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.
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