The Second
Greatest
Commandment
an Apostolic Christian Church Bible Study
The Second Greatest Commandment
a Bible Study
introduction
background
This Bible study seeks to illuminate our
understanding of Bible teachings about interpersonal relationships.
References used in the study are from Webster’s New
Collegiate Dictionary and the King James Version
of the Holy Bible. When a definition from the
dictionary is used in the text, that word is written in
the margin. Likewise when a Bible verse is referred to
in the text, the reference numbers are written in the
margin.
At the end of each section are the words Examine,
Pray, Thank and Record, along with questions and
directions intended to help you apply the Biblical
principles to your own life. Each section should be
studied separately, allowing time for spiritual growth.
Many prompts in the Record sections are meant for
completion later - after applying the lesson.
Memory Verse
“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with
all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this
is the first commandment.
And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour
as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. ”
- Mark 12:30-31
© 2013. Apostolic Christian Church of America. All Rights Reserved.
Table of Contents
Is Your Heart Pure?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
The Ultimate Example of Love. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Love Described. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Loving vs. Not Loving. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Forgive, and You Shall be Forgiven. . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Love Your Enemies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Be Humble. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Do Not Judge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Serve Others. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Get Along with Others. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Put Off the Old Self. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Put On the New Self . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Love the Brotherhood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Conclusion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Is Your Heart Pure?
Pure - unmixed with any other matter; free from dust,
dirt, or taint; spotless, stainless.
Reflection
MT 5:8
Is your heart pure? Jesus said ‘’Blessed are the pure in heart for they
shall see God.
Have you seen God? Is it possible for man to see God?
HEB 12:14
3 JN 1:11
1 JN 4:12
1 JN 4:16
1 JN 3:3
1 PET 1:22
2 PET 3:14
The Bible says without holiness no man shall see the Lord, and he that
does evil has not seen God. 1 John 4:12 says no man has seen God at
any time. But the verse does not end there. It continues: If we love one
another, God dwells in us, and His love is perfected in us. If we love one
another, we know God because God is love. In our love for one another,
God gives us a way to see Him, because He is love.
The impurities of our hearts stand in the way of God’s love being
perfected in us. We cannot love one another if we are harboring illfeelings, carrying grudges or allowing unforgiveness in our hearts.
God calls us to purify ourselves, even as He is pure, and to love one
another with a pure heart. We are to be diligent so that when Jesus
returns He will find us in peace, without spot, and blameless.
Is your heart pure?
6
The Second Greatest Commandment
Application
Examine
If there are any family members or acquaintances with whom you are
not on speaking terms, what restorative measures does God’s Word
promote?
Pray
Pray that God will cleanse your heart from all “dust, dirt or taint”
and replace it with His love.
Thank
Thank God that He will cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Record
Record how God exposed some dirt in your heart and then through
confession and reconciliation how you were cleansed from that
impurity.
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7
The Ultimate Example of Love
“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He
loved us…”
- 1 John 4:10
Reflection
JN 13:34
JN 15:12
JN 15:17
ROM 13:8
1 TH 3:12
l JN 4:10-11
EPH 5:1-2
l JN 3:16
Does God ask too much of us when He commands us to love one another? When we understand how much God loves us and the ultimate
example of love He gave to us, we will have a great desire to fulfill
anything He asks us to do.
What God did for me is of such great magnitude, how can I be unwilling to show love to others?
God Did This:
therefore
We Should Do This:
God loved us and sent His Son
We should also love one another
to be the propitiation* for our
sins
Christ loved us and gave
himself for us as a sweet smelling
savour and sacrifice to God
Be followers (imitators) of
God and walk in love
Jesus laid down His life for us
We ought to lay down our lives
for our brothers
When you think of John 3:16...
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
...also remember 1 John 3:16
Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us:
and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
* Propitiation: the sacrifice that reconciled sinful man to God
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The Second Greatest Commandment
Application
Examine
What qualities in another person would make him/her seem not to deserve your love? As a sinner, how much did your worthiness influence
God’s decision to love you?
Pray
Pray that God will help you understand how much He loves you.
Thank
Thank God for loving you so much.
Record
Record what God has taught you about His love for you.
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Love Described
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay
down his life for his friends.”
- John 15:13
Reflection
Would you be willing to die for your best friend or spouse? Is your love
so great that you would risk your life to rescue your loved one from
danger? Now, is your love so great you gladly put their interests ahead
of yours, speak kind words instead of harsh, and build them up instead
of finding fault?
1 COR 13:3
1 JN 3:18
10
We do not prove our love for others by big heroic actions, but rather in
our small day to day interactions. If I gave you everything I owned and
even died for you, but did not love you, it would profit me nothing. I
cannot just say I love you.
longsuffering
ROM 13:10
1 COR 13:4
ROM 12:15
vaunt
puffed up
(conceited)
unseemly
If I love you, I will patiently endure for a long time any hurt you may
cause me. I will always treat you kindly, without harming you in any
way. I will never envy you when things go well for you but not for me.
