose?
Christ answered this question
“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.” Matthew 16:25. The pioneers of our church chose to die as martyrs rather than transgress
the commandments. Agape love is connected with incredible strength and the presence of the Holy Ghost. The descriptions of the executions of many martyrs are impressive, considering how they faced their deaths with songs and praises on their lips. Following the example of our Master, many also offered a prayer for their enemies: “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.” Acts 7:60.
Perfection
In different religions and cultures, perfection is presented differently. Some Hindu gurus achieving “perfection” begin to demonstrate supernatural powers, such as levitation and others. According to the Bible, achieving spiritual perfection is not related to the possession of supernatural powers, but, rather, with the reflection of the supernatural divine character. “And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.” Colossians 3:14. According to the Apostle Paul, all other gifts of the Spirit are temporary and serve the believers only to spread the gospel and to achieve more fully the reflection of the divine divine character in their lives. “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease;
whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.” 1 Corinthians 13:8.
Self-sacrifice
One of the demonstrations of divine love is giving one’s life for the benefit of others. “Greater love [agape] hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13. Selfishness, on the other hand, will fight to preserve and defend one’s own personal interests. The example of self-sacrifice and willingness to suffer loss for somebody else’s benefit is the ultimate
proof that selfishness is overcome, that the Spirit of God has taken total control of our minds and emotions.
The perfect example of divine love among humans is our Lord Jesus Christ. “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” John 10:11. However, the Scriptures tell us that His followers possessed this same gift of agape love. Stephen demonstrated this in his life and death. The Apostle Paul preached to his executioners at the very end of his life. “But even the
hardened soldiers who attended him [the Apostle Paul] listened to his words and with amazement saw him cheerful and even joyous in the prospect of death.” –The Acts of the Apostles, p. 509. At the end of time, true Christians will also demonstrate this love in their characters and behaviors. Assumes the Guilt of Others Another demonstration of divine love is being willing to assume the
guilt of somebody else. When Adam and Eve fell into sin, the first expression of their fallen human nature was to defend themselves and cast the blame on somebody else. Eve pointed to the serpent, Adam pointed to Eve, and, indirectly, both blamed God for their own disobedience. This is the condition of human nature up until our day. Only the presence of the supernatural, divine nature in us makes it possible to express and manifest divine love.
One ladder for all
The ladder has a deep symbolic and spiritual meaning. The Spirit of Prophecy explains that it is a symbol of the Saviour Jesus Christ. “Christ, who connects earth with heaven, is the ladder. The base is planted firmly on the earth in His humanity; the topmost round reaches to the throne of God in His divinity. The humanity of Christ embraces fallen humanity, while His divinity lays hold upon the throne of God.” —Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p. 147. Many other Bible verses describe the experience of accepting our Lord Jesus Christ as a personal Saviour as the most important one, which indeed connects us with the heavenly kingdom and secures our salvation by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us consider the verse found in 2 Timothy 1:9:
“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began….”
Salvation is a gift given to us by Jesus Christ even before we were born. There is no doubt that Christ and He alone is the only way to salvation. “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Acts 2:21.
At the moment we accept our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Spirit of God takes possession of our hearts, we have the opportunity to confess our faith. The promise of our Lord goes into effect immediately. All steps of Peter’s ladder are imputed to us by faith in Jesus because He becomes our representative before the heavenly judgment. Let us look unto Jesus because He is the Alpha
and Omega, the beginning and the end, our Saviour and Advocate.
Amen.