UNDERSTANDING THE BODY - II

Romans 12:4-5
Bob Bonner
December 17, 1995

Have you ever had the experience of an old familiar tune coming to mind and you start to hum it or whistle that tune, only to discover that you can't quit whistling or humming that tune? This happened to me not too long ago. The tune was one of those old camp fire songs that I used to sing when I was a kid. You probably know it:

O give me a home where the buffalo roam,   
Where the deer and the antelope play,   
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word,   
And the skies are not cloudy all day.   
Home, home on the range...

Do you remember that? I reflected upon the thoughts of the third line of that song, "Where seldom is heard, a discouraging word,..." and I thought, "Wouldn't it be nice to have grown up in a home like that, where not one discouraging word was ever spoken?" Unfortunately, that kind of home only exists in someone's fantasy or imagination. Due to us living in a fallen world, the idea of living or working in close quarters with anybody, whether it be on the open range or in the city, and not having a discouraging word spoken is too ideal to be real.

One day, we will have that kind of home with the Lord; but wouldn't it still be nice if there was some place like that, right here on earth? Of all the places that it would be nice to have a proverbial "home on the range" here on earth would be where the body of believers, the church, regularly gathered and worked together.

Not long ago, I came across a writing of Chuck Swindoll's, in which he was talking about this very thing. In fact, he rewrote the words to that tune to reflect this very idea. His version goes like this:

O give me a church where folks in the lurch
Are encouraged, then healed from above;
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word,
And the truth is modeled in love. 

[GROWING DEEPER IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE, p.371]

Wouldn't it be great to offer others an environment where they are encouraged, strengthened and built up? Where no unnecessary destructive criticism or unnecessary discouraging words were spoken? But rather, to offer an environment where we could worship and work side by side with people who would only speak loving words, words of reaffirmation and constructive criticism that is meant only to build one up and cause one to grow in one's personal walk with God? Where, if there ever was a firm or discouraging word spoken, the one receiving those words would know that they came from someone whose sole motive was to equip them to become better ambassadors for Jesus Christ in this world?

Well friends, according to what Ephesians 4:15-16 states, this is what we, the church have been called to be. We are to function like a human body, a living organism that has the characteristics of unity, diversity and mutuality. Last week, we learned from those verses that the key ingredient necessary for us to corporately function as this kind of body of believers is love. Remember? Paul wrote, "But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him...” 16 different times in the New Testament, we believers are called upon to "love one another." It is in that environment of love that we, God's people strengthen and encourage one another along in our walks with Jesus Christ. 

But how is love to be practiced? That command to love someone can be pretty relative or vague at best, depending upon who it is to whom you are speaking. Accept, as we also saw last week, God gave us some very specific directions as to how to accomplish this loving one another, in some very practical down to earth ways. 

God has given to us about a dozen "one another" commands that are specific instructions of how this loving one another is to be fleshed out in our lives together. Things like loving one another by faithfully praying for each other, serving one another, being patient with one another...or as we looked at rather closely last week, three other one another concepts: We looked at what it meant to be devoted to one another, to honor one another, and to be of the same mind with one another.

As we finish up this three part series this morning, of "Understanding the Body", we are only going to look at three more of these one another concepts. That leaves a half dozen or so that we aren't even going to touch in our study together. Hence, I would like to suggest a personal project that you might consider investing some of your time working on. Many of you, from time to time, ask me if I could suggest a spiritual project that you could work on during your private daily appointments alone with God. Some of you have read through the Bible five years in a row, and now you want to try something different. Here's another option. If you don't have a concordance, purchase one or borrow one and Xerox off the list of all the times that the terms "one another" are listed in the New Testament. Then, look up each reference and categorize each of the different one another concepts. For instance: put all of the "pray for one another", "love one another", "serve one another's" etc in to groups. Then go back and study every reference that deals with each individual one another concept. In addition, I would suggest that you ask God to help you see where you need to apply this practice of which ever "one another" concept to your own life. 