I will be glad and delighted with you when you have reason to rejoice,
even if I don’t, and I will weep with you when you have reason to
weep, without feeling like you are ruining my time of rejoicing. I will
never call attention to myself, pridefully boast about my own worth or
attainments, or have an excessively high opinion of myself.
provoke
1 COR 13:5
If I love you, my actions will never be in poor taste or inappropriate. I
will not seek my own way nor be easily angered. I will not think negative thoughts about you.
rejoice
1 COR 13:6
When I have love for you, I will not feel glad and delighted to win an
argument, get my own way, or get even, but I will rejoice when God’s
commands are being fulfilled.
bear
hope
1 COR 13:7
endure
1 COR 13:8
Because I love you, I will put up with anything that is trying or painful between us, I will believe in God’s ability to work in our relationship, and I will expect the fulfillment of God’s plan for us. I will
remain firm in my love for you under suffering or misfortune without
yielding because love never gives up.
The Second Greatest Commandment
I am to always love you no matter what you do because Jesus has asked
me to love you in the same way He has loved me; He has loved me
unconditionally. I should not wait for you to reciprocate my love before
I show you more love because I always have a continuing debt to love
you.
JN 13:34
My love for you should not fade and die out, but it should continue and
increase more and more. Above all things, my love for you should be
sincere and earnest. I am not to hide indifference under a false appearance of fervent love. True love is genuine and sincere, not hypocritical
or pretentious.
HEB 13:1
1 TH 4:9-10
1 TH 3:12
1 PET 4:8
fervent
ROM 12:9
dissimulation
1 PET 1:22
unfeigned
How do I know if I love you?
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and
keep his commandments.
- 1 John 5:2
Does it seem overwhelming to keep God’s commandments? 1 John
5:3-4 goes on to say that His commandments are not oppressive, for
everyone born of God overcomes the world.
Because we are born of God and have Him living within us, by His
power we can overcome the way of the world (which thinks of self first
and is so far from love).
God does not ask us to keep His commandments without His help.
The truth is that we cannot keep His commandments without His help.
That is why Jesus said that our love for one another lets others know
that we are His disciples. Because without Jesus, it cannot be done.
So rather than being oppressive, God’s commandments become beautiful promises of what He will do through us when we acknowledge our
own sinfulness and inadequacies and allow Him kingship of our life.
An Apostolic Christian Church Bible Study
JN 15:12
ROM 13:8
1 JN 5:3-4
grievous
JN 13:35
11
Love Described, continued
Application
Examine
How does your love for others compare with God’s standard?
Pray
Pray that God will teach you how to let Him love others through you.
Thank
Thank God that His commandments are not oppressive, but rather
beautiful promises.
Record
Record how someone responded when you allowed God to love them
through you.
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The Second Greatest Commandment
Loving vs. Not Loving
“And this commandment have we from him, That he who
loveth God love his brother also.”
- 1 John4:21
Reflection
How important is it for us to love each other? When we contrast what
the Bible says about those who love, with what it says about those who
do not love, we get a clearer picture of the importance of loving our
brother.
Those Who Love
...have fulfilled the law.
...do well.
...remain in the light and there is nothing in them to provide
opportunity to fall into sin or waywardness.
...know that they have passed from death into life.
ROM 13:8
JA 2:8
abide
occasion
stumble
1 JN 2:10
1 JN 3:14
...are born of God and know God.
dwell
1 JN 4:16
1 JN 4:7
...are the children of God.
1 JN 3:10
Those Who Do Not Love
...are children of the devil; are not of God.
1 JN 3:10
...remain in death.
1 JN 3:14
...do not know God.
1 JN 4:8
Those Who Hate* Their Brother
...are in darkness even now, even if they say they are in the light.
1 JN 2:9
...live/exist in God and God in them.
* Hate - to feel extreme enmity (deep-seated dislike or ill will) toward; to express or feel extreme
enmity or active hostility; to feel strong aversion or intense dislike for
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Loving vs Not Loving, continued
1 JN 2:11
...are in darkness, walk in darkness, and do not know where they are
going because darkness has blinded their eyes.
1 JN 3:15
...are murderers and do not have eternal life abiding in them.
1 JN 4:20
...are liars if they say they love God.
It is vitally important for us to love our brother, for that is how we
know that we love God. If we do not love our brother whom we can
see, how can we love God whom we cannot see?
Application
Examine
Who do you find especially difficult to love? Where do you need God’s
strength to approach such relationships in His way?
Pray
Pray that God will impress upon your heart the seriousness of not loving others.
Thank
Thank God that He taught us how to love by Jesus’ perfect example.
