First Be Reconciled To Thy Brother | Words Of Truth
Words Of Truth

Words Of Truth


"That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth..." (Proverbs 22:21).

First Be Reconciled To Thy Brother


I. Introduction:

A. In this lesson we are going to be talking about an altar. Altars were used to offer up sacrifices to God (Genesis 8:20, Deuteronomy 12:27, and Isaiah 56:7).

  1. An altar was greater than the gifts offered thereupon (Matthew 23:18-19).
  2. Altars were used to offer to false gods as well (Jeremiah 11:13).
B. Jesus is the end of the offering of gifts upon physical altars as He offered Himself once for all (Hebrews 7:27, Hebrews 9:11-12, Hebrews 9:26-28, and Hebrews 10:1-14).

  1. The gifts we offer up now are not as those of old (Hebrews 13:9-18) and the physical location, altar, etc. is not present (John 4:20-24 and Philippians 3:3).
  2. However, we can use the old to learn lessons as we will from what Jesus taught in regard to brotherly relations and the altar (Romans 15:4).

II. Body: Matthew 5:23-24

A. The principle of resolving personal conflict among saints (Matthew 18:15-20).

  1. The place for mercy and forgiveness (Matthew 18:21-35 and Colossians 3:12-13).
  2. The necessity of repentance (Luke 17:3-4).
B. When unity is affected, God’s will is not being accomplished (Psalms 133:1 and Ephesians 4:1-3).

  1. There are many working parts to being unified (Romans 14:1-3, Romans 15:1-3, I Corinthians 1:10, Philippians 2:2, Philippians 3:16, I John 1:7, II John 1:9-11, etc.).
  2. When there is conflict, it needs resolved (Philippians 4:2).
  3. That resolution should not come from the world (I Corinthians 6:1-8).
  4. God is our Father (I Corinthians 1:3) and we are His children (I John 3:1-2). Our relationship should resemble our Father’s relationship with Jesus (John 17:20-23).
C. There must be peace among the saints (I Thessalonians 5:12-13).

  1. God is the source of our peace (I Corinthians 14:33).
  2. Contentiousness doesn’t belong in the church (I Corinthians 11:16).

III. Conclusion: Whether it is a fault towards a fellow saint or something else, we cannot come before God if we are unclean (I Timothy 2:8 and Hebrews 10:19-23).