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Statement of Beliefs:
Providing for the Spiritual Needs of Others

November 30, 2013

We have started a discussion regarding a Statement of Beliefs for those who identify as First-Century Apostolic Christians, those of us who believe our practices are closely aligned to the practices of the first-century church. We began to look at how we believe that Christian faith includes a life of faith with works and that to live a live with one without the other is dead. On Thanksgiving, we examined our belief that there is a need to provide for the physical needs of others, especially those of the household of faith. Today we will study the following belief:

We believe in the need to provide for the spiritual needs of others, especially those of the household of faith.

Consider these verses:

John 21:15-17
So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

Jesus taught Peter of the need to feed the sheep, a reference to providing for the spiritual needs of the church.

2 Peter 3:18
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.

Peter taught that we are to grow in the grace and in the knowledge of Jesus. This growth is possible because our spiritual needs are met and this process can allow us to help others meet their spiritual needs.

Jude 3
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

Part of our spiritual need as shown by Jude is to earnestly contend for the faith we were given. As our faith develops, we are able to help others.

1 Corinthians 12:1-18
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

Paul explained to the Corinthians that each of us was brought into the church for specific reasons. In his example, each part of the body adds to the body so that it can meet its own needs. Similarly, we can be used by God and Jesus to help others have their spiritual needs met.

2 Timothy 1:7
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

In his letter to Timothy, Paul shows that the Holy Spirit can lead us with power, love, and a sound mind and each of these are not only useful for us, but useful as we help others.

Galatians 5:13-26
For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

The Holy Spirit does not give us a license to sin, but rather to serve one another, and we must develop the fruit of the spirit as this gives us greater opportunity to serve others.

Galatians 6:10
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Paul knew the importance of doing good for all men, especially to those of the household of faith. Our faith will lead us to do works, which can include providing for the spiritual needs needs of others.

Living a life of faith and works as a Christian requires us to believe in the need to provide for the spiritual needs of others as warranted. There is much more to explore regarding this topic. A Statement of Beliefs is not intended to fully represent all of our beliefs, and is intended to provide a reasonable summary so that others can succinctly understand what we believe. It can also provide us with a reflective consideration of our own religious faith. The more we understand who we are and what we believe, the more we can help others understand who we are and what we believe, the more we will be able to celebrate what is good, embrace what is good, and do what is good.

All verses are from the King James Version.
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