This type of personal study provides not only variety to you personal quiet time alone with the Lord, but it also gives you a clearer purpose as to why you are trying to get alone with God. You have something you specifically want Him to show you. With that kind of purpose and anticipation to learning, you can't help but hear from God as He teaches you from His word. It's one of those studies that will not only increase your intimacy with the Lord, but it can greatly impact you ministry to the lives of those that God has placed around you.

This morning, we want to look at three more of these one another concepts. The first of which we find in Romans 15:14. Paul states, "And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able also to admonish one another."

There it is, "admonish one another"  What does it mean to admonish someone? And how do we go about it? 

The word translated in our Bibles for "admonish" is a difficult word to translate from Greek into English, because there is no exact one word equivalent to it in our language. For instance: Sometimes the translators translate this word as "admonish," other times "warn" or "exhort" or "counsel" or "correct". The major common denominator with each of these English terms is the idea of confrontation. 

As we look at this word as it is used in Greek literature, along with this idea of confrontation, we can see two basic elements to this type of confrontation:

The first element of this word translated "admonish" is that it always implies a problem and presupposes an obstacle that must be overcome. In other words, something is wrong in the life of the one who is confronted. And hence, it presupposes the need for a change in the person being confronted. The fundamental purpose, then behind admonishing one another is to affect personality or behavioral change.

The second element inherent in this term, "admonish," has the motive in mind. The thought is always that verbal correction is intended to benefit the one being confronted. And the motive behind the admonishment is one of love and our deep concern. This can be seen when Paul says to what he does to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 4:14. Please look at that with me. You may remember that this particular local fellowship was a pretty rough bunch of believers. There were probably one of the most carnal and rebellious body of believers we have recorded in scriptures. They needed much admonishment. But even then, Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 4:14, these words: "I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children." Paul is expressing here a tender concern and love for the Corinthians. 

So the two ideas that are behind this word for "admonishment" is that out of our deep love and concern for an individual, we confront someone for the purpose of God moving in their hearts to change their behavior or personality. 

But why is it that so many parents are afraid of confronting their children? Telling them they can't do something or that their behavior is unacceptable? Why is it that we find it so difficult to confront our friends? Most of the time, the answer I hear has to do with risk. "If I confront him or her about sin in their lives or their selfishness they may reject me." The fear of rejection and of losing a friend or a child's love for us, often times prevents us from doing what we must, admonishing one another.

There definitely is a risk in admonishing someone. But there is also a risk if we don't admonish someone. Take for instance, the priest, Eli, in 1 Samuel 3:13, here we have an example of what happens when a parent refuses to admonish his children and as a direct result, they turn out to not only be rebels, but they mock God and everything He stands for. God speaks to the prophet Samuel and tells him to tell Eli these things: "In that day I will carry out against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. For I have told him that I am about to judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons brought a curse on themselves and he did not rebuke them." 

You see that word "rebuke"? In the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament, that word is our New Testament word for "admonishment." God is saying that in not admonishing his children, Eli gambled with his entire family's future and lost. And I am convinced from reading Paul's admonishments to the church at Corinth, that if we as believers who attend this church don't admonish each other and confront one another when we are out of line, our church will be ineffective in the spiritual realm as to the work that is taking place for eternity's sake through this body in this community. 

However, let's be careful here. Admonishment is always a difficult task. I don't know of a loving, sensitive person who enjoys or looks forward to admonishing another person or being admonished. Very few people, when admonished don't get defensive. So, how do we go about successfully admonishing one another and lower our risks of unnecessarily hurting another person or being rejected? Paul gives us a couple of clues back in Romans 15:14.

