FHBC Sermon Notes

Can a person live completely alone? It is possible for man to ever truly be in complete isolation?  This is a thesis we may often desire, especially we things might seem like to much. But community, is an essential requirement for all men.  Just like a infant child cannot survive apart from others (for parents) to care for them, so also this is a requirement for spiritual life. We sometimes think spiritual maturity happens up on the mountain alone, but this is not the life that we see revealed in Christ in the New Testament.

We dwell together, as a gospel people: old and young, rich and poor, men and women, from all backgrounds and people. In this passage we look at how the gospel alive among the people had created a new birth, a new community, a new family, a spiritual family, The Family of God!

So the question arises: How does this family live?  Paul looks as this question close and answers these specifically, in a way that directly we must apply. So we ask this morning this question.

**How does the Gospel Shape the Church?**

**1. The church esteems its pastors. (5:12-13)**

    Paul here describes the pastor with three responsibilities. One, those that "labor among you". This is the hard work of shepherding, both in physical labor and in spiritual labor.

    Two, those who "are over you in the Lord". This labor and rule is all done in the Lord, in Christ authority. They serve therefore not in the manner of the rulers of the world, but of Christ, who died for us all sacrificially, and who God lifted up on the third day, and glorified him at the right hand of the throne of God. 

    Three, those who "admonish you." The pastor helps us to see our sin, to keep us from falling and to admonish us and guide us together in the path that leads to God.

    In turn, what shall we do? Paul says we must respect them, know and be thankful, and to esteem them.  We must not simply be receive and be served by our pastors.  "I like that guys preaching… I don't like that ones." Why do we do that?  Let us fear what God may give us when we ask for some other guy that "suits us", for it the word is rightly preached in our presence and we reject it God may just give us we want: A pastor that does not preach the gospel.

**2. The church exercises brotherly love for one another. (5:14-15)**

     One of the ways we sometimes can see how much a fellowship truly lives this is to see how long they linger together. Do we flee each other's presence as soon as the "work" is done, or do we seek always to know each others lives in all aspects?

    Secondly, this is not just an emotional feeling.  We are "brothers", we are those that do labor together. From this work, the emotion will come. We should be like a healthy family that all works together.  Also, the symbol they used in Paul's time was the "holy kiss".  This was more than just a show of affection.  It is an outward demonstration of our family connection.  This throws out all the ways the world has separated us. Rich and poor, stable and crazy, hurting and happy, young and old, blood family or not.  We share a connection deeper than all of these. And this is one of our strongest witnesses.

   Paul in these verses admonishes the people for the very things that are separating them.

    >14And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.

 

    (Verse 16-18). When we do this we will see three things.  The people will be always REJOICING. The people will be PRAYING without ceasing. We align ourselves with his Word, and work at that in prayer. And lastly this people will in all circumstances GIVE THANKS. That is who we are, let us live so.  

**4. The church pursues holiness. (5:22-24)**

    We are not done.  Paul addresses several specific struggles for this people, while also encouraging this is what God has already done in them, but the work is not complete. "Abstain from every form of evil," he say in verse 22.  If sin dwells and perpetuates, we loose our distinctiveness and saltines. 

    But this is not something we work on of our own power, will and resourcefulness.  Instead, (v. 23), "the God of peace himself sanctify you completely…" "He who calls you is faithful.". God will do it. God will ACT.  He is acting in us always.

    There is so much here, but let us reiterate this one thing.  We must live to PLEASE GOD.  Our faith, bears fruit, endures hardship, binds us together, that sets us apart, that inspires us to hope, that watches vigilantly, and lastly is shaped and live in the light of that faith. 

    So may be faithful in our Lord Jesus Christ always.  Amen.