Record
Record how God revealed to you where your love was lacking toward a
particular person.
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The Second Greatest Commandment
Forgive, and
You Shall Be ForGiven
Forgive - to cease to feel resentment against (an offender):
pardon; to grant relief from payment of
Reflection
Have you ever needed God’s forgiveness? Is there something in your
life now for which you need to ask forgiveness? When you ask God for
forgiveness, do you expect Him to say “Yes, I forgive you,” or ‘No, I
will not forgive you”?
Of course, we have all needed God’s forgiveness, and we will continue
to need it as long as we wear flesh and blood. But unless we forgive others, we cannot expect God to forgive us.
If I forgive someone when they hurt me or infringe upon my (perceived) rights, God will also forgive me when I fail Him. But if I do
not forgive that person, God will not forgive my failings.
trespass
MT 6:14-15
MK 11:26
So what happens if God does not forgive my sins? Consider the story of
the unforgiving servant (MT 18:21-35). A servant owed a huge amount
of money. There was no way he could pay it back, so his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and everything that he had in order to pay the debt.
The servant begged his lord to be patient with him until he paid back
what he owed. The lord moved with compassion, let him go, and
forgave the debt. The servant then went to a man who owed him a
very small amount of money, took him by the throat, and demanded
payment of the small debt. The man begged him to be patient until
he could repay the debt, but the servant cast him into prison until the
money was paid in full.
When the lord found out what had happened, he said to the servant,
“O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt because thou desiredst
An Apostolic Christian Church Bible Study
15
Forgive and You Shall Be Forgiven, continued
me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even
as I had pity on thee?”
torment
MT 18:35
LU 11:4
MT 5:23-24
MK 11:25
COL 3:13
EPH 4:32
And the lord was very angry and sent the servant to be tortured and
subjected to extreme pain and anguish of his body and mind until he
paid back the entire debt.
According to Jesus, that is exactly what His heavenly Father will do to
me, if I do not forgive my brother’s trespasses, from my heart.
A portion of the Lord’s Prayer, “ forgive us our sins; for we also forgive
everyone that is indebted to us,” teaches us to seek forgiveness and also to
forgive others. We are to be cleared of all relationship problems when
we come to God in prayer. If we remember that a brother has something against us, we are to first go and be reconciled with him, and
then come and “offer our gift on the altar.” We are not to wait until he
comes to us or to consider it his problem.
On the other hand, when we are praying, if we have something against
anyone else, we are to forgive them, so God may forgive us. We are
to forgive whatever grievances we have against another, just as Christ
forgave us without holding back.
Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven. Luke 6:37
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The Second Greatest Commandment
Application
Examine
What, if any, debts have you not cancelled, whether they be apologies,
admitting wrongdoing, unfulfilled promises, or things you feel that
others owe you?
Pray
Pray that God will grant you grace to forgive others now, so you do not
have to face your sins in eternity.
Thank
Thank God that you, like the servant, have been forgiven a huge debt
paid by Christ’s blood. (How much more should we forgive the small
trespasses against us!)
Record
Record how God helped you forgive (cease to feel resentment against)
someone.
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17
Love Your Enemies
“Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
- Romans 12:21
Reflection
According to the dictionary, an enemy is someone that is antagonistic or opposing to another. Do you have ‘enemies’ — people who are
in opposition to you for one reason or another? Is there anyone with
whom you are in conflict?
The Bible gives many challenging directions for dealing with opposition. We are sure to see God work mightily in our own lives and even
in the lives of our ‘enemies’ when we obey His commands by His
grace.
LU 6:29-30
If someone is in opposition to me, I am to first of all love them (see
Love Described). If they curse me to bring great evil upon me, I am to
bless them, desiring God to bring prosperity and happiness upon them.
If someone expresses extreme ill-will towards me or acts hostile towards
me, I am to do good to them and even give of my belongings to them
without expecting anything to be returned. I am to pray for anyone
who treats me maliciously or hatefully. I am also to pray for anyone
who harasses me, causing me to suffer because of my beliefs. If someone slaps me or hits me with an object, I am to offer them my other
cheek. If someone takes my possessions, I should not ask for them to
be returned or refuse to let the rest be taken. I am to give to anyone
who asks something of me.
1 JN 4:16
overcome
ROM 12:21
Because God is in me, and I am in Him, it is possible for me to use
good to overpower the evil, rather than retaliate and allow evil to get
the better of me.
ROM 12:19
As a child of God, it is never an option for me to get even. “Vengeance
is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” I am never to return evil for evil to
anyone or to respond with harsh words to someone who has spoken to
me accordingly. Instead, I should rather be wronged or cheated and
always do good to the family of God and everyone else too. I should
curse
bless
hate
despitefully use
persecute
LU 6:27-28,35
1 PET 3:9
railing
defrauded
1 COR 6:7
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The Second Greatest Commandment
desire to meet the needs of those who hurt me. Jesus calls me to feed
them when they are hungry, and give them a drink when they are
thirsty. What a light that will be to the unsaved! When I allow God,
through me, to do something humanly impossible, blinded eyes and
hardened hearts can open to God.
