"Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness."1
Truth, what is truth the Roman Pilate proclaimed. This person claims to have authority of God, and so does this person, this person claims to know the truth, and so does that person, this person interprets scripture this way, and that person another way... and what is the truth the world ask and so does the Church. Let us seek truth, not traditions and philosophy of men, but that which gives Liberty, and let us walk in that light.
"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."2
A bold statement, Jesus claimed, he is the Truth. As John writes Jesus came in the fullness of the Father, of Grace and Truth, he is the Life and Light of men. Those who walk in the fullness of Christ walk in Light and not darkness. Those in darkness comprehend him not. So we can equate truth with walking in the Light, so now the question becomes how do I know I am walking in the Light?
"Whoever loves his brother remains in the light, and there is no cause of stumbling in him."3
So we see truth and the true disciples of Christ, those who walk in the Light. "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”4 The Church is not defined by how we follow rules and regulations nor by how we judge others for not following them. The Church is not those who cause their weak brother to stumble by judging him by what he eats and drinks, as "food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do."5 Such knowledge puffs up, and does not build up.6
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."7
Walking in the Light is being obedient to Christ, as Christ said if you love me you will follow my commandments, love one another. Lets look further at what this means, "Whoever loves his brother remains in the light, and there is no cause of stumbling in him." Loving my brother I will not cause him to stumble. This is the Principle of Love at work within the Principle of Liberty. We have this Liberty not for personal gain but to serve one another in love. If I love my brother I will build him up in faith through love, not cause him to stumble by my knowledge. We also see the purpose of the Church, building up in love or faith working through love or serving one another in love.
"when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love."6
These principles of Liberty and Love enforce the purpose of grace, of standing in grace, which we have access to by faith. "For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love."7 In Liberty we are building up one another in love, and the principle of Love applies; I love my brother thus I am not causing my brother to stumble. And we see deeper into the commandment and principle of Christ, to love my brother and to bear the burden of my weak brother, in gentleness and humility lest I too stumble. In such unity the world will know Christ is from the Father and by such love that we are his disciples.
"And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died."6
The opposite of building up is destroying. How is my brother destroyed? It is by judging him in his weakness. "As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, not to pass judgment on his reasoning."7 Is not my brother a servant of Christ? "Who are you judging another's servant, he stands or falls to his master, he will be upheld however, able is the Lord, indeed, to make him to stand"8 Who am i to judge the spiritual person, the mind of Christ? And as the principle of judgment states, it will be measured back to me, if I cause my brother to stumble, woe is me.
So we see this Principle of Love, and the Principle of Liberty at work, we have this Freedom in Christ to serve one another in love, as love builds up. I am considerate of my brother's faith, that I would not destroy such, especially about what he eats or drinks, Paul writes, "Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ."7 So we see deeper into what Jesus said, what you do to the least of these my brethren, you do to me. Surely it would not be good for me to hurt a little child in faith.
"By this the children of God and the children of the devil can be distinguished: Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother."10
We see the correlation with righteousness and brotherly love, "Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness." If I love my brother I will not cause him to stumble. Those who seek First the Kingdom of God seek First His righteousness. In a world which questions what is truth, it doesn't need a church puffed up in knowledge, but one that builds up in love. The Statue of Liberty is a great proclamation of truth; in her hands she holds a declaration of truth, she holds up such Light for all to see, and at her feet lie broken the shackles of oppression and tyranny. Truth is proclaimed on a lamp-stand.
Though many claim to know the truth and to have the authority to tell such truth, the truth is being proclaimed in how we walk in the Light. It is both amazing and profound yet so inviting. Such wisdom weakens the strong and confounds the wise as it proclaims, "Whoever loves his brother remains in the light, and there is no cause of stumbling in him."14
Truth, what is truth the Roman Pilate proclaimed. This person claims to have authority of God, and so does this person, this person claims to know the truth, and so does that person, this person interprets scripture this way, and that person another way... and what is the truth the world ask and so does the Church. Let us seek truth, not traditions and philosophy of men, but that which gives Liberty, and let us walk in that light.
"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."2
A bold statement, Jesus claimed, he is the Truth. As John writes Jesus came in the fullness of the Father, of Grace and Truth, he is the Life and Light of men. Those who walk in the fullness of Christ walk in Light and not darkness. Those in darkness comprehend him not. So we can equate truth with walking in the Light, so now the question becomes how do I know I am walking in the Light?
"Whoever loves his brother remains in the light, and there is no cause of stumbling in him."3
So we see truth and the true disciples of Christ, those who walk in the Light. "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”4 The Church is not defined by how we follow rules and regulations nor by how we judge others for not following them. The Church is not those who cause their weak brother to stumble by judging him by what he eats and drinks, as "food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do."5 Such knowledge puffs up, and does not build up.6
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."7
Walking in the Light is being obedient to Christ, as Christ said if you love me you will follow my commandments, love one another. Lets look further at what this means, "Whoever loves his brother remains in the light, and there is no cause of stumbling in him." Loving my brother I will not cause him to stumble. This is the Principle of Love at work within the Principle of Liberty. We have this Liberty not for personal gain but to serve one another in love. If I love my brother I will build him up in faith through love, not cause him to stumble by my knowledge. We also see the purpose of the Church, building up in love or faith working through love or serving one another in love.
"when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love."6
These principles of Liberty and Love enforce the purpose of grace, of standing in grace, which we have access to by faith. "For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love."7 In Liberty we are building up one another in love, and the principle of Love applies; I love my brother thus I am not causing my brother to stumble. And we see deeper into the commandment and principle of Christ, to love my brother and to bear the burden of my weak brother, in gentleness and humility lest I too stumble. In such unity the world will know Christ is from the Father and by such love that we are his disciples.
"And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died."6
The opposite of building up is destroying. How is my brother destroyed? It is by judging him in his weakness. "As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, not to pass judgment on his reasoning."7 Is not my brother a servant of Christ? "Who are you judging another's servant, he stands or falls to his master, he will be upheld however, able is the Lord, indeed, to make him to stand"8 Who am i to judge the spiritual person, the mind of Christ? And as the principle of judgment states, it will be measured back to me, if I cause my brother to stumble, woe is me.
So we see this Principle of Love, and the Principle of Liberty at work, we have this Freedom in Christ to serve one another in love, as love builds up. I am considerate of my brother's faith, that I would not destroy such, especially about what he eats or drinks, Paul writes, "Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ."7 So we see deeper into what Jesus said, what you do to the least of these my brethren, you do to me. Surely it would not be good for me to hurt a little child in faith.
"By this the children of God and the children of the devil can be distinguished: Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother."10
We see the correlation with righteousness and brotherly love, "Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness." If I love my brother I will not cause him to stumble. Those who seek First the Kingdom of God seek First His righteousness. In a world which questions what is truth, it doesn't need a church puffed up in knowledge, but one that builds up in love. The Statue of Liberty is a great proclamation of truth; in her hands she holds a declaration of truth, she holds up such Light for all to see, and at her feet lie broken the shackles of oppression and tyranny. Truth is proclaimed on a lamp-stand.
Though many claim to know the truth and to have the authority to tell such truth, the truth is being proclaimed in how we walk in the Light. It is both amazing and profound yet so inviting. Such wisdom weakens the strong and confounds the wise as it proclaims, "Whoever loves his brother remains in the light, and there is no cause of stumbling in him."14