So Whatever You Wish that Others Would Do to You

I would hope that most of you are thinking what does this title mean. It is my intent to make you think about the Golden rule in a fresh way. About five years ago I spoke at a chapel service at Grace Academy to the students and the teachers I was speaking to a large cross-section of ages I wanted to touch on something all of them could identify with and immediately walk out and apply whether they were Christian or not. It is a basic truth that almost anyone you come in contact with can appreciate. But the only way they can live it out is to be a Spirit filled believer in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:12)

You will note that the title comes from Matthew 7:12. Why would I choose such a title because it’s so simple the Christian life is summed up in this the “Golden Rule”. But you will notice I said Christian life. Without the gospel and what Christ has done for us and the acceptance of his sacrifice for our sins this becomes just another rule for civilization, a great rule with good results when followed but one without eternal consequences because even the practice of it cannot take care of your sin problem. The principle is repeated in:

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:36-40)

But if we as Christians live this commandment out, we will be a powerful tool for our Lord in our community and the whole world.

But there is a hitch because we still live in a world full of sin and because we haven’t been totally sanctified we still sin.

23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. (Matthew 5:23-24)

Note that it says brother. If he does want to be reconciled we have fellowship and can move on. What do I do if my brother doesn’t want to be reconciled? If he doesn’t want to be reconciled we reach a situation that Matthew 18 addresses where witnesses can be brought in and things can be clarified to both sides, but before this happens Spirit filled believers should be able to settle this on their own.

We know as leaders that this has occurred in the past and every time we have been made aware of anybody having anything against us, or anyone of us we have attempted to go and reconcile the situation. We feel we are all reconciled to the best of our ability.

But as Alexander Strauch says in his book If You Bite and Devour One Another:

“Christians still argue and separate over topics of debate the Paul refers to as “opinions” or “disputed matters”. These are not fundamental doctrines or issues of moral failure such as lying stealing or sexual immorality. Rather, these are secondary issues of personal conscience and conviction such as Sabbath keeping, celebrating Christmas, drinking alcohol, dancing, lifting hands in worship, hanging pictures of Jesus on the wall, honoring ancestors, schooling children, proper dress and hairstyles, forms of entertainment and recreational choices, or even the use of leavened or unleavened communion bread just as in the first century Christians today often exhibit arrogant, harsh, judgmental attitudes towards those with whom we disagree regarding these issues. It is all too easy to fight and divide over peripheral matters of lifestyle and traditional religious practices.”

This should bring the mind Romans 14 and the whole idea of the weaker brother.

1 As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. (Romans 14:1)

We really need to be wise and understand are we separating over sin or just opinions if we hold it against a brother over an opinion or preference we are in sin. Note Romans 14 how it’s the one who is weak in faith is the one you could quarrel with over his Christian liberty but if he is too weak in his faith don’t quarrel. Disciple such a brother and strengthen his faith but don’t quarrel and be careful to guard his conscience.

Our real job with the weaker believer is discipleship. Teaching them to observe all that Christ has taught and as that process is lived out and taught the weaker believer will be strengthened. It is always a process of bringing each individual believer to completion in Christ.

Now to the passage that Jim read:

13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. (Galatians 5:13-15)

What a statement to bite and devour one another, right before it is, through love serve one another. Don’t give the flesh an opportunity. After that is the ultimate rule for the Christian life walk in the Spirit. Keep in mind that this is being spoken to Christians so you are not immune to this warning none of us are.

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:16-21)

Note that fruit is singular and that all the characteristics are the fruit of the Spirit. You don’t just get to be patient but you will display all of the characteristics as you walk in the Spirit.

But practically where does this get us we see clearly that when it involves fundamental doctrines or issues of moral failure such as lying stealing or sexual immorality. We must judge for it is our duty to judge the church and keep her pure. Face controversy calmly listened well and be willing to answer the same question many times. By staying calm and not becoming angry or impatient you will be able to think more clearly and to stay in the spirit. Remember that walking in the Spirit is a continual battle and yet it is attainable.

We here at Trinity see that fundamental doctrines need to be preserved. That is why we have chosen to have a shorter form of what we believe that preserves the fundamental doctrines of the faith so that you can be a member here by signing off on our “What We Believe in Brief” which has the purpose of not divide the body of Christ over nonessentials. But we as leaders also see the need to grow fellow believers in the meat of the word and to grow them in a greater understanding of theology and the “What We Believe” statement attempts to that thereby giving Trinity Evangel Church a distinct flavor.

Coming up this year as we teach through our “What We Believe” document in our evening services you will see that the leadership here at Trinity have strong convictions on the things that we have put down in writing but that does not mean we can’t have fellowship with all believers in the gospel. The challenge in all of this is not to be prideful or arrogant or overbearing with what we think are biblical truths, but to be patient and long-suffering as questions are asked. We have to always remember that the great teacher is God’s Spirit but we are to be his instruments.

So after all that you may be sitting there wondering why we have differing local churches.

Strauch in his book says:

“pride was a problem in nearly every church in the New Testament. And it is still a problem. Pentecostal and charismatic churches boast of their supernatural power and a higher spiritual life while patronizing those who do not share their experiences. Churches of the reform tradition look down on those who do not accept their polished systematic theology Lutherans hold themselves aloof because of their Reformation heritage, doctrinal distinctives, and the hero of the faith, Martin Luther. Baptist take pride in their large numbers and democratic church policies. Some churches are so proud of their wholly separate living they refused even fellowship with other believers whom they critically judge to be worldly, defiled compromisers. Even if one were to be completely correct in all doctrine and practice there is still no room for pride. Pride displeases God. It is the first of the seven deadly sins God hates (Proverbs 6:16-19). When Christians have an attitude of superiority and show contempt for their brothers and sisters in the Lord they are not walking by the Spirit they are yielding to fleshly pride. The result is bound to be relational conflict.”

On the other hand Edward John Carnell has said “When a decision must be made between unity and truth, unity must yield to truth; for it is better to be divided by truth than to be united by error. We test the church by truth, not truth by the church. The apostles judged the Christian community by the norm of divine revelation.”

Strauch also said in his book “We can’t eliminate controversy over important biblical doctrines, but we can, by the spirits help, control how we dispute with one another.”

The one another’s in the previous paragraph are Christians. When dealing with false teachers we have a different matter. They are wolves in sheep’s clothing and it is the duty of the elders of the church to protect the flock from false teachers.

Now let’s bring it back to our individual body. We as leaders continue to want anybody with a question about what we’re doing and where were going or even a question about the bulletin to come to us and ask the question. It is our duty to answer you as completely as we can and as clearly as we can with patients. This process keeps us sharp it keeps you informed and hopefully by iron sharpening iron we can improve our church, our walk, and our lives before God.

All of this requires wisdom and God has promised if we ask for wisdom he will give it to us. So by faith proceed in your walk, always being confessed up so that you can walk in the Spirit and in this way you will be able to greet all of these challenges in a God honoring way.

---

Charge

Now is the time in the service where I charge you the congregation to go out and live what we learned today. If you know that a brother has something against you go to him and reconcile. If you have something against a brother go to that brother and reconcile.

As we think about what God has done for us through Christ how could we have any petty differences with anybody?

Benediction:

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. (2 Peter 1:3-4)

Now go and have a wonderful week.