One Mind

  

I Peter 4: 16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

So why would any man choose to suffer as a Christian . . .  so that he puts OTHERS before himself?  What would motivate a person to be so completely UNSELFISH that they would endure pain for the sake of another?

I Peter 3: 8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

  9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

  Now what we can do here with these verses – is to understand that (as a church-member) we do not have to follow the advice that is found here

  To all be of one mind is a good thing – but this is not something that happens in our churches by accident  “to all be of one mind” literally

  means that there will be harmony (agreement) between all of us in       

EVERYTHING that we do as a New Testament Church.    If there is not harmony – if there is not a spirit of unity in what we do as a church  then (AS a church) we are NOT a collection of Christians doing for others – but 

we are instead a collection of selfish and immature children of God who have forgotten that we are to love others – even as we love our own selves.

  Finally, be ye all OF ONE MIND – “having compassion one of another”- love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous . . .

  What we have here is "the actual recipe" (which is required in our lives as church-members) that if followed – it will produce this harmony in the Lord’s church.

Did you notice the word “compassion” . . . this is sympathy, concern, kindness, consideration, understanding, gentleness, kindheartedness, benevolent . . .

  How many times have we seen tension or hard feelings that existed as a result of a disagreement in the church?   where “one side” wanted this but the “opposing side” wanted that.

  I Cor 11: 17 Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.

  18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.

 A division is a split – a gap – a tear in fellowship.  We have all seen this – and as long as we are human there will be differences of opinion . . . but if we ever hope to be a Christian church – instead of just a gathering of 

religious people then we will be required to forget that we got the most votes and instead – (literally) do what-ever it takes – to ensure that {as a church} we are ALL of ONE mind in everything that we do . . . 

to all be of ONE mind does not allow for opposition – it allows only for UNITY.

  When we vote for what color to paint the walls – it is easy for some of us to overlook any personal preference we might have . . . but it is possible for "some" among us to be passionate about a thing that "we ourselves" might consider lightly . . .

  Sometimes “our fellow brethren” get their feelings hurt because of such a division – To a Christian – to a church-member – if it is  important to one of my brethren in Christ – then for me to have compassion – for me to be 

  pitiful (tender-hearted) – for me to be courteous (friendly) – is for me to put myself in my brother/sisters shoes – and to set aside what might be important for me – so that we can ALL be of ONE mind.  

But I just don’t like white walls – they are so plain – they reflect too much light – they get dirty too easily . . .

  But if white walls are the only color my brethren in Christ will even consider – if (for some unexplained reason) they are passionate about

  painting the walls white – and no other color . . . then as a Christian what do you think I should do about my aversion to white walls?

In I Cor 8 – Paul is talking about eating meat that had been offered to idols . . . the gist to this passage is that there is absolutely nothing at all wrong with eating this meat . . . and there is no mention of one side having more votes 

than the other side and following the majority . . . but what is mentioned here is the compassion that Paul had {as a Christian} toward what was a belief that held no merit at all for being “right” – {considering the fact that there is no such thing as an idol god} - it was in all respects a rather foolish belief . . .

 I Cor 8: 7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.

  
Paul says - because I AM right - and because I can prove that I am right from the Bible – I can insist and continue to do this thing . . . but . . . through my knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.  
13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

 16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian (bending toward the will of others) let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

  Suffering is not always "external pressure" from the world . . . but as in the case of Paul – his desire for a “cheap cut of meat” was denied (not because of right or wrong/doctrine or heresy . . .

  But simply out of respect for those brethren among him in the church “in whom was not this knowledge . . .”

  So why would Paul choose to be a Christian and subject himself to such voluntary restraints on behalf of others . . . he made this choice because of what we find in

 Matt 22: 37  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

  38 This is the first and great commandment.  
  39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour AS THYSELF.

  40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

  Being a Christian has less to do with what we believe than it has to do with how we handle "disagreements" with one another in God’s house.

The disciples were not called "Christians" because of what they believed - they were referred to as Christians because of how behaved toward one another in their New Testament house of worship . . . The Church. 

