TEXT: As we continue to look at the characteristics of Christian relationships based on love, we see that these relationships also include:

I. Compassion for one another A. To have compassion is to understand a person’s pain and grief (Rom 12:15) B. But Christian compassion means the concept of bringing healing, not merely crying with them! (Luke 10:34) “What can I really do to help” C. It involves a commitment to healed relationships (Eph 4:32) D. It involves dealing with bitterness (Heb 12:15) and a “warped worldview”

II. Being at peace with one another A. We “esteem one another for their work’s sake” (1Thess 5:13) to bring glory to God (John 13:35) B. We do not judge another on what we believe their motive to be (Rom 14:13)…what is our motive, is it grace or works? C. We distinguish between a sinning brother and one who does not conform to our standard (Gal 6:1-2)

III. Having concern for our own lives A. To first examine our own lives as to whether we are in fellowship with the Lord (1 Cor 11:28) 1. Fellowship with the Lord includes being in fellowship with one another (1 John 1:7) B. To determine if we have sufficient concern for one another to “stimulate to love and good deeds” (Heb 10:24-25)

Remember, The Scripture teaches that fear and love are mutually exclusive, “Perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18). Is your life, even though you have accepted Christ as Savior, still bound by shame, guilt, and fear. That’s the worldview of the Garden of Eden after sin came in. God’s purpose is for that to be “cast out.”