"AND BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER"

The apostle Paul, after he had given directives to “put off” the “old man” , that is their former way of life; and, to “put on the new man which was created according to God in true righteousness and holiness”, he continues to list certain sins that should not be descriptive of the life of a Christian (Ephesians 4:22-31). Paul concludes this section of his letter to the Ephesian brethren by giving them this positive exhortation:“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,even as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32). It is the word, “kind”, that I want to emphasize presently. It is an adjective that describes the heart and action of a devoted Christian. Paul stated that “love is kind” (1 Corinthians 13:4). In 2 Peter 1:7, we are admonished, in our Christian growth, to add faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness and “to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.” In Galatians 5:22, we read that “kindness” is one of the “fruit of the Spirit”. The apostle Paul, in Colossians 3:12, instructs us to “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts,kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.” Albert Barnes, in his ‘Barnes Notes on the Bible’, commented on the word “kind” as found in Ephesians 4:32: “There is no religion in a sour, misanthropic temper; none in rudeness, stiffness, and repulsiveness; none in violating the rules of good breeding. There is a hollow-hearted politeness, indeed, which the Christian is not to aim at or copy. His politeness is to be based on "kindness;" His courtesy is to be the result of love, good-will, and a desire of the happiness of all others; and this will prompt to the kind of conduct that will render his conversation. with others agreeable and profitable”. One of the most important reasons as to why we should be kind to one another is found in the word itself. Please remove the letter (d) from “kind” and what do you have? You have ‘kin’. One definition of the word ‘kin’ is, “a group of persons of common ancestry”. Jesus said, “But you, do not be called Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren” (Matthew 23:8). He saying that we are not to elevate one brother above another; rather, we are all brothers and sisters on the same level. But how did we all become ‘kinsfolk’, spiritually speaking? The answer is found in Galatians 3:26-29: “(F)or in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.” And being ‘kin’ to one another, we will also be “tenderhearted” and “forgiving”, because we are brothers and sister in Jesus Christ. We are God’s family! (Ephesians 3:14, 15)