God calls us to respond to our enemies with blessing, desiring their
prosperity and happiness, so that we can inherit a blessing. If we love
our enemies, our reward will be great, and we will be called the children of the Highest. But if we only love those who love us, we will not
receive a reward because even a sinner does that. When we obey these
commands, we will see God because we will be like Him; He is kind to
the unthankful and to the evil
Finally, we are called to willingly suffer for doing good. (This is acceptable with God, but it is no glory to patiently endure being beaten for
a fault.) Christ suffered for us, and left us a perfect example, that we
should follow His steps. Jesus never sinned, and He never spoke deceitfully. When He was verbally abused, He did not do it back. When He
suffered, He did not threaten the people. Instead, he committed Himself to God, who judges righteously.
How could Jesus and early Christians like Stephen feel compassion
towards those who mocked them? How could they call out for God
to forgive those who were killing them instead of being afraid of their
persecutors? By loving one’s enemies, there is no fear in love because
perfect love casts out fear.
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1 TH 5:15
ROM 12:20
1 PET 3:9
MT 5:46
LU 6:35
revile
1 PET 2:19-24
1 JN 4:18
19
Love Your enemies, continued
Application
Examine
For anyone whom you feel is in direct opposition to you, how does the
Spirit move your heart to respond?
Pray
Ask God to reveal to you where you fall short in obeying the way
He wants you to treat people in opposition to you.
Thank
Thank God that He will help you to not be overcome of evil, but to
overcome evil with good.
Record
Record how loving a difficult person removed the fear you had of them
hurting you.
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The Second Greatest Commandment
Be Humble
Humble - not proud or haughty: not arrogant or assertive
Proud - showing or feeling superiority towards others
Reflection
Have you ever felt better than someone else? Or felt your way was the
best way? If you do not agree with someone, how do you work it out?
The Bible lays out a plan that is so very much against our human
nature, it seems impossible to follow. Satan will tell us we will lose out
if we follow God’s way, but that is a lie. The truth is we can only win.
God promises to give us the strength to fulfill His commands. The reward we will receive now and in eternity for obeying will far outweigh
getting our own way.
PH 4:13
This is the plan.
As soon as I find myself thinking that I know more or am better than
someone else, a red flag goes up that it is time for me to examine my
heart because that is pride, and it will cause God to resist me.
1 PET 5:5
So, checking myself against the Bible, I find that I am not supposed
to think of myself more highly than I ought to think or be wise in my
own eyes. For if I think myself to be something, when I am nothing, I
am deceiving myself. And if I do happen to be more gifted than others
in a particular area, I still should not feel that I am better than they.
For God’s Word asks me, ‘’Who made you gifted in that area? And
what do you have that you did not receive? Since every gift you have is
from God, why do you glory as if you had attained it by yourself?”
ROM 12:3
ROM 12:16
GAL 6:3
Secondly, if I have a difference to work out with someone, our discussion should never involve bitter or violent conflict or quarreling and
taking sides. I should not be insistent that I am right, but in lowliness
of mind I should regard the other person as better than myself. I should
never speak evil of them, but be gentle and endure any injury they
cause me with patience and without resentment. I am to show respect
to that person and choose or regard them above myself. I am to act this
way to all people all the time.
strife-dissension
vain glory
PH 2:3
TIT 3:2
meekness
honor; prefer
ROM 12:10
1 PET 2:17
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1 COR 4:6-7
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Be Humble, continued
Thirdly, I am to go one step further and yield myself to the authority
or will of the other person, fearing what God will hold me accountable
to if I do not. According to God’s Word, I owe obedience or allegiance
to the power or dominion of others and, if I am clothed with humility,
God will give me grace to obey these commands and will not resist me.
condescend
ROM 12:16
ROM 15:7
1 COR 12:25
endued
envy
strife
glory
JA 3:13-16
pure
peaceable
intreat
mercy
partiality
hypocrisy
JA 3:17
22
Finally, there should be no one who is not good enough for my time,
attention, and love. If there is someone who seems too lowly for me to
care about, I am to descend to a less formal or dignified level and stoop
to meet them where they are. If there is someone in whom I see faults, I
am to receive them into my life anyway. After all, Christ did welcome
me despite my faults because He saw what He could help me become. I
should not feel a separation from any brother or sister, but I should care
about them just as much as those closest to me.
