1 Avoiding Church Splits Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning

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Avoiding Church Avoiding Church SplitsSplitsFinally, all of you be of one mind, Finally, all of you be of one mind,

having compassion for one another; having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. Forinherit a blessing. For

"He who would love life"He who would love life

And see good days,And see good days,

Let him refrain his tongue from Let him refrain his tongue from evil,evil,

And his lips from And his lips from speaking deceit.

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Avoiding Church Avoiding Church SplitsSplitsLet him turn away from evil and Let him turn away from evil and

do good;do good;

Let him seek peace and pursue it. Let him seek peace and pursue it.

For the eyes of the Lord are on the For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,righteous,

And His ears are open to their And His ears are open to their prayers;prayers;

But the face of the Lord is against But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." those who do evil." (1 Peter 3:8-12)

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Avoiding Church Avoiding Church SplitsSplitsHaving addressed the responsibilities of saints in their relationship to civil government (2:13-17), to their masters (2:18-25) and to their spouses (3:1-7), the apostle now addresses the responsibilities of saints in their relationships to one another.

If we want to experience spiritual and numerical growth, we must know how to get along with other saints, particularly those with whom we regularly worship God.

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Things NecessaryThings Necessary1. Proper Attitude2. Proper Reaction3. Proper Speech4. Proper Pursuit5. Proper Motive

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A."Of one mind" - "Minding the same things" - We are all to manifest this attitude.For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (Rom. 8:5-8)

A."Of one mind" - "Minding the same things" - We are all to manifest this attitude.

B."Compassion for one another" - "A fellow-feeling;" to share the feelings of others whether these are joyful or painful; to be sympathetic

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. (Rom. 12:15)

1.1.Proper AttitudeProper Attitude

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1.1.Proper AttitudeProper AttitudeA."Of one mind" - "Minding the same

things" - We are all to manifest this attitude.


C. "Love as brothers" - "The special feeling which [those] of a common parentage have for each other;" "human affection and fondness;" "loving one another because we are now related as fellow-members of God's family"

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things" - We are all to manifest this attitude


C. "Love as brothers" - "The special feeling which [those] of a common parentage have for each other;" "human affection and fondness;" "loving one another because we are now related as fellow-members of God’s family"

D."Tenderhearted" - "Full of pity toward others"

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things" - We are all to manifest this attitude


C. "Love as brothers" - "The special feeling which [those] of a common parentage have for each other;" "human affection and fondness;" "loving one another because we are now related as fellow-members of God’s family"

D."Tenderhearted" - "Full of pity toward others"

E. Courteous. “Humble-minded, having a modest opinion of oneself;” “the opposite of arrogance and pride.”

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2.2.Proper ReactionProper ReactionA.Not returning (“not giving back”)

1) Evil for evil. “A base or mean thing for a base or mean thing.” Not necessarily moral evil; can refer to physical evil.

2) Or reviling for reviling. “Verbal abuse for verbal abuse”

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:

"Who committed no sin,Nor was deceit found in His

mouth";

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1) Evil for evil. “A base or mean thing for a base or mean thing.” Not necessarily moral evil, but also physical evil.

2) Or reviling for reviling. “Verbal abuse for verbal abuse” who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed. (1 Peter 2:21-23)

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2) Or reviling for reviling. “Verbal abuse for verbal abuse” Now Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?" So Jesus said to him, "It is as you say."

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2) Or reviling for reviling. “Verbal abuse for verbal abuse” And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing. Then Pilate said to Him, "Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?" But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly. (Matt. 27:11-14)

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B.On the contrary blessing. “Speaking well of those who speak ill of us, showing them active kindness ... and praying God’s blessing upon them.”

"But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you" (Matt. 5:44).

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B.On the contrary blessing. “Speaking well of those who speak ill of us, showing them active kindness...and praying God’s blessing upon them.”

And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure (1 Cor. 4:12)

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B.On the contrary blessing. “Speaking well of those who speak ill of us, showing them active kindness...and praying God’s blessing upon them.”

C.Knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

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2.2.Proper ReactionProper ReactionTherefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

"Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." (Luke 6:36-38)

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3.3.Proper SpeechProper SpeechA. Let him refrain, or “stop the tendency

of” his tongue from evil, i.e., “all perverse speaking.”

B. Let him refrain, or “stop the tendency of” his lips from speaking deceit.

These six things the Lord hates,Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look,A lying tongue,Hands that shed innocent blood,

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A heart that devises wicked plans,Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies,And one who sows discord among brethren. (Prov. 6:16-19)

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3.3.Proper SpeechProper SpeechA. Let him refrain, or “stop the tendency of” his

tongue from evil, i.e., “all perverse speaking.”


This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. (Eph. 4:17-19)

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3.3.Proper SpeechProper SpeechA. Let him refrain, or “stop the tendency of”

his tongue from evil, i.e., “all perverse speaking.”


But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. (Eph. 4:20-24)

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Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another. "Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. (Eph. 4:25-27)

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Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.... Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. (Eph. 4:29, 31)

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But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. (Col. 3:8)

Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. (Col. 4:6)

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So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.... If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless. (James 1:19-20, 26)

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3.3.Proper SpeechProper SpeechA. Let him refrain, or “stop the tendency of”

his tongue from evil, i.e., “all perverse speaking.”


My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. Indeed, we put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. (James 3:1-3)

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3.3.Proper SpeechProper SpeechA. Let him refrain, or “stop the tendency of” his

tongue from evil, i.e., “all perverse speaking.”B. Let him refrain, or “stop the tendency of” his

lips from speaking deceit.

Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. (James 3:4-6)

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For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. (James 3:7-9)

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Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh. (James 3:10-12)

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"But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." (Rev. 21:8)

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4.4.Proper PursuitProper PursuitA. Let him:

1. turn away from evil.2. do good.

Depart from evil, and do good;And dwell forevermore. (Psalm 37:27)

Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." (2 Tim. 2:19)

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For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. (Titus 2:11-14)

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For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. (2 Cor. 5:10)

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"When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.

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"Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.'

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"Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'

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"Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.'

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"Then they also will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?' Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.' And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." (Matt. 25:31-46 )

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B. Seek peace and pursue it.

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B. Seek peace and pursue it. He is to “seek peace” because it is not always apparent.

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B. Seek peace and pursue it. He is to “seek peace” because it is not always apparent. Once seen, it is only possessed by diligent pursuit.

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope,

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patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

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Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. (Rom. 12:9-18)

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5.5.Proper MotiveProper MotiveA.The eyes of the Lord are on the

righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers.1. The eyes of the Lord are

directed in a favorable sense for the good of those that are righteous.

2. God’s ears are open to their prayers. He hangs on every word when a righteous person prays.

B.The face of the Lord is against those who do evil.

One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination. (Prov. 28:9)

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Personal EvaluationPersonal EvaluationAre the eyes of the Lord on you?

Are His ears open to your prayers?

Or is His face against you?

Are you fulfilling your duties to your brethren?

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1 Avoiding Church Splits Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning