VI. Brotherly Love

To the local church in Philadelphia, the Lord Jesus says, “I know thy works; behold I have set before thee an open door.” Philadelphia means brotherly love; hence, this local church represents the normal, recovered church. In John 17:21 the Lord Jesus prays to the Father, “That they [who believe into Him] may be one…that the world may believe that You have sent Me.” Wherever brotherly love and oneness are evident among believers, others are convinced by this testimony and, as a result, believe into Christ; i.e., the “door” to salvation is opened wide. Witness Lee elaborates:

The sixth epistle is to Philadelphia, the name of which means brotherly love. In the local churches, we need the Philadelphia, we need the love for one another. We love one another because we love the Lord. We need the brotherly love, for in this love, we have the open door. The Lord said to Philadelphia, "I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name" (Rev. 3:8).

In a prevailing local church, the door is always wide open, because the brothers love one another. As long as the brothers and sisters love each other, the door can never be shut. The more we love one another, the more the doors will be opened. If we invite friends to come, it is unnecessary to preach to them; we simply let them see the love that we have with oneness and harmony. This alone will convince them. There is no need for us to preach the Gospel to them. They are convinced already.

The way to open the door is to love one another. The open door is set before Philadelphia. If we would have an open door, we must love one another. This will convince the whole world. (73-74)

Witness Lee teaches that the local churches should endeavor to possess the reality of the church in Philadelphia to whom the Lord gave an open door. If brotherly love exists among the members of a local church, its testimony would convince the world. The more the believers love the Lord, the more this door of the gospel will be opened to them.