Often, when we have been humbled, we find we did not have all the
best answers anyway. James gives us a true definition of wisdom. He
asks, ‘Who, among you, is a wise man provided with knowledge?” If we
are wise, we will prove our wisdom by living a Godly life in the meekness and humility that comes from being wise. But if in our hearts we
bitterly resent an advantage enjoyed by another and desire to possess
the same advantage, or if we have conflict or dissension with others, we
should not rejoice proudly and lie to ourselves that we are wise. For this
wisdom does not come from God, but is earthly, sensual, and devilish.
Because where envying and strife are, there is confusion and every evil
work.
Wisdom from God is vastly different. It is first free from any unrighteousness. Then, the wisdom from above is neither contentious nor
quarrelsome, is quietly behaved, and is marked by freedom from strife
or disorder. A truly wise person is gentle, easy to deal with or plead
your cause to, full of compassion and forbearance even for an offender,
and full of love, joy, patience, goodness, and kindness. A person whose
wisdom comes from God is not inclined to favor one party more than
the other (biased) nor does he pretend to be what he is not.
Is your wisdom from God?
The Second Greatest Commandment
Application
Examine
When have you had reason to work out a situation with another
person?
Pray
Pray that God will forgive you for the times you have failed to
follow His plan in the past, and that He will supply the grace and
strength for you to obey Him from now on.
Thank
Thank God that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens
you.
Record
Record how God was faithful to supply His help, and what a difference
it made in your relationships when you chose to obey God’s plan.
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23
Do Not Judge
“Judge not, and ye shall not be judged.”
- Luke 6:37
Reflection
Do you ever use another person’s actions as an excuse for your own
disobedience? Such as:
I cannot love him because he ...
I cannot esteem her because she .. .
I cannot accept her because she .. .
I cannot submit to him because he ...
trespass
LU 6:37
stumbling-block
ROM 14:10-13
It is not our job to judge others’ trespasses against us. It is our job to
forgive any infringement on our person, property, or rights. God will
judge others’ actions against us, and we will be judged for how we
respond. The Bible says that every knee shall bow to the Lord and that
every tongue shall confess to God. Every one of us will give account of
himself to God. Therefore, we are not to judge each other anymore. Instead, we should make up our minds to not put an obstacle to progress
or an occasion to fall in another believer’s way.
So, following the typical pattern of God’s plan for relationships, we
cannot use another person’s actions as an excuse for our own disobedience or lack of progress, but we are responsible for our actions if we
cause him to fall or not make progress. Instead of placing blame on
someone else, we should be responsible for our actions toward others.
MT 7:2
ROM 2:1-3
24
Do you tend to be critical of others? Would you like to have yourself as
a judge? Be careful in your assessments of others, for you will be judged
with the standard you use to judge others. With what measure you use,
it will be measured back to you.
The Bible has strong words and soul-searching questions concerning
judging others. It says we are inexcusable and we are condemning ourselves when we judge others, because we do the same things ourselves.
God’s Word asks if we think we will escape God’s judgment if we
judge others but transgress similarly ourselves.
The Second Greatest Commandment
Some other questions we must ask ourselves when we are judging others are:
• How can I approach someone else about a small fault until I have
overcome my large fault?
• Who am I to judge another man’s servant? To his own master he
stands or falls.
• Since God is the one lawgiver, Who is able to save and destroy, who
am I to think that I can judge others too?
• How can I judge others and how can I look down on them since we
shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ?
We are commanded to not judge one another, but that does not exempt
us from carrying some responsibility for other believers’ spiritual welfare. “Not judging” does not mean being comfortable with sin. After
we deal with the faults in our own lives, we are to help our brother
remove the faults in his life.
MT 7:4-5
LU 6:41-42
ROM 14:4
JA 4:12
ROM 14:10
LU 6:42
If a believer becomes overtaken in a fault, those who are spiritual are to
gently and humbly bring him back to his original state, considering
themselves lest they also become enticed to do wrong by promise of
pleasure or gain.
restore
tempted
GAL 6:1
If this does take place, and someone is able to turn a sinning believer
around, he shall save a soul from death and shall hide many sins.
JA 5:19-20
Likewise we are commanded to forgive those who cause us harm or
hurt, but that does not mean we ignore the wrongful actions of that
person and never approach him/her about them.
If a believer trespasses against us, we are to go and tell him his fault between ourselves and him alone. If he accepts what we say, we have gained
that brother. But if he does not accept what we say, we should take one
or two other believers with us when we speak with him, so that there
will be two or three witnesses of everything that is said.
If the believer who has trespassed against us still does not accept what
we have to say, we are to tell it to the church. Finally, if he refuses to
hear the church, we are loosed from our responsibi1ity. He is to be to
us as a non-believer, but that does not mean we no longer love him —
for we are to love everyone.
When a believer trespasses against us, we are to reprimand him. Then,
if he does accept what we have to say and is sorry, turns from the sin,
and strives to amend his life, we are to forgive him. If he continues to
infringe on our person, property, or rights but always repents for his
An Apostolic Christian Church Bible Study
MT 18:15-17
1 TH 3:12
rebuke
repent
trespass
25
Do Not Judge, continued
LU 17:3-4
actions, we must continue to forgive him and at no point can we stop
accepting him as a brother.
