“The Requirements of Brotherhood” | Galatians 6:1-4
Today’s article will be part one of two or three to follow from this chapter concerning “Brotherhood.”
“Brethren, if any 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. ( Galatians 6:1)
Just how are we as God's children supposed to act toward other children in the family? If you'll notice in verse one of our text, the first word says ' brethren.' Now I don't have to wonder and speculate as to who he is talking to. He is talking to Christians. I don't call the unsaved brother, or sister, but if you'll notice we say brother and sister round here. I'm glad to call other believers my brothers and sisters. There is no greater, and should be no closer family on earth than Gods family. We best get along real good our little while down here because we will live together up there, forever. He says brethren and that shows kinship and fellowship.There is nothing better than when we as Gods children get together as family and talk about our Father and sing about our Saviour, and encourage one another. We are to act as brothers and sisters in the same family. We should never say anything mean or cruel to or about another brother or sister in Christ.
If you have a mean spirit and bad attitude, you did not get that from God. Proof? The previous chapter tells us in verses 22 - 24 what the Spirit of God puts in us at the time of salvation. Listen with me; But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23) And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Galatians 2:20, gives us further clarity about our position in this world and our relationship to the world. Here it, I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. There is something that will happen to you when you get crucified. You will die to self and start living to and for Christ. As a matter of fact you'll start trying to mimic Christ. That's what happened to Peter and John over in Acts 4:13, Peter had just preached before the Sanhedrin and sure did stir things up. The Sanhedrin could not figure out how these fishermen got such knowledge and power, so they came to only one conclusion. Verse 13 gives us their logical conclusion 'Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.' Something will happen to you when you spend time with Jesus, it will start showing in your boldness in witnessing and your godliness in living.
To be continued.