THE BROTHERHOOD OF BELIEVERS
Acts 15:36
Morning Meditation 2/26/17
Verse 36 says, “And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.”
What we would call foreign missions began in Acts chapter thirteen. By the time we come to our text in Acts fifteen believers are being referred to as “brethren.” The word “brethren” has a wide range of meaning. It is used by Paul when he addressed fellow Jews to identify a common ancestry (Acts 13:26). It is used of those in the same immediate family as it is in John 7:5 where it refers to Jesus’ brothers that Mary and Joseph had after His birth. In our text it is used of brothers and sisters that have been born into God’s family as a result of having believed the gospel of Jesus Christ. Every believer has a common Father with every other believer. Galatians 3:26 says, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”
Have you discovered that there is a family war going on? In other words the family of God has been split up into many fragments and they enjoy fighting one another! First, I want to say that every person who has ever tried to bring “warring brethren” together in an ecumenical situation has always caused more problems and has solved absolutely nothing. These differences will not be solved until Jesus comes. Second, Jesus began the local church during His personal ministry as the place for brethren to practice “submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God” (Eph.. 5:21). It is the only place where unity has ever been attained and the only place where it will. Here is where Jesus, the Head of the church, gets glory from our lives: “Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen”(Eph. 3:21).
We need the fellowship that a sense of brotherhood brings. This is illustrated when strife arose between Abraham and Lot’s herdsmen. Genesis 13:8 says, “And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.” Abraham’s argument against the strife was “for we be brethren.” Abraham’s answer was not “lets force the issue and make them get along.” It was “let’s put some distance between us and it will solve the problem” and it did. Sometimes this is the only way to get along.
Ecumenism says, “Let’s get all God’s people together and force them or shame them in to getting along.” It is never right to achieve unity at the expense of the compromise of what we know the Bible to teach. Jude 3 says, “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” The word “contend” translates “epagonizomai”and is made up of two words “epi” meaning “upon, over, or against,” and “agonizomai” meaning, “to contend with adversaries.” It is a present infinitive which means that Jude was telling the Christians to whom he was writing that they were to continuously contend for the faith against those who denied or compromised it. Now if I went to an ecumenical meeting and stood up and challenged everyone who didn’t believe in the virgin birth of Christ and the inerrancy of the Scriptures, etc. what do you think would be the outcome? You say, “Preacher, you have to lay stuff like that aside.” Listen, that has to do with things that one has to believe to be saved. Do you think that one should lay aside the truths that make one a Christian in order to have fellowship as brethren? No Bible believer can set aside the things “most surely believed among us” (Luke 1:1) for the brethren’s sake. I simply ask, “Who’s brethren?” I’m not being unkind. I am God’s child, He has given me His Book and has not given me permission to compromise what He says in that Book in order to get along with those who don’t believe it. Amen.
Let me say again. If we are in Christ, we share a common brotherhood in Him. I read a story where a veteran related the following: “I was at the front in the early days, and after a bad bit of an engagement I came upon a German officer in a shell-hole. He was in a terrible state, poor fellow, and we couldn’t take him in, so I decided to stay with him. His mind was perfectly clear, and he said, ‘Colonel, don’t you think this is strange?’ ‘What’s strange?’ I asked. ‘Well,’ he said, ‘if you and I had met in the trenches, I suppose you would have tried to kill me for the sake of the Motherland, and I should have tried to kill you for the sake of the Fatherland; yet here you are trying to save me for the sake of the BROTHERLAND.’ More of the same kind he said in those last hours, and when the end came he was in my arms and his head was on my breast, and I don’t mind telling you I—I kissed him.” Glory to God! Someone hold my mules!
It is never right to set aside truth for the sake of unity. Dr. Bob Jones Sr. said, “It is never right to do wrong in order to get a chance to do right.” I can truthfully tell you I look forward to the day when I can embrace every believer and express my love for them. I truly love every child of God. We have a common father. Our ancestry is the same. Our destination is the same. But there are things that divide here. And I cannot set aside what I believe to be what the Bible teaches for the purpose of fellowship. I believe I am commanded to stand true to the teachings of the Scriptures to the death.
Acts 5:20 says, “Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.” This was a command delivered by the angel of the Lord to the apostles to speak to a hostile audience. Notice the words “All the words of this life.”
2 Thess. 2:15, “Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.” We are to stand fast and hold the traditions (the things taught us from the Word of God) and not give up those things for the sake of unity.
Where in this life then can we enjoy this brotherhood? I am talking about the sense of family love and closeness? It can only come in a local New Testament Church that is built after the original model. The LOCAL CHURCH is the pillar and ground of the Truth (1 Tim. 3:15). A true church embraces the Scriptures as infallible and inerrant. A true church believes that Jesus is the Living Head of the local body and seeks to walk under His Lordship and obey Him through obedience to the Scriptures. A true church will not give up the direct Lordship of Christ to an ecclesiastical authority. There is no authority in this world that has authority over the church of which Jesus is the Head.
Every believer needs to be in a Bible believing New Testament Church where He can experience what is described in Acts 2:41-47: “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” Here we have accountability, worship, and the Scriptural way to cooperate to fulfill the great commission.
May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.
In Christ
Bro. White
