Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the LORD.” And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. The LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.” Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?” Genesis 4:1-9, ESV

Am I my brother’s keeper? This has been a question that men have asked, obviously, from the very beginning of time. Men have often wondered what their responsibility is and to what extent they needed to fulfill these obligations. When left to ourselves, we tend toward selfishness. The question is not one that is hard to answer, but it is often hard to fulfill. So, in this lesson, we will view the question in terms of, what do I owe my brother?

Am I my brother’s keeper? Chickasaw Drive Church of Christ September 17 th, 2014 Church of Christ at Medina September 21 st, 2014

“Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.” 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12, ESV

I owe my brother…love. The concept of loving others – and especially our brethren – comes from the character and nature of God. “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.” 1 John 4:7-12, ESV

I owe my brother…love. God’s requirement for men to love one another is not a concept that was just developed under the Law of Christ… – 1 John 3:10-15 However, it was perfected under the Law of Christ because it had a perfect example in Jesus. – John 15:12: ““This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” – The manner and depth of our love for one another is based upon the love that Jesus had for His disciples and for us “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. - John 13:34-35 Truthorlife.org

We express our love... Verbally – We can express our love by telling our brothers and sisters in Christ that we love them. (Romans 16:16) Physically – Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. (John 13:1-20) – Leviticus 25:35 – Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) – Example of Needy Saints in Jerusalem just after the day of Pentecost (Acts 5-6) – Example of helping the needy saints in Judea due to the famine (1 Corinthians 16:1-3, 2 Corinthians 8-9) – The judgment scene (Matthew 25:34-40)

Love is not... …taking pleasure in the faults of others. – Obadiah 1:12 – “But do not gloat over the day of your brother in the day of his misfortune; do not rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their run; do not boast in the day of distress.” – Romans 13:8-10: Loving our brethren is a debt that we can never fully repay. Owe no one anything, except to love each other…

I owe my brother forgiveness… “Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy- seven times.” Matthew 18:21-22 ESV Forgiveness really is just a subset of love. – “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7, ESV)

I owe my brother forgiveness… “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8, ESV

I owe my brother forgiveness… This means that we cannot hold grudges nor take revenge on others. – “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. (Leviticus 19:18 ESV)” “But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.” (Exodus 21:23-25 ESV) – “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. Matthew 5:21-22 ESV

I owe my brother admonition… Romans 15:14 – “I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct (admonish) one another.” What is admonition? – Instruction hat contains warning of the consequences of actions Admonition is a must because we love our brethren. – 1 Thessalonians 5:14 – Galatians 6:1-2

Admonition requires… Goodness – “…these Christians were able to ‘admonish one another’ because they were, generally speaking, living holy, Christ-like lives. Christians who are sensitive about their own walk with God are capable – and responsible – to admonish other Christians.” (Gene Getz) Knowledge – Instructions with an eye for warning must start with God and His Word.

Admonition, in practice. 1.Lovingly 2.Personally 3.Persistently 4.With Pure Motives 5.With the Proper Goal – “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.” (Colossians 1:28-29, ESV)

I owe my brother peace. “Live in harmony with one another.” (Romans 12:16) 2 Corinthians 13:11 – “Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live and peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” This is the opposite of “biting and devouring one another.” (Galatians 5:15)

I owe my brother peace. Peace, like so many other requirements of life, does not come naturally. We must seek peace. (1 Peter 3:11) We must make peace. (James 3:18) We must give diligence to “be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.” (2 Peter 3:14) Peace is not… – …the absence of problems or strife. – …to be obtained at any price. (James 3:17)

Conclusion We owe our brethren… – …love. – …forgiveness. – …admonition. – …peace. We are not looking to supply this at the minimum level, but levels that grow and abound. (1 Thessalonians 3:12, 1 Thessalonians 4:10, Hebrews 13:1, 1 Peter 1:22-25)