In Branded by God, Part 1, we established that keeping the unity of the spirit, “…starts with recognizing that each and every born again believer is a member of the body of Christ,” and “no individual believer is any ‘better’ than another, and none is of less value.” That is the essence of the lowliness and meekness toward God and one another that we need to keep the unity of the spirit.
Part 2 further revealed the answer to “How do we keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace?” With the love of God! The more complete answer is found in Ephesians 4:2, “with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love.” Here in Part 3, let’s shed some light on how we are to forbear one another in love.
Is God’s Love Judgmental and Narrow-Minded?
Some would claim a rousing, “Yes!” These people declare that no one (including God, if they even believe He exists,) has a right to judge them. Why are they pushing this idea, especially upon Christian believers who claim to represent the true God and His love?
John 3:19,20:
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
God’s Light Reveals His Love
God is light (I John 1:5) and His light exposes, judges, and condemns the evil deeds and motives of men and women who love darkness. These people hate the light because they do not want their deeds reproved. But God’s judgment is just, and right (Psalms 19:9). And He is not an angry judge, eager to condemn. God is love (I John 4:8), and His greatest desire is to save mankind. And so He sent His only begotten Son.
John 3:16,17:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Fellowship in the Light of God’s Love
Those of us who have received God’s salvation in Christ are to walk in the light together, maintaining our fellowship with one another. Often, we may need to extend God’s loving grace, mercy, and forgiveness to one another that we may continue walking in the light together.
I John 1:7:
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Helping Each Other Walk in God’s Light
Sometimes it will require reproving the unfruitful works of darkness. This is part of endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.
Ephesians 5:8,11:
For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
Do you know what this means? We’re going to have to judge each other’s works! Really? On the surface that sounds like we’re just asking for trouble. Christians for centuries have been judging each other’s works and I don’t recall when that ended well. And didn’t Jesus say, “Judge not that you be not judged”? (Matthew 7:1) And the Apostle Paul, didn’t he say, “But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self”? (I Corinthians 4:3) There’s something missing here.
God’s True and Just Judgment
In Matthew 7, Jesus was talking about not judging others by man’s opinion of right and wrong. Here in the gospel of John, he explains that true and just judgment must come from the Father alone. Even Jesus did not rely on his own judgment.
John 5:30:
I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
Paul is saying the same in I Corinthians. He does not judge himself by any man’s opinion, even his own.
I Corinthians 4:4:
For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
It may take us quite a bit of searching the scriptures, plenty of prayer, lowliness and humility to God, but when we judge one another it must always be as the Lord judges.
The Light of God’s Love Shows the Way of Salvation
But there’s still something missing. God did not turn His light on men’s evil deeds because He wanted to condemn them. By His perfect love, He was showing the way out of darkness and into the glorious light of His salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. That is to be our purpose for each other, too.
And here it is in Philippians accompanying true judgment.
Philippians 1:9:
And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment.
In Love, We Light the Way for Each Other
Yes, we’re back to forbearing one another in love.
Ephesians 4:1-3:
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
From a position of strength, rooted and grounded in God’s love, abounding more and more in a knowledge of God’s Word, His will, I help those who have wandered off into the darkness by patiently shining God’s light so that they may recover themselves. And I believe you would do the same for me.
Paul describes those of us who serve the Lord in this manner.
II Timothy 2:24-26:
And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
With Christ in us, we can grow in the spiritual endurance and strength required to extend God’s love, His mercy, grace, and forgiveness to anyone. And that’s how we endeavor to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. As members of Christ’s body, branded in love, let’s stay together and keep shining the Light of Love for each other!