Application
Examine
When do you find it most difficult to avoid judging others? What are
the proper steps to follow when someone wrongs you?
Pray
Pray that God will reveal to you where you need to forgive instead of
judge. Pray that He will teach you how to act towards someone who
has wronged you.
Thank
Thank God that He alone is our Judge and that His judgments are
righteous.
Record
Record an example of being freed to love and accept someone* you had
been holding in judgment.
*When you love and accept a person, you do not necessarily love and accept their actions.
26
The Second Greatest Commandment
Serve Others
Serve - to be a servant
Reflection
Think about the goals you have set for yourself to reach by the time you
turn 30 years old, or 40 years, or retirement. Wealth? Power? Honor
and prestige? How about to be a servant? Oh, it sounds so lowly to our
human minds.
Jesus certainly must have turned the world upside down when He
preached His plan. That is what must happen today, too. We must let
Him turn our false castles and dreams upside down so He can teach us
the perfect way.
Jesus said that the way to be great in His eyes is to be a servant to
everyone. He wants our purpose in life to be to serve others, not to live
out our own desires. Because that is what He did; He came to serve.
If Jesus were to visit us in person, no doubt we would jump at His every
request. We would be so honored to serve Him! But often it is difficult
to surrender our desires for another human being. Satan would have us
believe that this is less honorable than serving the Lord himself, but the
truth is that whatever we do for even the most insignificant person, we
are doing it for Jesus.
MK 10:43-45
LU 22:27
MT 25:40
We are called to serve others out of love. Our service should not be
outward only -- to be noticed by others. Rather, when helping our
neighbor, we should truly have a servant heart that views Jesus as the
recipient.
GAL 5:13
God has given us each different gifts for the purpose of serving each
other by using those gifts. Often, we feel that others hinder us in fully
serving with the talents God gave us. That is not so: people do not hinder our service; people are our service.
1 PET 4:10
Finally, we should follow Paul’s example, who made himself a servant
to all. Namely, he pleased others instead of seeking his own profit, so
that more might be saved.
1 COR 9:19
1 COR 10:33
An Apostolic Christian Church Bible Study
EPH 6:7
27
Serve Others, continued
Application
Examine
What, if any, castles, goals, or desires of attaining a position of power
do you have that need to be broken down?
Pray
Pray that God will give you a servant heart.
Thank
Thank Jesus that He came to serve, not to be served.
Record
Record how God is teaching you to serve the very people you thought
were hindering your service to God.
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The Second Greatest Commandment
Get Along With Others
“Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to
dwell together in unity.”
- Psalm 133:1
United - being in agreement; harmonious
Reflection
Is there anyone you know who thinks the same as you in everything all
the time? Should this be our goal?
Our ultimate goal should be for everyone in the body of Christ to
reach the unity of the faith (one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord,
one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all) and to fully know
Jesus so that each person can reach the standard set by Him, and be
made complete in His fullness. Then, we will no longer be children,
going back and forth, confused and deceived, but our lives will lovingly
express the truth while we grow up and mature in Christ in all areas.
EPH 4:3-6
EPH 4:13
perfect
EPH 4:14-15
EPH 4:7-8
To help us attain unity, Jesus gave us gifts to make us different. If we
each use our gifts properly, for the perfecting of each other so we all
can do the work of building up the body of Christ, the whole body will
fit together just as it should and will grow and build itself up in love. In
this way, we will reach the ultimate goal of unity.
edify
If the body of Christ is functioning as it should, we will be using our
differences to strive together for the faith of the gospel. Concerning
the gospel, we will speak the same thing, and there will be no divisions
among us. We will be perfectly joined together, having the same intentions, desires, and judgments.
PH 1:27
mind
ROM 12:16
2 COR 13:11
PH 2:1-2
1 PET 3:8
agree
peaceable
ROM 12:18
peace
2 COR 13:11
1 TH 5:13
ROM 15:1
Through discussion and adjustment of differences, we will strive to
reach complete accord about the faith. We will not be contentious or
quarrelsome, but quietly behaved, marked by freedom from strife or
disorder. There will be harmony in our personal relationship, and there
will be freedom from disturbance within the body.
If resolving points of disagreement, the members of the body will not
An Apostolic Christian Church Bible Study
EPH 4:12;16
29
Get Along With Others, continued
ROM 14:19
ROM 15:2
1 COR 10:24
edify
MT 5:41
COL 2:2
seek their own desires or desire to please themselves. Instead, they will
choose the ways that will lead to peace and to the spiritual growth and
building up of others. They will not demand to be met half-way, but
will go the full way themselves or even beyond. Their hearts will be
knit together in love, allowing for the giving and stretching needed to
work together as a body.