In Romans 15:14, Paul has just complimented these Christians by letting them know that he was thoroughly convinced that they had what it takes to admonish one another correctly. First, he says, that “I am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness.” That expression "full of goodness" is a reference to them living generally Godly upright lives. He is saying, "You Romans are competent to counsel because you are living the life. You are walking the talk, not just talking the walk." Now Paul does not mean to say that they are perfect, because they weren't. They were a little rough around the edges concerning their spiritual maturity, but their attitude reflected their sincere desire to seek God and to live for Him.

Hence, the first ingredient necessary for successfully admonishing another, is that your life, the life of the one who is going to admonish someone else, must be as free as possible from ongoing sinful rebellion as to what you know is right. This kind of life reveals the heart of one who is sincerely seeking after God and that you want to walk worthy of the calling with which you have been called.

The second ingredient necessary for successfully admonishing another is seen in the next phrase in verse 14. Paul says, "I am convinced that you are able to admonish others not only because you are full of goodness, but also filled with all knowledge." In other words, you have adequate knowledge of the word of God to show the one being admonished where God says he must change his behavior or personality.

Friends, this is important. Admonishment must be based upon God’s specific will as clearly revealed in scripture, not on what we think other Christians should or should not be doing. Our admonishment should not be based simply upon our convictions. It must be based solely upon His word. We must be careful not to confuse absolutes with non-absolutes. In addition, when we use the word of God to give someone else direction or correction, we must make sure we are not ripping verses out of context. 

The final ingredient that I want to touch on which will enable us to be more successful in admonishing one another, comes from the study of the word, "admonishment", itself. True admonishment is always motivated by a deep concern and love for the one being admonished. We are not out to make someone look bad or put them down simply to make ourselves look better. We are out to make them look better and to build them up so that they can become more effective for Jesus sake.

Hence, when we admonish someone, let's make sure that before we admonish one another, that we check out our motives. Are our motives to help them mature, or to put them down or vent our anger because they have irritated our prejudices or disappointed us?

Charles Simeon was a godly nineteenth-century Church of England pastor in Cambridge. After hearing Charles preach, his friend, John Riland admonished or corrected Charles for something that Charles had done in his preaching that was not appropriate. A while later, Charles reported on John's admonishment to another friend in a letter. He writes:

What a blessing--an inestimable blessing is it to have a faithful friend! Satan is ready enough to point out whatever good we have; but it is only a faithful friend that will screen that from your sight, and show you your deficiencies. Our great apostasy seems to consist primarily in making a god of self; and he is the most valuable friend who will draw us most from self-seeking-- self pleasing--and self-dependence, and help us to restore to God the authority we have robbed Him of.

What a blessing admonishment can be, if the one who admonishes has a pure motive, loves the one they are to admonish and knows the word of God well enough to use it correctly in admonishing another. 

Correctly admonishing someone brings about two results: first, it makes the one being admonished a more useful vessel for Jesus Christ sake. And secondly, if the one being admonished is truly seeking God, it enables them to draw closer to God. 

Let's move on to the second "one another concept" that our God has called us to employ if we, as a body of believers are going to build up one another through speaking the truth in love. It's found in Galatians 6:1-3. Let's look there together. Paul writes, "Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to yourself lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself." 

The one another concept here is to bear one another’s burden. But what does that mean? The word here for "burden" means “excess burdens”. In other words, these refer to burdens that are so heavy that they weigh us done so much that it is not possible for us, alone to carry them. 

Our lives are filled with emotional, spiritual and physical burdens which are hard if not impossible at times, for one person to carry alone. Whether it be a major failure in the life of a loved one, like a moral failure, divorce, O.D. on drugs or it could be the burden a senior citizen who owns her own home carries, when she is facing a major repair, but she doesn't know who to contact to get an honest evaluation. We all from time to time face heavy burdens, and if we truly love one another, we are to show it by pitching in and helping, and bearing one another's burden. 

