Milestones to Salvation, Part 6

2006-06-03 20:21

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. (2 Peter 1:5-9).

After we pass through the milestone of godliness, we can reach the milestone of brotherly kindness where the glorious church is seen. It is written, "that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish." (Ephesians 5:27).

The Bible says about a church which was seen for a while as seed, "All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had." (Acts 4:32).

Brotherly kindness does not mean that of perishable flesh and blood. It means everlasting brotherly kindness which will remain forever with Christ in the Father's house. This brotherly kindness is the very pleasant thing which truly pleases God. It is written, "A song of ascents. Of David. How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down upon the collar of his robes. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore." (Psalms 133:1-3).

There is sure eternal life only in where brothers live together in unity. "There the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore." The breath of new life flows from where brothers live together in unity, because they are not the body of flesh without brotherly kindness, but the body of Christ with brotherly kindness.

It is written, "This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life." (Ezekiel 37:5). And also, "You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did." (James 2:22).

Therefore, the church, Christ's body, shows the brotherly kindness. A church without the brotherly kindness is not the house of God. There is the gladness of God in the house of God. It is written, "The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." (Zephaniah 3:17).

We have to know that without passing through the milestone of brotherly kindness we cannot remain in the house of God. It is written, "In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother." (1 John 3:10). And also, "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death." (1 John 3:14). And also, "If anyone says, 'I love God,' yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen." (1 John 4:20). And also, "And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother." (1 John 4:21).

Therefore, truly blessed are those who reach the milestone of brotherly kindness. For they remain in God. It is written, "And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him." (1 John 4:16). Thank you, Lord.