Let Brotherly Love Continue
Base Text: Hebrews 13:1 "Let brotherly love continue."
INTRODUCTION
A. The Mandate of Continuity The author of Hebrews opens this final chapter with a concise but powerful command: "Let brotherly love continue." The word "continue" (or "remain") suggests that this love is not a temporary emotion or a sporadic event. It implies a constant commitment, a steady persistence, and a lifelong covenant between those who belong to Christ.
B. Defining "Philadelphia" The original Greek word used here is Philadelphia. It literally means "love of brothers" or "kindred affection." It is the kind of love found in a healthy family—characterized by tenderness, closeness, and a deep sense of mutual responsibility.
C. The Need of the Hour In a world that is increasingly cold and individualistic, many churches suffer from a lack of sincere interest in one another. Often, we share the same pews but do not share each other's burdens. Biblical brotherly love is the antidote to this spiritual isolation.
D. Proposition Brotherly love is the supreme evidence of our new life in Christ. It must be practiced constantly, sincerely, and visibly.
I. THE IMPORTANCE OF BROTHERLY LOVE AMONG BELIEVERS
A. A Result of Conversion Sincere love is not an "extra" for super-Christians; it is the natural result of a purified soul. 1 Peter 1:22 reminds us that since we have purified our souls in obeying the truth, we must love one another with a pure heart fervently. It is the distinctive sign of a true disciple (John 13:34-35).
B. Intense and Constant The scriptures use the word Ekténos, which describes a love that is stretched out, constant, and persistent. It is a "strenuous" love that doesn't give up when things get difficult (Romans 12:10).
C. Our Identity as a Family In the church, we are not just members of an organization; we are members of a family (Ephesians 2:19). We are commanded to treat older men as fathers, younger men as brothers, and women as mothers and sisters with all purity (1 Timothy 5:1-2).
D. Genuine Concern Brotherly love manifests as action. It means bearing one another’s burdens (Gálatas 6:2) and providing for real physical and emotional needs (James 2:15-16). It is a proactive "stirring up" of one another toward love and good works (Hebrews 10:24-25).
II. CHARACTERISTICS OF TRUE BROTHERLY LOVE
A. Sincere and Without Hypocrisy Paul tells us, "Let love be without hypocrisy" (Romans 12:9). We are not called to "act" like we love; we are called to love "in deed and in truth" (1 John 3:18).
B. Active and Visible True love cannot be hidden. The early church in Jerusalem provided the ultimate model: they were together, had all things in common, and looked after everyone as they had need (Acts 2:44-47).
C. Spiritually Vigilant Mature love cares about the soul. If a brother wanders from the truth, love goes after them to save their soul from death (James 5:19-20). As iron sharpens iron, brothers sharpen one another (Proverbs 27:17).
D. Persevering and Forgiving Because we are all imperfect, brotherly love requires great patience. We must bear with one another and forgive each other just as Christ forgave us (Colossians 3:13-14; Ephesians 4:2-3).
III. PRACTICAL WAYS TO MANIFEST BROTHERLY LOVE
1. Genuine Consideration: Do not just look out for your own interests, but also for the interests of others (Philippians 2:3-4).
2. Gentle Restoration: When a brother is overtaken in a fault, restore them with a spirit of gentleness (Galatians 6:1).
3. Daily Exhortation: Encourage one another daily while it is called "Today," so that no one is hardened by the deceitfulness of sin (Hebrews 3:13).
4. Hospitality and Service: Use your gifts to serve one another and do not forget to entertain strangers (Hebrews 13:2; 1 Peter 4:9-10).
5. Pursuing Harmony: Behold how good and pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! (Psalm 133:1).
IV. THE DANGERS OF LACKING BROTHERLY LOVE
When brotherly love fails, the church enters a state of spiritual peril:
• Spiritual Indifference: In the last days, the love of many will grow cold (Matthew 24:12). We risk losing our "first love" (Revelation 2:4).
• Division and Conflict: Where there is no love, selfish desires lead to fights and quarrels (James 4:1). God specifically hates those who sow discord among brothers (Proverbs 6:16-19).
• Religious Hypocrisy: Scripture is blunt: If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar (1 John 4:20).