However, having said that, verse 5, also warns us that, "each one should carry his own load.” Notice the difference in terms. In verse 1, it was "burden". In verse 5, it is "load." There term here in verse 5 means "cargo" or "the burdens of daily living." This word describes the everyday things we all need to do for ourselves. Hence, we must avoid the trap of doing for others what is their responsibility. To continue to do for them or bail them out of trouble the have caused because of their own irresponsibility is not good. I have been approached by many people who want me to believe that their "load" is really a "burden" when in fact it is only a "load" and they are too lazy to take care of it themselves. If you run into this kind of person, be sure, that if you refuse to help them, you will probably be criticized greatly for not loving them or being obedient to God in "bearing their burden."

So, there are some responsibilities that each of us must alone carry; but there are also many burdens we carry that can and should be shared by others.

Having said all that, note the context of Galatians 5 and the first half of chapter 6. It seems that the context indicates a very specific type of burden that we need to be bearing on behalf of one another, and that is the spiritual burden of restoring or helping another brother or sister in Christ experience victory and freedom from a bad habit, sin or spiritual failure in their lives. 

In verse 1, Paul uses the word "restore." It is a medical term which describes the setting of a broken bone. It is something done very gently and with care, but at the same time can't be done without some pain involved. It is constructive and purposeful. The overall idea of the term is to put back in place something that is out of place. 

In this case, I believe Paul has in mind putting back in place or repairing one's intimacy and close walk with God. When a person is living in sin and caught in Satan's web, his intimate walk with God is broken, making that person ineffective for serving the Lord. This bearing one another's burden that Paul has in mind here is the restoring of this fallen-believer's intimate walk with God, the joy of fellowship with the heavenly Father and his usefulness to God. It includes supporting this fallen believer in prayer, meeting with this person, holding them accountable, loving them.

But there are three guidelines given to us in these verses that must be followed if one is going to be successful in bearing one another's burdens through restoration.

The first is, that if you are going to restore a sinning struggling carnal Christian, then you had better be spiritual or another way of saying that would be, you should be controlled by the spirit. Bearing one another's burdens through restoring another person, should not be done by a carnal Christian. 

Generally speaking there are two classes of Christians described in the New Testament. Both are spelled out for us in the previous chapter in Galatians. The first is the carnal Christian. A carnal Christian is one who indeed is a Christian and may even do many Christian things like faithfully attend church, Sunday school, prayer meetings etc. And in our culture, they are sometimes even considered to be very moral people. But yet, they have no vital personal walk with Christ. Their walk with God is not based in faith in the power of Christ living His life out through them, but they themselves trying to obey God's directions in their own strength. Sometimes, a carnal Christian will live disregarding or ignoring Biblical principles and commands. They live independent from the Lord.

For instance: 

1.) The carnal Christian carries around bitterness and resentments. The carnal Christian is highly critical of other Christians. 

2.) He or she ignores God's command to be personally involved in a hands on way in reaching others in their community or world for Christ. 

3.) Carnal Christians are Christians who try to do what God has called them to do, but they do it in their own power, rather than relying upon God. 

4.) Carnal Christians do not even think about seeking the Holy Spirit's direction in their daily lives. He or she doesn't seek how God would use him or her at work, home, or school. 

In short, the carnal Christian may be a nice person who attends church, but there is little that would cause one to distinguish them as being different from the non-Christian. This type of Christian, Paul says, has no business restoring a struggling brother or sister in Christ.

On the other hand, there is the second type of Christian, and he or she is one who is spiritual or a spirit-filled Christian. This type of Christian lives under the control and power of the Holy Spirit.  Paul describes this spiritual Christian in Galatians 5:25ff. Spirit filled Christians are the Christians who moment by moment seek to live in dependence upon the Spirit's enablement in their lives. These are the Christians who desire to obey all that they sense that God is directing them to do. And as a result, they manifest the fruit of the spirit (explained in 5:22-23) in their relationship with others. These spirit-filled Christians are the only Christians who are to be involved in restoring another.  All others are to refrain.