Application
Examine
How are you inclined to react if someone does not share your opinion
on a matter?
Pray
Pray that God will teach you how to please others instead of yourself—
without compromising the scriptures.
Thank
Thank God for how He has equipped you to serve the body of
believers.
Record
Record an incident that helped you understand how you can use differences to build others up.
30
The Second Greatest Commandment
Put Off the Old Self
“...Seeing that ye have put off the old man with his
deeds; and have put on the new man...”
- Colossians 3:9-10
Reflection
Is there any of the "old man" left in you? Since you belong to Christ,
have you crucified your flesh with its feelings, desires, and cravings? It
takes much honesty and self-examination to expose what is left of the
old man, so we can rid ourselves of it.
affections
lusts
GAL 5:24
The easiest place for me to start looking is how I speak about others.
If I ever say mean or spiteful things about others, spread confidential
and derogatory reports, or utter false charges or misrepresentations that
defame and damage another person's reputation, I still am wearing the
old man.
backbite
whisper
The next place to look is my conduct when I am speaking with others.
If I find fault, argue, dispute, have bitter or violent conflict, take sides,
stir up others to anger, or lose self-control due to anger, I am acting
according to the old man. If I become loudly insistent, or the whole
group becomes disorderly with uproar and confusion of voices, this too
signifies the presence of the old man. I also must check if I am filled
with pride and arrogance, or if I am behaving or speaking in a pompous, blustering, or self-important manner, or having an excessively high
opinion of myself.
debates
(quarrels)
strife
provoke
rage
clamour
tumult
swellings vainglory
(conceit)
Another trait of the old man concerns deceit. If I make an untrue statement with the intent to deceive, create a false or misleading impression,
am cunning or try to cover my true intentions by deceptive words or
actions, I am guilty of deceit. Hypocrisy, or pretending to be what I am
not or pretending to believe what I do not, is also a form of deceit.
lying
guile
2 COR 12:20-21
GAL 5:26
EPH 4:25,31
These characteristics of the old man usually manifest themselves in
our actions. We can, though, outwardly appear that we have crucified
our flesh but inwardly still wear the old man in our heart. If we carry
a strong feeling of displeasure toward someone or something, desire
COL 3:8-9
TIT 2:3
TIT 3:2
JA 4:11
An Apostolic Christian Church Bible Study
evil speaking
(slander)
31
Put Off the Old Self, continued
1 PET 2:1
anger
malice
envy
bitterness
to see another suffer, wish pain, injury, or distress to another, or feel
strong vengeful anger toward others, we are not fully clothed with the
new man. Nor are we if we have a painful or resentful awareness of an
advantage enjoyed by another joined with a desire to possess the same
advantage, or an angry, hostile, or resentful outlook on life.
grudge
If you find yourself grumbling and complaining about someone or angry at them without cause, remember that God is standing at the door
watching, weighing the evidence and holding you accountable for your
actions.
JA 5:9
MT 5:22
JA 1:19-20
EPH 4:26-27
1 TIM 2:8
MT 5:23-24
1 COR 3:3
32
We are to be slow to become angry, to hold our tongue, and to deal
with our anger immediately, so Satan has no opportunity to work.
Each time we become angry or have conflict with someone, our goal
should be to resolve the situation without sinning. When we kneel to
pray, our hearts are to be free from anger, and we are to be reconciled
in our relationships before we offer ourselves for service to God.
If we follow these teachings, our lives will glorify God, we will not be
walking as mere men, and we will be a great witness to the unconverted.
The Second Greatest Commandment
Application
Examine
How ready are you to stand before God and give account of all your
relationships?
Pray
Pray that God will bring to light and expose any of the old man that is
left, so it can be replaced with the new man.
Thank
Thank God that He remembers our frame, that we are dust, and gives
us grace to overcome.
Record
Record an incident when by God’s grace you were able to resolve a
conflict without sinning.
An Apostolic Christian Church Bible Study
33
Put On the New Self
Love - unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the
good of another
Reflection
Could someone describe Jesus by describing you? Are you becoming more like Him every day?
courteous
gentle
kind
humble
lowly
Jesus was not proud or haughty, arrogant, or assertive, but ranked
Himself low and was humble in manner and spirit, free from selfassertive pride.
tenderhearted
merciful
pity
Jesus was easily moved to love, pity, and sorrow. He extended help
even to the lowliest or most undeserving, and had sympathetic sorrow for those who were suffering, distressed, or unhappy.
longsuffering
meek
Jesus was patient and willing to endure offenses for a long time. He
also endured both physical and emotional injury with patience and
without resentment.
1 TH 5:15
The Lord was stern and uncompromising concerning sin, but loving, gentle, and forbearing concerning people. We are to be the
same, always following that which is good, both among the family
of God, and to all people.
