Lesson 13 for the 26 th of June, 2010

We are united in a common origin. “From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live” (Acts, 17: 26) We were created as social beings. “The Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."” (Genesis, 2: 18)

“So God created man in his own image” (Genesis, 1: 27) When man sinned, the image of God started to degrade quickly. His pure and holy character got stained with sin. That damaged our relationship with God and our social relationships.

God had a redemption plan, so the human race could be united and close to Him again. Since we are sinners who need the grace of God, we all need to be redeemed by the blood of Christ. The whole humanity is united by that tie. “Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians, 4: 13) “And he [Christ] died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again” (2 Corinthians, 5: 15)

The example of Jesus --when he lived and died among us-- helps us to understand love, self-denial and unselfish service. Those things come from a holy character, like Jesus’. When we follow Jesus’ example we are united and close to Him.

“But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be… so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it” (1 Corinthians, 12: 18, 25-27) Every member of the Church has a different function, and must support and complement the other members, like the parts of the body do. Only then, the Church could carry out its mission of preaching the Gospel and will unite its members social and emotionally.

How should we treat each other as members of the Church of Christ?  Loving one another (John, 13: 35)  Accepting one another and offering hospitality to one another (Romans, 15: 7; 1 Peter, 4: 9)  Being kind and compassionate to one another (Ephesians, 4: 32)  Bearing and forgiving one another (Colossians, 3: 13)  Encouraging one another (1 Thessalonians, 4: 18)  Confessing our offences one another (James, 5: 16)  Praying for one another (James, 5: 16)  Being sympathetic and seeking unity (1 Peter, 3: 8; John, 17: 21)

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms” (1 Peter, 4: 10) Think for a moment how good you feel when you reach out and help others with your gifts, when you selflessly give of yourself with no intention of getting anything back for yourself. Something inside us is touched. There is a sense of well-being; we get a satisfaction that, really, nothing else can match. And that is because, by giving of ourselves, we are living as we were meant to live. We are doing what we were originally created to do.

“Christ's followers have been redeemed for service. Our Lord teaches that the true object of life is ministry. Christ Himself was a worker, and to all His followers He gives the law of service--service to God and to their fellow men. Here Christ has presented to the world a higher conception of life than they had ever known. By living to minister for others, man is brought into connection with Christ. The law of service becomes the connecting link which binds us to God and to our fellow men” E.G.W. (Christ’s object lessons, cp. 25, pg. 326)