If our very existence is to be spent in loving God and one another (which Christ states very clearly), what does this look like. To me, it call be called one-anothering and this is the last blog on the subject which will include the rest of the scripture passages that I have selected.
Phil 2:3-4 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
Paul tells us here to avoid doing anything with a spirit of opposition and by trying to impress others. This includes strife, envy, and vain-glory. The humility he speaks of includes bringing down our own pride and becoming able to perceive our own littleness and guilt. In other words, we are the clay and not the potter and our will is to be subservient to the will of our Heavenly Father. If we truly are to regard one another as more important than ourselves, we must be quick in observing our own defects and infirmities while at the same time making favorable allowances for the defects of others. We must esteem the good that is in them above that which is in ourselves. We must interest ourselves in the concerns of others - not as busy-bodies - but in Christian love and sympathy. We must rejoice in the prosperity of others as truly as in our own prosperity.
Col 3:9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices
Lying makes us like Satan who is the father of lies and is a prime part of his image upon our souls. Lying naturally tends to destroy faith and friendship among mankind and is especially damaging to the body of Christ.
Col 3:12-13 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.
Those who are holy are the elect of God; and those who are the elect of God, and holy, are beloved -- beloved of God, and to be so of all men. Those who are the elect of God, holy and beloved, out to conduct themselves in every thing as becomes them, and so as not to lose the credit of their holiness, nor the comfort of their being chosen and beloved. It becomes those who are holy towards God to be lowly and loving towards all men. Those who owe so much to mercy ought to be merciful to all who are proper objects of mercy. A courteous disposition becomes the elect of God; for the design of the gospel is not only to soften the minds of men, but to sweeten them, and to promote friendship among men as well as reconciliation with God. Humbleness of mind, in submission to those above us, and condescension to those below us is not optional. We must prudently bridle our own anger, and patiently bear the anger of others. We must also suffer long both the injuries of men and the rebukes of divine Providence. We have all of us something which needs to be borne with, and this is a good reason why we should bear with others in what is disagreeable to us. We need the same good turn from others which we are bound to show them.
The consideration that we are forgiven by Christ so many offences is a good reason why we should forgive others. It is an argument of the divinity of Christ that he had power on earth to forgive sins, and it is a branch of his example which we are obliged to follow, if we ourselves would be forgiven. Someone has said that we are more like Christ than any other time when we are in the process of forgiving others.
Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
The Word of God must move in with us, take up housekeeping with us, get inside our skin. When we breathe, we should be exhaling the words and thoughts from God's word. Many have the word of Christ dwelling in them, but it dwells in them but poorly; it has no mighty force and influence upon them. Without God's word dwelling within us, we have no hope for wisdom. The proper office of wisdom is to apply what we know to ourselves, for our own direction. Wisdom is to make us good Christians and enable us to conduct ourselves in every thing as becomes Wisdom's children. Our purpose for teaching should be a sharpening of ourselves as we quicken others and improve our knowledge by communicating it for their edification.
Singing of psalms is a gospel ordinance. However, when we sing psalms, we make no melody unless we sing with grace in our hearts, unless we are suitably affected with what we sing and go along in it with true devotion and understanding. All must be gone in the name of Christ.
1 Thess 3:12 and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you;
1 Thess 4:18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
Comfort is the Greek word parakaleo and is translated as comfort here and as encourage in subsequent verses in I Thessolonians. It means to console one another, to call to ones side, and to come along side. This has the same thought as when Christ said that he must go away but he would send a comforter, the Holy Spirit to be with us. We are to come along side our fellow believers and comfort them as we are comforted by God.
1 Thess 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.
This is the same Greek word translated as comfort above. To build up contains the thought of building a house from start to finish. Don't stop a part of the way through. Complete the building process with your fellow believer. Whatever they are experiencing, let them know that you will be there for them from beginning to end. This may require a lifetime commitment. Can we do any less knowing what Christ has done for us?
1 Thess 5:15 See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.
The evil spoken of here is something harmful, bad, and wicked. We are to always to seek that which will benefit the other person. If our motive is a desire for appreciation and praise, we will be disappointed. If our motive is to serve for Jesus' sake, we will never be disappointed.
Heb 10:24-25 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
The act of stimulation should be thought of as sharpening alongside. Think of the verse in Proverbs that speaks about iron sharpening iron as men minister to one another. The love spoken of is agape love and the good deeds may be thought of deeds that are valuable, worthy, and fair. The assembling together indicates a Christian meeting for the purpose of worship. Church attendance is not optional for the true follower of Christ. The Holy Spirit will cause us to desire to be with other believers in the worship setting. You cannot one-another if you are by yourself. Fellowship with God must never become selfish. We must also fellowship with other Christians in the local assembly. It is interesting to note that the emphasis here is not on what a believer gets from the assembly, but rather on what he can contribute to the assembly. Faithfulness in church attendance encourages others and provokes them to love and good works. The same Greek word is used again here for encouraging. Includes exhortation and comfort in the context.
