Embracing Unity Amidst Differences in Faith

The problem is as we saw the problem of things that are indifferent now it is absolutely essential that we should be clear in our minds as to what that means he's dealing here with our attitude as Christian Believers and as members of the church two things which are not definitely prohibited in the New Testament. [00:58:39]

The fact that some people may be weaker in the faith than we are or May be weaker than we think we are must not lead us to feel that we're independent of them or that we are unconcerned about them and that we can't be bothered with them. That's the very first thing that he obviously tells us. [00:87:16]

It is always wrong to have factions, groups, divisions in terms of knowledge in the Christian church and whatever our position is we must never feel that we are independent of others and unconcerned about them. That's just the very beginning but then he puts a very definite negative him that is weak in the faith. [00:362:16]

The weaker brother he's in trouble about these things and here he is he's got these various points of view and he is thinking with himself and he is trying to arrive at a judgment and as the result of this his mind is somewhat agitated and he's troubled he's got a fearful spirit he's anxious to do the right thing. [00:518:36]

You can aggravate their troubles and their condition simply by constantly raising this very thing that is educating them and arguing with them about it. You know you're aware of the fact that they've got this trouble and there's a Temptation that comes to you always to be fixing on this and saying well now what about it. [00:608:51]

The Apostle is really concerned about is the way in which we do try to help them that's what he's concerned about. He doesn't clearly prohibit all teaching he does the exact opposite himself he does the exact opposite here as he does it in other places so this is not a ban altogether. [00:768:92]

We are to receive this weaker brother in exactly the same way as God has already received him and we have received him we have been received by God also and again he's so concerned about this that he says it in the seventh verse of the next chapter wherefore receive ye one another as Christ also received us. [00:928:83]

Our knowledge of the faith is never complete no I I have to put it like that because the danger with the strong brother always is to think that he's encompassed all knowledge that there is nothing further for him to learn so we've all got to remember that our understanding of the faith is never complete. [00:1288:84]

The desire always of all of us should be to know the truth better and to help one another now those of you who read Robert hold in in his commentary in the epistle unto the the Romans will notice that he virtually says that this discussion never does any good at all and that nobody has ever been persuaded by a discussion. [00:2301:56]

The conclusion I come to is this one that what the Apostle is really telling us here is this that we've got to learn the art of teaching all of us we had to teach one another we had to help one another and the first thing you he says you've got to do is to learn what is the essence of the art of teaching. [00:2390:11]

The essence of teaching is that you show and manifest a loving interest in Those whom you're teaching once they get the impression that what you are really concerned about is to help them and not to denounce them or not to despise them the moment they feel that you love them that you're concerned about them. [00:2876:88]

We come to thee again and we do thank thee for Thy word oh Lord we realize how lost and be we would be without it we see our press to wander astray and to think and do that which is wrong we humbly thank thee for all that thou has provided for us oh God godone we pray thee to deal with us. [00:2973:40]