Additional
Verses
GAL 5:22-25
EPH 4:2
EPH 4:32
PH 2:1-2
COL 3:12
COL 3:14
TIT 3:2
1 PET 3:8
LU 6:36
34
Jesus was respectful and considerate of others, free from harshness,
sternness, or violence, and mild in manners and disposition. He was
affectionate, loving, sympathetic, and helpful.
The Second Greatest Commandment
Application
Examine
How are you actively seeking to become more like Jesus?
Pray
Ask God to convict you when you are not acting like Jesus.
Thank
Thank God that if you submit to Him and resist sin, Satan will flee
from you.
Record
Record a time when God reminded you to act like Jesus, and provided
grace for you to do so.
An Apostolic Christian Church Bible Study
35
Love the Brotherhood
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all
men, especially unto them who are of the household of
faith.
- Galatians 6:10
Reflection
When you spend time with other believers, what is your purpose for
gathering? Are you fulfilling God’s instructions for a body of believers
when you are meeting?
edify
If we are fulfilling our duty to one another as fellow believers, we will
be meeting frequently, so we can continuously help each other grow in
the Lord. We will not withdraw from other believers or quit meeting
together because of our own busyness, hurt feelings, inconvenience, or
for any reason. Instead, as we anticipate the Lord’s return, we will daily
make urgent appeals, give warnings and advice, and urge one another
strongly to heed God’s Word, so that none of us will be hardened by
the deceitfulness of sin.
EPH 4:29
1 TH 5:11
admonish
ROM 15:14
COL 3:16
EPH 5:19
HEB 10:24
unruly
1 TH 5:14
We will not spend our time together unwisely, but will talk about
things that build others up and that spiritually instruct, improve, or enlighten others. We will be very familiar with the scriptures and hymns,
so we can use them to teach each other and to gently give warning or
disapproval and friendly, earnest advice and encouragement to each
other. We will sing hymns together and make melody in our hearts to
the Lord, and we will consider how to stir each other up to have greater
love and to do good works. We will warn those who are willful and
headstrong and not submissive to authority.
ROM 12:13
hospitality
grudging
1 PET 4:9
feebleminded
When we meet together, we will be readily receptive and open, pleasant, cordial, and welcoming to everyone attending. We will not be
unwilling or reluctant to meet any person. If there is anyone who is
troubled or burdened, uncertain how to act or proceed, or wavering in
their mind, we will support them, console them, and give strength and
forsake
HEB 10:25
exhort
HEB 3:13
36
The Second Greatest Commandment
hope to them from God’s Word and by sharing how God has comforted us in our tribulation. We will offer our help and assistance to
those who are not firmly decided, or not able to withstand temptation
or persuasion, in order to keep them from fainting, yielding, or losing
courage.
If we are doing our part, we will also admit our own faults and failings
to others, so they can pray for us and support us when we are weak. We
will share our material possessions with those who have physical needs.
A body of believers that is fulfilling what it has been called to do will
have a very close fellowship among its members.
GAL 6:2
comfort
1 TH 4:18
2 COR 1:4
1 TH 5:11,14
support
weak
confess
JA 5:16
ROM 12:13
Application
Examine
When you speak with other believers, how often do you get beyond
surface talk?
Pray
Pray that you can contain the Scriptures in your heart, so you can edify,
admonish, encourage, and teach other believers when you talk to them.
Thank
Thank God that if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we will
have fellowship with one another.
Record
Record a time when you were able to be helped by another believer
because you were willing to admit your faults and struggles.
An Apostolic Christian Church Bible Study
37
Conclusion
And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love
one toward another, and toward all men ...
- 1 Thessalonians 3:12
Be like Jesus. Love like Jesus loves. Forgive as Jesus forgives. We hear
these instructions often, but do we really heed them?
We can conclude from this Bible study that we are called to give up our
own rights and take on our responsibilities to others. We are to love
and accept people but not love and accept sin. We can understand that
it is never acceptable to withhold our love from those who hurt us or
those with whom we disagree. We know we have forgiven others when
we love them unconditionally and begin to place their needs and hurts
above our own.
We have learned that marks of humility are desiring to seek Godly
counsel and a willingness to heed it, an absence of defensiveness when
we are challenged by others, and freedom from the desire to get our
own way.
We have exposed the false belief that we need independence to follow
the Spirit and serve God to the fullest of our ability. Instead, we have
learned the truth that our desire for autonomy (answering to no other
person or authority; self-governed) is a lust of the flesh and that true
freedom comes from dying to self and trusting God to fulfill His will
for us without compromising any scripture.
We have learned that we need to be like God in order to see God and
that we cannot be like Him without His help. May the grace of our
Lord Jesus Christ be with us as we seek to be pure, as He is pure.
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The Second Greatest Commandment