James 5:16a Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed.
Confession of sins here is not speaking of a one way confession to an officer of the church. It is a mutual confession from one believer to another in both directions. It means to acknowledge openly, promise, and agree with the occurrence of the issue. Pray as it is used here is the Greek word, euchomai which means to pray earnestly to God. In Acts 27:29, it is translated wished. The sailors were in the midst of the storm and were afraid of shipwreck. They wished earnestly for daybreak in hopes that the storm would disappear with the daylight. Healing denotes the sense of being made whole, not just getting better.
1 Peter 4:9-10 Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Being hospitable carries the connotation of being fond of having guests - so good to see you. How many times do you really feel that someone is being hospitable toward you? Isn't that a great feeling? We should exude hospitality to all men but especially to the brotherhood of faith. And we should not complain or murmur or mutter while pretending our hospitality. We should be using our spiritual gift(s) (charisma) in serving one another. Serving can mean many things but as Jesus said in Mark 10:45 that even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve. Can we, his joint heirs, do any less than serve? This looks like minister which would include attending to anything that may serve another's interests. It also includes relieving one's necessities, providing the things necessary to sustain life, and waiting upon. These can be spiritual, emotional, and physical needs.
The term steward could be defined as the manager of the household and was usually the person the head of the house or proprietor had intrusted with the management of his affairs which could include dealing out proper portions to each one. We have been intrusted with spiritual gifts sovereignly and we are to carry out the good works that God has set forth for us. Grace may be defined here as that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, and loveliness. Or God's Riches At Christ's Expense.
OK, there you have it. If I counted correctly, there are fourteen one-anothers in this blog and five or six in Part II. So if you do these twenty or so things, you will be the perfect Christian, right? Wrong. As our pastor said last week. It is not difficult to live the Christian life, it is impossible! What he meant was that in our own power, we are helpless. In God's power, we are able to be used as vessels of mercy whereby he works through us to accomplish his will. May this be our heart's desire and even more so as the day draws near.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
One Anothering --- Part II
Today, I would like to cover the first set of scriptures that address one-anothering. I fall short properly loving the brethern and the sistern too. May God's word spur us all to Godly living in the Body of Christ.
Rom 15:14 And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another.
Goodness in this verse may be thought of as high, moral character. Knowledge alludes to our Christian knowledge in its entirety- not that we literally are "know-it-alls". The admonishing must be thought of as encouraging, advising, and instructing in positive truth and not about what we are doing wrong and should be warned about. Could include preaching and personal counseling. All believers are equipped to perform in this way with each other.
Gal 5:13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
Freedom has the idea that we were called so that we can become free. Flesh is speaking of the sinful inclination of fallen man. To serve contains no thought of slavery but service that springs from a heart of love. We must be interacting with the body to be aware of the opportunities for service.
Eph 4:1-3 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
As a prisoner of the Lord, we are bound to him but not because of what we have done but because of his calling us and binding us to himself. Our walk is described as faithful friends to all believers and swon enemies of sin. We are called Christians and we must answer to that name and live like Christians. We must act like an heir of the kingdom. Humility is a lowliness that is totally opposed to pride. The gentleness is meekness and an unwillingness to provoke others. Patience includes long-suffering and the patient bearing of injuries suffered without seeking revenge. Tolerance may be thought of as putting up with one another and forbearing and we don't cease loving others because of their infirmities. Think of the fact that unity cannot be preserved if we are unwilling to forgive in others what we find hard to forgive in ourselves. Man, what a truckload but obeying is not an option for the believer and everything is clothed in love.
Eph 4:32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
Probably one of the most familiar verses in Paul's epistles but one of the most difficult to apply on a consistent basis. Our pride longs for us to hold onto hurt feelings and to seek our own revenge. May God grant us an on-going spirit of forgiveness. Being kind looks like this: be affable, humble, courteous, and learn the art of obliging which simply means showing a cheerful willingness to do favors for others. Tender-heartedness involves having a tender sense of the distresses and sufferings of others so as to be quickly moved to compassion and pity. In other words, weep when others weep. Our forgiving of one another must be sincere, hearty, ready, cheerful, universal, and forever. Don't forgive and then go back and pick up the unforgiveness again. Got it?
Eph 5:18-21 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.