Therefore, Paul warns all of us who may attempt to restore another believer to "look to yourselves" first. This word "to look" is the word from which we get our word "skeptic" or "scope". It means to survey your life closely, take a good look at yourself before you reach out to correct another. Only those who are spiritual Christians are to be involved in bearing another's burden in helping them be restored to fellowship with God.

A second ingredient to successfully restoring another Christian is revealed in verses 1,3, and that is that when one Christian goes to restore another, the one doing the restoring must do so with a great sense of his or her own unworthiness to be called a child of God. Restoration is to be with genuine humility. 

Verse 1 says, "...you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness..." That word for "gentleness" carries with it the sense that the gentle person knows what it's like to be in a similar situation as the fallen Christian. He can identify with this person because he too is a sinner. Verse 3 says, "For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself." If we believe that we are "holier than thou," and that we would never fail like someone else may have, Paul says, "you deceive yourself. You don't really understand the capability of your own evil."

When speaking the truth in love, so as to build up another person, there is no more effective approach than a gentle compassionate kind and patient approach.

The third ingredient to successfully restoring another struggling Christian is that it should be done cautiously, on two accounts.  First, Paul tells us in verse 1, "lest you be tempted".

Here Paul has two kinds of temptation to sin in mind. First, he warns us that in the process of restoring a fallen believer that we not get caught up in the same sin as the fallen believer. In other words, if this fallen believer is struggling with lust, gossip, greed, slander, be careful not to fall into those same sinful practices with the fallen one.

The second temptation one needs to avoid in restoring a fallen believer is that of becoming self-righteous and prideful in our approach to helping a fallen believer. That's equally sinful. So be cautious not to fall into sin as you bear the burden of restoring one another.

Paul reveals another caution to us in verse 1, in the word "caught". This word has two meanings both of which can happen simultaneously. On the one hand, the word caught means "to be taken unaware." It's the idea that you were surprised like the proverbial kid who was caught with his hand in the cookie jar. It means to be caught red-handed. The facts are evident to all. The individual is guilty. Hence, when confronting someone, make sure you have all the facts straight. Don't attempt to restore someone on the basis of innuendo. 

The second thought behind this word "caught" is that of the picture of someone who is running from a sinful habit, but sin, being faster and stronger, overtakes the person and controls them. It's a picture of someone who is caught up in a sinful activity, an habit that they can't break. It is not someone who made a onetime mistake, but rather it is a problem of a sinful habit, a lifestyle that needs to cease.

Let's look at our last one another concept in I Thessalonians 5:11. Here Paul states, "Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing."

The key ingredient to encouraging one another is the word of God. It is God's truths. That's what Paul has in mind in Ephesians 4:12-15 when he talks about "truthing in love". We live the truth of God's word as well as speak the truths from God's word so as to build up the body and encourage one another. In 2 Timothy 4:2, Paul commands Timothy, "Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, [= encourage] with great patience and instruction." The source from which our encouragement is to be taken, the source is the Word.

For example, when the Thessalonians were worrying about what happened to there friends and believers who were dying before Jesus had come again, Paul says to the Thessalonians to be encouraged and comfort one another from the promises found in the word of God.

We are always to be ready to encourage our friends in Christ who go through those difficult blue days by truthing in love, where we share with them from the word of God, His promises.

Friends, the barometer as to our church's spiritual health and maturity, is revealed in how seriously each one of us takes this assignment from God to build up of the body in love; the building up of each other for the purpose that each of us might become better ambassadors for Jesus Christ. Our maturity is reflected in how seriously we take the applying of concepts such as these: admonishing one another; bearing one another's burdens with the view to restoring one another; and encouraging one another.

Pray, thanking God for how he does this in our lives. He doesn't always point out all our faults, nor slanderers us or destructively criticizes us. But at the right time, lovingly admonishes, rebukes and encourages us. Teach us and enable us to do that with each other that we might truly mirror your love in this body.

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