Adult Quarterly. Christian Relationships. Prepared by David O. Johnson. Vol. 100, No. 2 ISSUED MARCH, 2014 SPRING QUARTER

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1 Baptist Training Course Adult Quarterly Prepared by David O. Johnson Vol. 100, No. 2 ISSUED MARCH, 2014 SPRING QUARTER Outlines by Don Price EDITOR IN CHIEF: Larry E. Clements larryclements@bogardpress.org BUSINESS MANAGER: Wayne Sewell wsewell@bogardpress.org PRODUCTION EDITOR: Sally McInvale ADULT EDITOR: Jim Jones CHILDREN S EDITOR: Libby Gill ILLUSTRATOR: Connie Spears GRAPHIC ARTISTS: Shawn Blase Jeff Allen Greg Hilterbrand LAYOUT DESIGNERS: Kyle Elkins Cindy Butler Ashley Elkins CONTENT EDITORS: Terry McKellar Deby Turrentine Carolyn Burks Joni Curtis PRINT PRODUCTION: Charles Easley COVER DESIGN: Jeff Allen Copyright 2014 Bogard Press 4605 N. State Line Ave. Texarkana, TX Christian Relationships Quarterly Aim: To show how Christians are to interact with one another. CONTENTS Lesson No. 1, March 2, 2014 Love One Another Lesson No. 2, March 9, 2014 Do Not Judge One Another Lesson No. 3, March 16, 2014 Forgive One Another Lesson No. 4, March 23, 2014 Be Kind One to Another Lesson No. 5, March 30, 2014 Do Not Wrong One Another Lesson No. 6, April 6, 2014 Admonish One Another Lesson No. 7, April 13, 2014 Bear One Another s Burdens Lesson No. 8, April 20, 2014 Comfort One Another Lesson No. 9, April 27, 2014 Speak Not Evil One of Another Lesson No. 10, May 4, 2014 Submitting Yourselves One to Another Lesson No. 11, May 11, 2014 Have Fellowship One with Another Lesson No. 12, May 18, 2014 Teaching and Admonishing One Another Lesson No. 13, May 25, 2014 Use Hospitality One to Another

2 About the Writer David O. Johnson was born in Hot Springs, AR in 1953, was saved at the age of 7 and baptized by the Ethel MBC, Antlers, OK. Brother Johnson surrendered to the gospel ministry in 1976 and was ordained by the Trinity MBC, Camden, AR. He received training from the Louisiana Missionary Bap tist Seminary (Minden, LA), Missionary Baptist Seminary (Little Rock, AR) and Baylor University (Waco, TX). Brother Johnson has pastored churches in Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas and Oklahoma. He presently serves as the pastor of Bethel MBC, Paris, AR. He has served as moderator of local and state associations, a member of the Standing Missionary Committee of the ABA, Secretary-Treasurer of Missions for the Baptist General Assembly of Oklahoma and has served on the Baptist Sunday School Committee since Brother Johnson has been writing BTC literature for Bogard Press since He is the author of one book, What We Believe and Why (published by Bogard Press). Brother Johnson is married to the former Dianne Bryant. He and Dianne have three children (Rebekah, Wendy and Timothy) and seven grandchildren (Blake, Bryant, Caedmon, Hannah, Brady, Jordan and Isaac). davidjohnson@bogardpress.org.

3 LESSON 1, March 2, 2014 Love One Another APPLICATION To show that loving one another is not only possible but commanded. SCRIPTURES TO READ Text: Romans 13:8-10. Related Scripture: Leviticus 19:18; Proverbs 10:12; Matthew 5:43-48; 22:37-40; John 13:34; 15:12; 1 Corinthians 13; Galatians 5:14; Ephesians 5:2; 1 Thessalonians 4:9; Hebrews 13:1; James 2:8; 1 Peter 4:8; 1 John 2:5; 3:10,11, 22. Devotional Reading: A Reminder of God s Love in Sending His Son for Man s Sins, 1 John 4:7-21. Introduction The biblical concept of love is one that is quite foreign to the thinking of modern humanity. People today think of love as little more than attraction, consideration or friendship. The Bible speaks of love as the conscious choice of an individual to hold another in high esteem or to care more about the other person than himself. Few people today have that kind of compassion about others. They might care deeply about those in their family. They might be fond of their dearest friends, but to consider strangers is bizarre. Paul wrote about the general mind-set of the people of his day. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die (Rom. 5:7). That is the common philosophy among most people. What the Bible advocates is for the people of God to have a heart of love. God commands them to have love and compassion. 3