First, the obvious. You can't be filled with two things at once. If you are full of wine, there is no room for the Spirit. It is difficult to speak to one another if you are not together. I don't think Paul had the telephone or the internet in mind when this passage was penned. Get together in person; that is the only way for effective one-anothering to occur. Spiritual songs would include songs of praise to God and for mutual edification. God's people have reason to rejoice and to sing for joy. We must continue to give thanks throughout the whole course of our lives for all things because God gives only good and perfect gifts to his children. We are to give thanks for all things; not only for spiritual blessings enjoyed, and eternal ones expected, but for temporal mercies too; not only for our comfort but also for our sanctified afflictions; not only for what immediately concerns ourselves, but for the instances of God's kindness and favour to others also. Now to the real rub - be subject to one another. There is a mutual submission that Christians owe one to another, condescending to bear one another's burdens; not advancing themselves above others, nor domineering over one another and giving laws to one another. We must be of a yielding and of a submissive spirit, and ready to carry out all the duties of the respective places and stations that God has allotted to us in the world. All of this will give proof that we truly fear him (awe not afraid) and where this mutual condescension and submission is present, the duties of all relations will be performed better and one-anothering will improve and bring glory to our Great God.
Rom 15:14 And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another.
Goodness in this verse may be thought of as high, moral character. Knowledge alludes to our Christian knowledge in its entirety- not that we literally are "know-it-alls". The admonishing must be thought of as encouraging, advising, and instructing in positive truth and not about what we are doing wrong and should be warned about. Could include preaching and personal counseling. All believers are equipped to perform in this way with each other.
Gal 5:13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
Freedom has the idea that we were called so that we can become free. Flesh is speaking of the sinful inclination of fallen man. To serve contains no thought of slavery but service that springs from a heart of love. We must be interacting with the body to be aware of the opportunities for service.
Eph 4:1-3 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
As a prisoner of the Lord, we are bound to him but not because of what we have done but because of his calling us and binding us to himself. Our walk is described as faithful friends to all believers and swon enemies of sin. We are called Christians and we must answer to that name and live like Christians. We must act like an heir of the kingdom. Humility is a lowliness that is totally opposed to pride. The gentleness is meekness and an unwillingness to provoke others. Patience includes long-suffering and the patient bearing of injuries suffered without seeking revenge. Tolerance may be thought of as putting up with one another and forbearing and we don't cease loving others because of their infirmities. Think of the fact that unity cannot be preserved if we are unwilling to forgive in others what we find hard to forgive in ourselves. Man, what a truckload but obeying is not an option for the believer and everything is clothed in love.
Eph 4:32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
Probably one of the most familiar verses in Paul's epistles but one of the most difficult to apply on a consistent basis. Our pride longs for us to hold onto hurt feelings and to seek our own revenge. May God grant us an on-going spirit of forgiveness. Being kind looks like this: be affable, humble, courteous, and learn the art of obliging which simply means showing a cheerful willingness to do favors for others. Tender-heartedness involves having a tender sense of the distresses and sufferings of others so as to be quickly moved to compassion and pity. In other words, weep when others weep. Our forgiving of one another must be sincere, hearty, ready, cheerful, universal, and forever. Don't forgive and then go back and pick up the unforgiveness again. Got it?
Eph 5:18-21 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.
First, the obvious. You can't be filled with two things at once. If you are full of wine, there is no room for the Spirit. It is difficult to speak to one another if you are not together. I don't think Paul had the telephone or the internet in mind when this passage was penned. Get together in person; that is the only way for effective one-anothering to occur. Spiritual songs would include songs of praise to God and for mutual edification. God's people have reason to rejoice and to sing for joy. We must continue to give thanks throughout the whole course of our lives for all things because God gives only good and perfect gifts to his children. We are to give thanks for all things; not only for spiritual blessings enjoyed, and eternal ones expected, but for temporal mercies too; not only for our comfort but also for our sanctified afflictions; not only for what immediately concerns ourselves, but for the instances of God's kindness and favour to others also. Now to the real rub - be subject to one another. There is a mutual submission that Christians owe one to another, condescending to bear one another's burdens; not advancing themselves above others, nor domineering over one another and giving laws to one another. We must be of a yielding and of a submissive spirit, and ready to carry out all the duties of the respective places and stations that God has allotted to us in the world. All of this will give proof that we truly fear him (awe not afraid) and where this mutual condescension and submission is present, the duties of all relations will be performed better and one-anothering will improve and bring glory to our Great God.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
One-Anothering --- Part I
Joyce and I have been attending a study group on Sunday nights and have just completed the ninth DVD lesson from a series of twelve lessons. The study is "The Truth Project" from Focus on the Family. If you ever get the opportunity to experience this study, do not pass it up; it is life-changing. The first "tour" (lesson) answers the question: "Why was Jesus born and why did he come to earth?" Many answers were given before the teacher, Del Tackett, read the following verse.