Adding to our faith #13

James 1: 2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers (many – or a large quantity of) temptations;

 3 Knowing this, that the trying (testing) of your faith worketh (brings about or finishes) patience.

 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

How secure are we in “our belief” concerning Jesus – concerning the cross and concerning His resurrection . . . It is only natural for us to doubt

these type of things – but as we mature spiritually – or in the words of James – as we become “perfect and entire” or (completely whole) these 

periods of doubt should slowly “fade away” as God’s Spirit continually testifies of His Truth to our spirit.

Ro 8:16 The Spirit itself (The Holy Spirit of God) beareth witness with our spirit (testifies to our heart) that we are the children of God:

The idea in our text verses – is that when our faith is put to the test by trials – or when we are able to prove how committed we really are to God . . .

then this is something that puts the finishing touches on our lives regarding what it means to actually be a “Christian.”

If we have ever painted a wall – we understand that it is necessary to trim around the edges of a window casing . . . the main part of the room is

painted first – and then afterward – a smaller brush is used to “trim out” around the edges of the door facings or the windows.

Before adding the “finishing touches” the room is completely covered with paint – but there are just a few details that we cannot finish with a 12”

roller . . . so we have to go back with a smaller brush to reach a few spots where the roller couldn’t reach . . .

This is exactly what James 1: 1-4 is teaching us about our lives after we have been saved.  To be saved is to have our lives painted with a big wide

roller that covers our soul with the blood of Jesus – like a painting roller covers the wall with paint.

However – for the detailed work of our lives – having completely covered our soul with His blood – God now needs to do a little “finish work” on

our lives . . . now our salvation is not dependent upon this “detailed work” any more so than the color of the walls are dependent upon trimming

around the face boards of a door . . . but just like “trimming in a door” makes the room look better – when Jesus puts the finishing touches on 

our lives with manifold “temptations” in order to prove to us that our faith is real and genuine . . . then having gained such confidence through these

trials we have “a better life” while we remain upon the Earth waiting on God to take us to heaven . . . just like we have a prettier room after painting it – IF we “trim in” around all of the edges.

One of the “trials or the temptations” that we will undergo for the purpose of “testing” our faith to prove “not to God” but to ourselves that our faith is real . . . is the trial of DOUBT.

If we have been saved – then to later “doubt our salvation” is not a sin that condemns us to hell . . . but rather it is only one trial in a long series of

trials that we will suffer through as a child of God . . . the end result being that we grow stronger in spirit as we read verses like John 5: 24 which tells us . . .

John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, HATH everlasting life, and SHALL NOT come into (or enter into) condemnation; but (because of their belief) is passed (has already passed) from death unto life.

Satan “tempts us” with the idea or with the concept that Salvation is not really a gift . . . but that it has to be earned or maintained by some sort of 

effort on our part . . . but as we look into the scriptures to put these doubts to rest – what we find there causes us to grow stronger than we were before.

John 3: 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

He that believeth on Him IS NOT CONDEMNED . . . Such is the case regarding any type of doubt that we encounter in our lives regarding the kindness of God and His promised care for us . . . we face adversity – and then because of that adversity we are tempted to doubt God.

But after a period of “soul searching” and a "thorough study" of the scriptures (which we would not be searching in this manner if we were 

never faced with the adversity which Satan uses as a temptation for us to doubt God) . . . After this time of soul searching - after the clouds have finally gone away – the sun shines brighter for us than it ever did before.

The trial of our faith – is not for God’s benefit to see whether or not we are faithful . . . the trial of our faith is for OUR BENEFIT . . . and it’s 

purpose is not to harm us in any way at all – but it’s purpose is to make us stronger.

Let’s consider something as simple as teaching a class . . . if you are shy and have no confidence – then the first time you stand in front of a class is not a pleasant experience at all . . .

But after it is over – after you realize that you did not "die" in the process of speaking in fronto of others – you gain the confidence you need to teach 

other lessons . . . which you would not have had the ability to do – if you had not undergone the “trial” of having to stumble through those first few lessons.

The athlete who sacrifices to achieve a particular goal as he practices every day . . . when it is game day - he has the knowledge and the skills to perform because of how he suffered through the daily exercises in practice . . .

4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

This is telling us to put up with all of the trials – and with all of the adversities of life just like an athlete puts up with all of the daily practices . . . so that in the end – we will complete and mature Christians.