4 A Pharisee once approached Christ asking what the greatest commandment of the Law was. The Lord responded with two statements. The first was the command, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind (Matt. 22:37). Then, Jesus said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself (verse 39). He declared these two commandments embodied the entirety of the Law. The commandments stated by the Lord come to His people today. They are to have love and compassion for each other, but their love is not to stop there. They are to love all people and seek to draw them to Christ. This is the focus of this lesson. 1. The Example (Romans 13:8) The lesson Text speaks of a debt. One part of the debt was negative (owe no man anything) while the other was positive (but to love one another). All people have debts to pay. They might not be financial, but they are real. People owe the country in which they live to be honest and helpful citizens. Children owe a debt to their parents for bringing them into the world. All people have varied debts they owe. The greatest debt of all is to follow the example of Christ and love all people. Humanity is in a natural state of sin. The nature to sin came about when Adam rebelled against the command of God by partaking of the fruit God had forbidden. That single act cast the entire human race into sin (Rom. 5:12). Since that day, all people have the sin nature. They are at enmity with God. One might assume that, since Adam rebelled against God and since all humans since have also been creatures of sin, God would reject all people, but that is not the case. God is the ultimate example of love. He looked upon His fallen creation and provided a way by which people could gain a right relationship with Him. To accomplish His desired purpose, a sacrifice had to be made. It had to be greater than the animal sacrifices so often mentioned in the Old Testament. These offerings were expressions of faith that God would give the final sacrifice for sin. That ultimate sacrifice would come through the Son of God. Only His Son could satisfy the demands of God. Therefore, Jesus came to earth to die on the cross and to pay the price for sin. It is the greatest expression of love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, 4

5 that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins (1 John 4:9, 10). Jesus is the example people should follow. The willingness of the Father to send His Son to earth to pay for sins and the love of the Son to die for others should motivate people to be examples of love for other people. For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again (2 Cor. 5:14, 15). That marvelous example of love controls, compels and drives those who are saved. This should translate into lives which show His love to other people. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another (1 John 4:11). Other people should be able to see and experience God s love because the children of God are demonstrating love in their lives. They should love one another. 2. The Expression (Romans 13:9) As Paul continued his instruction to the church members at Rome, he wanted them to understand how their love should be expressed. They had received the love of God when they trusted Jesus as Savior. Now, they should show it to others. The demonstration of God s love is necessary if people are to learn about God. Paul talked about the debts owed to others. The Christian life demands that people pay their debts, but the greatest debt is to God who created and saved us. Believers should be creatures of love. As Paul related what the Law stated, he drew a conclusion to the matter. His statement was in agreement with what Christ had said during His earthly ministry. The fulfillment of the Law comes about in the way God s people treat others. The Law is summed up in briefest terms (briefly comprehended) with the words, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself (Lev. 19:18; Rom. 13:9). When Jesus taught this principle, one person who thought he was living properly asked the Lord, And who is my neighbour? (Luke 10:29). Jesus then told of a traveler who was attacked by bandits. They beat the man, robbed him and left him severely wounded. A priest came by that place and saw the wounded man. He could have been on his way to minister at the Temple 5

6 and did not want to dirty himself, so he left the man alone. Then, a Levite passed by the robbed man. He even came and looked at the man, but he left without attending to his wounds. Maybe he was afraid the bandits would return and do the same to him. Then a hated Samaritan passed by the man. He saw the terrible condition he was in and decided to help. Nothing compelled him to help other than the compassion in his heart. He treated the wounds, took him where he would receive care and paid his bills. Jesus asked the question, Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? (verse 36). Of course, the answer was that the Samaritan was the true neighbor. A neighbor is one who has love and compassion for others. The Lord desires this kind of attitude from all people (verse 37). The Law was given to show people what God expected. Part of the Ten Commandments (the first four) deals with people s relationship with God. They are to honor and respect everything about God. The remainder of the Ten Commandments deals with how people relate to people. This is what Paul was trying to teach in the lesson Text. He wanted people to look at others with a loving, compassionate heart. He wanted them to realize their treatment of others was a reflection of their attitude toward God. When people really love God, they will have love for others. 3. The Expectation (Romans 13:10) True love will always seek the good of others. One who is a follower of Christ will help others. While Jesus was on earth, He labored diligently in helping those around Him. He taught His disciples to do the same. On one occasion Jesus taught about the coming Judgment of Nations. The basis for that judgment was, I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me (Matt. 25:35, 36, 40). Treating other people with godly compassion is the same as ministering to Jesus directly. This is what God expects of His people. The natural course of action for most people is to seek one s own advantage. If achieving one s goals causes harm to someone 6

7 else, that is just too bad. The admonition Paul gave was to work no ill (Rom. 13:10) to one s neighbor. The idea of that phrase is to do no harm to another person. Such an attitude would prevent dishonesty, harm or desertion. God s people should have the good of others in mind with all they do. Having a heart which cares about others will be a positive testimony of the love of God. Should the children of the loving God behave in any other manner? No, doing good rather than harm to others fulfills God s demands for their lives. Conclusion Love one another (Rom. 13:8). This is the only way we can have a good testimony of the Savior. He expressed His love toward all people when He came to earth as the sacrifice for sin. Jesus willingly went to the cross and died because He loved the world so intensely. We who claim to be His followers can do no less. We must express the love of God to all people. Since we are the body of Christ, we are His hands and His feet to the world. We are also His expression of love to the world. We must be busily engaged in revealing the Savior s compassion to all people. In doing so, we are loving one another. 7