John 18:37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, "So You are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."
A statement like this from a mere mortal would be nothing but a prideful boast but coming from the second person of the Trinity, God the Son, it should cause us to seek the truth. Jesus says also in the same gospel that he is the way, the truth, and the life. He did not say a way, a truth, or a life but the one and only of all of these. Just as the name of God is love, it is also truth and truth is found in no other. In a conversation with his disciples one day, the following occurred.
Matt 16:13-19 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." And Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. "I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
The word for Peter is "Petros" which means a small stone. The word used for rock is "petra" which means a large, foundation boulder. Christ is saying that his church will be built upon himself and not upon Peter which is what is taught by a major religion who claim that Peter was the first pope. In Peter's epistles, he described the church as being built of living stones with Christ being the corner stone. Notice that Christ calls it My church. This point is overlooked by so many religions today, especially those that think only those belonging to their church will ever be saved and spend eternity in heaven. The church is also described in Paul's writings as the Bride of Christ and the Body of Christ with Christ being the Bridegroom and also the Head. It is obvious that Christ's church was established for the purpose of community for his followers. The book of the Acts of the Apostles shows the formation and early posture of Christ's church.
Acts 2:47 And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Acts 11:19-26 So then those who were scattered because of the persecution that occurred in connection with Stephen made their way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews alone. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. The news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch. Then when he arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord; for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord. And he left for Tarsus to look for Saul; and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
Since the greek word for church is defined as "called out ones", what else does the Bible instruct the members of Christ's church to do. My favorite term for how the body should function is "One-anothering". In the book of Hebrews, this verse gives instructions that aren't optional for a follower of Christ.
Heb 10:23-25 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
One key in this verse is the assembling together. How often do we hear people say that they are a Christian but they don't have to go to church. Our reply should be, maybe they don't have to go to church, but they should want to. One-anothering cannot occur alone. If we do not attend church on a regular basis, we are being disobedient to God's word and there is no comfort for us in scripture that we are indeed saved.
On to one-anothering. This is just a small sample of what the New Testament has to say about this topic.
We are to:
John 18:37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, "So You are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."
A statement like this from a mere mortal would be nothing but a prideful boast but coming from the second person of the Trinity, God the Son, it should cause us to seek the truth. Jesus says also in the same gospel that he is the way, the truth, and the life. He did not say a way, a truth, or a life but the one and only of all of these. Just as the name of God is love, it is also truth and truth is found in no other. In a conversation with his disciples one day, the following occurred.
Matt 16:13-19 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." And Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. "I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
The word for Peter is "Petros" which means a small stone. The word used for rock is "petra" which means a large, foundation boulder. Christ is saying that his church will be built upon himself and not upon Peter which is what is taught by a major religion who claim that Peter was the first pope. In Peter's epistles, he described the church as being built of living stones with Christ being the corner stone. Notice that Christ calls it My church. This point is overlooked by so many religions today, especially those that think only those belonging to their church will ever be saved and spend eternity in heaven. The church is also described in Paul's writings as the Bride of Christ and the Body of Christ with Christ being the Bridegroom and also the Head. It is obvious that Christ's church was established for the purpose of community for his followers. The book of the Acts of the Apostles shows the formation and early posture of Christ's church.
Acts 2:47 And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Acts 11:19-26 So then those who were scattered because of the persecution that occurred in connection with Stephen made their way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews alone. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. The news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch. Then when he arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord; for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord. And he left for Tarsus to look for Saul; and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
Since the greek word for church is defined as "called out ones", what else does the Bible instruct the members of Christ's church to do. My favorite term for how the body should function is "One-anothering". In the book of Hebrews, this verse gives instructions that aren't optional for a follower of Christ.
Heb 10:23-25 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
One key in this verse is the assembling together. How often do we hear people say that they are a Christian but they don't have to go to church. Our reply should be, maybe they don't have to go to church, but they should want to. One-anothering cannot occur alone. If we do not attend church on a regular basis, we are being disobedient to God's word and there is no comfort for us in scripture that we are indeed saved.
On to one-anothering. This is just a small sample of what the New Testament has to say about this topic.
We are to:
- love one another
- be devoted to one another
- give preference to one another
- be of the same mind toward one another
- not judge one another
- build up one another
- accept one another
- admonish one another
- serve one another
- show tolerance for one another
- be kind to one another
- be subject to one another
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