First the Question: While Christ was on earth no man was baptized who had not been circumcised. True or False?
Please take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day
And now the answer to the LLM Question of 1-20-2012
Question: Very frequently, because of doctrinal differences, some Christians apparently rejoice in the fall of some brother in Christ. True or False?
Answer: TRUE! In Galatians 6:1, the believer’s responsibility is to an erring brother. A willingness and an earnest endeavor to restore a believer who has been overtaken in a sin is the mark of a spiritual Christian, moreover it is the duty of a spiritual Christian. It is sad but true that comparatively few of God’s saints are engaged in this ministry. Many seem to prefer to devour one another, (Galatians 5:15). Now, out of the 772 responses we received to this question, 95.2% of you got it right! Praise the LORD! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at,
THE LLM STUDY OF THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS, CHAPTER 6, PART 1 of 3
“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:1-2.
Here we have presented to us the responsibility of one believer to another. In Galatians 6:1, the believer’s responsibility is to an erring brother. A willingness and an earnest endeavor to restore a believer who has been overtaken in a sin is the mark of a spiritual Christian, moreover it is the duty of a spiritual Christian. It is sad but true that comparatively few of God’s saints are engaged in this ministry. Many seem to prefer to devour one another, (Galatians 5:15). Very frequently because of doctrinal differences, some Christians apparently rejoice in the fall of some brother in Christ.
“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 (love), I am nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:2.
The believer’s responsibility toward his fellow believer is stated in Romans 15:1-3, which we quote, “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and NOT to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not Himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on Me.” These instructions follow the instructions recorded in Romans 14, and so very few Christians obey and practice the spiritual program of that wonderful chapter.
“Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.”“But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.”“It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor anything whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.” Romans 14:21. Romans 14:13. Romans 14:15.
If only those that are Christians obey Romans 12:10-20, then how many Christians do YOU know?
We quote verse 10, “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.” Romans 12:10.
The correct translation of Hebrews 13:16 is, “share what you have with others.”
“But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.” James 2:9. “If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them NOT those things which are needful for the body; what doth it profit?” James 2:15-16. “But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother of need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” 1 John 3:17.
“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ” Galatians 6:2. “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” 1 John 3:18.
There is no contradiction in Galatians 6:5. “Bear his own burden.” Every one of us shall give an account of himself to God. Romans 14:12. And as believers, none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. Romans 14:7. In bearing his own burdens, the believer is responsible to Christ, his LORD; and he will be held responsible for bearing the burdens of other believers. But in another sense, all believers are to obey 1 Peter 6:7, “Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.” Christ is the Sin-bearer and the Burden-bearer.
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” Galatians 6:7-8. Undoubtedly the Holy Spirit, in these verses, is talking to saints as well as to sinners. Many of God’s saints are not sowing as the Holy Spirit would have them sow. In Corinthians we read of the natural man, (unsaved); the carnal man (saved); and the spiritual man (saved). The carnal Christian does not sow to the Spirit.
On every side we behold the corruption which flesh-sowers are reaping. Millions are receiving the wages of sin; paying dearly for sowing to the flesh. The spiritual believer will join with the Apostle Paul, in 2 Cor. 4:18, “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Cor. 4:18. “He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.” John 12:25. Moses made no mistake when he made his choice. “By Faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.” Hebrews 11:23-26.
“Respect unto the recompence of the reward”....“Thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just” Luke 14:14.
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Galatians 6:9. Many of God’s saints have fainted AFTER they had been Faithful in the LORD’s service. Note the urge of the writer to the Hebrews, “For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in your selves that, ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry.” Hebrews 10:34-37.
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our Faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.” Hebrews 12:1-4.
Only as we can get our eyes off of circumstances, conditions, and the failures of others, and look unto the risen Christ can we run well the Christian race. At best we can only be unprofitable servants; but we are told to follow the Apostle Paul as he followed Christ. Paul fought a good fight. By him we are instructed to fight the good fight of Faith and to endure hardness as good soldiers of Christ.
The Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 9:23-27, instructs the believer how to win the incorruptible crown. “So run that ye may obtain.” (1 Corinthians 9:23) And Christ obtained eternal redemption for us by His good work. Hebrews 9:12. In striving for the mastery (1 Corinthians 9:25) the believer is NOT striving for salvation or eternal life. No striving is necessary to receive God’s free gift. Only Faith.
Most Christians do not recognize and submit unto the LORDship of the risen Christ; They forget payday. Most sinners live as though there were no God, no death, no eternity; as though they had no soul.
“As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, ESPECIALLY unto them who are of the household of Faith.” Galatians 6:10.
Certainly we need not look for, or wait for opportunities to do good to either sinners or saints. The opportunities are without number. The time is short. The majority of God’s people are letting many, many opportunities slip by. “Love worketh no ill to his neighbor.” Add to your Faith brotherly kindness and love.
The very best deed that any saint can do for a sinner is to present to him God’s saving message. “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” Romans 10:14. Very frequently some kindness done in the name of the LORD Jesus has opened the sinner’s ears and heart to receive the Gospel. But Faith cometh by hearing God’s Word.
“Especially unto them who are of the household of Faith.” God’s order seems to be “to the saint first, and also unto the sinner.”
“Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.” Romans 12:13. “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication FOR ALL SAINTS.” Ephesians 6:18.
Thus we see that in acts of benevolences, and in what is called social service, the Christian’s first duty is toward his fellow-Christian. Do good to those who are of the household of Faith. This includes the saints outside of our particular denomination. “Distributing to the necessity of saints.” There are saints in all of the 300 different denominations in our land. Many of these have necessities. “With all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” Surely “denominationalism”, “factionalism” in the Body of Christ is contrary to the PLAIN teaching of God’s Book.
“Believe on the LORD Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” Acts 16:31, while there is still time!
So There You Have it!
Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide. The time is short
Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.
In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry
Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)
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