+I. The choice of God.+--1. _It was early._ 2. _It was free._
3. _Efficacious._ 4. _Appropriating._
+II. The work of Christ.+--He died as our Substitute. 1. _This fact
explains His death._ 2. _Vindicates the justice of God in His death._
3. _Displays the love of Christ._
+III. The privilege and duty of Christians.+--1. _Life in Christ._
2. _Life with Christ._ 3. _In Him and with Him here and
hereafter.--G. Brooks._
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.--Verses_ 12, 13.
_The Treatment due to the Ministerial Office._
An excessive modesty prevents many ministers from calling attention
to the sacred office they hold, and to the respect in which it should
ever be regarded by those over whom they have the oversight. Such a
modesty is inexcusable. To say nothing of the contempt with which the
world looks upon the ministerial office, there are thousands within
the Church who are utterly ignorant of its duties and awful
responsibilities, and who have but vague, distorted notions of their
duty towards the men who first led them to Christ, and who have been
instructing them in the truths for years. Let not the minister
hesitate, even at the risk of being thought egotistical, to speak on
this subject, and enforce the New Testament teaching. The apostle was
not withheld by any false sense of modesty from pointing out, with
all emphasis and authority, the obligations of the Church towards
those who minister in the Word and doctrine. Observe:--
+I. The distinctive duties belonging to the ministerial
office.+--1. _To labour._ "Them which labour among you" (ver. 12),
even unto weariness, as the verb signifies. The work of the faithful
minister is no sinecure; it taxes all the powers of the brain and
muscle. It is a work demanding prolonged and earnest study, intense
feeling, and ceaseless toil.
2. _To rule._--"And are over you in the Lord" (ver. 12). The minister
is not simply a sort of popular delegate or hired agent, bound to
receive the instructions, execute the wishes, and flatter the humours
of his constituents. He is, indeed, the servant, in the proper sense
of that word, but not the slave and tool of the Church. The right to
speak and act in the name of Christ carries with it an aspect of
pre-eminence and authority, and the same is implied in the very names
that designate the ministerial office--as pastors, or shepherds,
teachers, bishops, or overseers. On the other hand, the
impressiveness of sacerdotal assumption is checked and limited by the
words, "In the Lord." The minister is to rule only in the Lord,
recognising the joint union of himself and his Church with the Lord,
and the principles and polity by which the Church of Christ is to be
governed.
3. _To admonish._--"And admonish you" (ver. 12). These words also
qualify the nature of the rulership. It must not be a despotic
lording it over God's heritage, issuing commands with absolute and
arbitrary authority, and enforcing those commands, if not instantly
obeyed, with terrifying anathemas. No; he is to rule by the force of
moral suasion--by instruction, admonition, advice, warning. The verb
means to put in mind. To gain obedience to the right, precept must be
repeatedly enforced in all the varied forms of reproof, rebuke and
exhortation.
+II. The treatment due to the ministerial office.+--1. _An
intelligent acknowledgment of its character._ Think of its Divine
appointment, its solemn responsibilities, its important work, its
exhausting anxieties, its special perils. Whatever the ministers seem
to you, they are the eyes of the Church and the mouth of God.
Acknowledge them; sympathise with and help them; give credit to their
message; they watch and pray; they study and take pains for your sake.
2. _A superlative, loving regard._--"Esteem them very highly in love"
(ver. 13). The adverb is particularly forcible, signifying
super-exceedingly, more than exceedingly. There is a hint here to
thousands in the Church at the present day, which it is hoped they
will have the grace to act upon. The profound reverence and esteem to
be shown to the ministerial office is to be regulated, not by fear,
but by love. The hard-working, devoted, and faithful minister is
worthy of all honour and affection.
3. _The true ground of this considerate treatment._--"For their
work's sake" (ver. 13). Love them for your own sake; you have life
and comfort by them. Honour them for their office' sake; they are
your fathers; they have begotten you in Christ; they are the stewards
of God's house, and the dispensers of His mysteries. Honour and love
them for God's sake; He has sent them and put His Word in their
mouth. To love a minister is not much, except his work be that which
draws out affection. He who can say, "I love a minister because he
teacheth me to know God, because he informs me of duty, and reproves
my declensions and backslidings"--he is the man who has satisfaction
in his love.
+III. An important exhortation.+--"And be at peace among yourselves"
(ver. 13). Not simply be at peace with your pastor, but among
yourselves. You are all the children of God. God is a God of peace.
Discord, contention, and unquietness are fit only for the children of
the devil. Live in godly unity as becometh the children of peace.
This is a duty frequently enjoined (Heb. xii. 14; Jas. iii.; Ps.
cxli.). Let there be peace especially between the minister and his
flock--no rivalry between ministers, no disputings and contentions
among the people. There can be no prosperity where peace is absent.
+Lessons.+--1. _The minister is accountable to God for his fidelity._
2. _The people can never profit under the minister they have not
learned to respect._ 3. _Peace is an essential condition of success
in Christian work._
_GERM NOTES ON THE VERSES._