Lesson 13 Review: “Let Brotherly Love Continue”

 

Introduction

Memory Text: “Let Brotherly love continue” (Hebrews 13:1).

Salvation is not just a one-on-one relationship with Jesus, but it is a family relationship that promotes “exhorting one another”.  Other elements include hospitality, visiting and supporting prisoners and those who have been mistreated, honoring marriage, avoiding covetousness, remembering and obeying the leaders of the church, and praying for the author himself.

What does offering hospitality imply?

Offering hospitality implies sharing possessions with other people and suffering with them, which is what Jesus did for us.

What are the two grave threats to brotherly love?

Sexual immorality and greed

What are ways to strengthen our defenses against the two vices?

One of the ways of strengthening our defense against sexual immorality is abstaining both from violation of the marriage oath and unwarranted divorces. A way to avoid greed is to be “content” with the things you have, we as Believers should embrace God’s promises, this embracement would reduce/eradicate greed.

What should be our relationship with our Leaders?

The Leaders are seen as undershepherds under “The Great Shepherd”, Jesus, they look after the members. The relationship is to be characterized by the combination of care and joy from the Leaders and obedience or trust from the members. The members are to respect their leaders both past and present.

Where is grace obtained?

Grace is obtained from the throne of God.

How are our hearts strengthened?

Hearts are strengthened through the mediation of Christ, an anchor, “sure and steadfast” that is fastened to God’s throne itself.

What does it mean to go to Jesus outside the camp?

Jesus was sent outside the camp as an unclean animal was sent out of the wall. Jesus was accused of blasphemy and as such was sent outside the camp. Thus He bore sufferings and pain outside the camp, To go to Jesus outside the camp means to bear the shame and suffering of following Jesus. However, beyond just bearing shame and reproach, We are to “go forth to Him”.

In Conclusion,

God is calling us to show brotherly love, our relationship with Jesus, though partly a one-on-one relationship is also a collective one. We are to express our love for Christ with our brethren as Jesus did for us. Brotherly love promotes the exhortation of one another and by so doing we grow our collective relationship with God. I pray that God strengthens us to let brotherly love continue in Jesus’ name.