The Pattern of Brotherly Love: Sacrifice in Action
Base Text: 1 John 3:16 "By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."
A. Beyond Words and Emotions Christian love is not merely a warm feeling or a poetic speech; it is visible, practical, and sacrificial. As 1 John 3:18 reminds us, we are not to love merely in word or tongue, but in deed and in truth.
B. The Perfect Model Jesus Christ defined true love not by a dictionary, but by an act. By giving His life for us, He established the eternal standard for how we should treat one another (John 15:13).
C. The Modern Crisis In many congregations today, we see the creeping shadows of division, rivalry, and spiritual coldness. These are not just social issues; they are symptoms of a heart that has lost sight of the love Christ taught.
D. A Mandatory Evidence Brotherly love is not a spiritual "extra" for the exceptionally holy. It is a serious commandment and the primary evidence that we actually possess spiritual life.
E. Purpose Today, we will explore what it truly means to love like Christ and how we can practically pour that love out onto our brothers and sisters.
I. TRUE LOVE IS DEMONSTRATED THROUGH SACRIFICE
(1 John 3:16)
A. The Supreme Example Biblical love (Agape) always moves toward the object of its affection. God didn't just say He loved the world; He sent His Son (John 3:16). Christ didn't wait for us to be perfect; He died for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8).
B. A Willingness to Give Everything Jesus said, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends" (John 15:13). This love seeks the absolute best for the other person, even if it comes at a high personal cost.
C. The Apostolic Pattern The early church leaders lived this out. Paul told the Philippians he was willing to be "poured out" as a drink offering for their faith (Philippians 2:17). He didn't just share the Gospel; he shared his very life (1 Thessalonians 2:8).
D. Practical Application If we claim to love our brothers, we must be willing to sacrifice our time, our comfort, and our pride to serve them.
II. BROTHERLY LOVE IS EVIDENCE OF SPIRITUAL LIFE
(1 John 3:14–15)
A. From Death to Life How do we know we have passed from the state of spiritual death into eternal life? The Bible says it is because we love the brethren (1 John 3:14). Love is the "spiritual pulse" of a believer.
B. The Warning of Hatred Conversely, hatred or indifference reveals a state of spiritual death. Scripture goes as far as to say that anyone who hates his brother is a "murderer" in his heart (1 John 3:15).
C. A Fruit of Transformation Genuine love is not a product of human willpower; it is the result of being a "new creation" (2 Corinthians 5:17). It is the primary fruit of the Holy Spirit working within us (Galatians 5:22).
III. BROTHERLY LOVE IS DEMONSTRATED IN CONCRETE ACTIONS
(1 John 3:17–18)
A. Meeting Real Needs Love that sees a brother in need and closes its heart against him cannot claim to have the love of God. James warns that faith without works—specifically the work of helping a hungry or naked brother—is dead (James 2:15–17).
B. The Small Things are Big Things We may never be asked to literally die for a brother, but we are asked to "die to ourselves" in small ways daily:
• Visiting the lonely.
• Encouraging the discouraged.
• Supporting the struggling.
• Serving without seeking credit.
C. The Material Test If we are unwilling to share our material possessions, which are temporary, it is highly unlikely we would ever sacrifice our lives, which are eternal. Practical generosity is the training ground for sacrificial love.
IV. THE DIVINE SOURCE OF BROTHERLY LOVE
(1 John 4:7–12)
A. It Originates in God We cannot generate this kind of love on our own. We love because "God is love" (1 John 4:7–8).
B. The Vertical and Horizontal Connection Our ability to love others (the horizontal) is entirely dependent on our reception of God's love (the vertical). We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:10–11).
C. God Made Visible No one has seen God at any time. However, when we love one another, God "abides in us" and His love is "perfected in us" (1 John 4:12). We become the mirror that reflects God's character to a dark world.
See Also
CONCLUSION
Brotherly love is the hallmark of the true Christian. It is the evidence of our salvation and the practical manifestation of our faith.
• Let us stop minimizing our coldness toward others.
• Let us move beyond "polite words" to "sacrificial deeds."
• Let us honor all people, but specifically, let us love the brotherhood (1 Peter 2:17).
When we love as Christ loved, we prove that the Gospel is not just a story, but a power that changes lives.
