“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ”

(Galatians 6:2).

The law of Christ is the love of the brethren. “A new

commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have

loved you, that ye love one another. By this shall all men know that

ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:34-35).

The love of the brethren is an identification mark of those who are

saved. “We know that we have passed from death unto life,

because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother

abideth in death” (1 John3:14). It is clear, if a person, calling himself

a Christian, does not have compassion for a fellow Christian, that

person is lost and still “abideth in death.” On the other hand, the

person who clearly evidences love for other Christians knows he is

saved having “passed from death unto life.”

The love of the brethren is also a work of helping. “Brethren, if a

man be overtaken in a fault (sin), ye which are spiritual, restore

such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, least

thou also be tempted” (Galatians 6:1). The word, “restore” means

“to mend”. The idea may be exemplified by the setting of a broken

finger so that it can mend properly. Christians who are walking

with the Lord are to have compassion upon those who are faltering

in their walk, and are to help them to recover. This is done by

brotherly love and by a gentle spirit, keeping in mind that any

Believer might find himself faltering in his walk and needing the

kind and loving assistance of another for help.

The love of the brethren is sharing with a brother in need. “But

whoso hath this world’s good and seeth his brother have need, and

shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the

love of God in him?” (1 John 3:17). The love of God does not abide

in those who do not show compassion for a brother in need. That is

why true Christians are exhorted, “let us not love in word, neither

in tongue; but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:18). In other words,

Christians are: to stop loving by words only, but continually love

by deeds. The greatest example of this behavior is found in the

sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. “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” (1 John 3:16). - CAR