One Another

Serve One Another

"You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge your sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love" (Galatians 5:13).

Freedom emerges as a major theme in Paul's letter to the Galatian Christians. No longer are they to "let themselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery" (Galatians 5:1). Formerly, they-along with the whole world-were "prisoners of sin" (3:22). The Law of God thundered from Sinai did not set them free from sin. It simply made them more aware of how captive they were to their old natures. Throughout the years that followed, the law of Moses became God's means "to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith" (3:24). It was Christ who fulfilled the requirement of the law-death. Thus Paul could write to the Galatians: "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free" (5:1).

Freedom-What Is It?

Greet One Another

"Greet Priscilla and Aquila. . . . Greet also the church that meets at their house. Greet my dear friend Epaenetus. . . . Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you. . . . Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings" (Romans 16:3-6, 16).

These folks represent only a few people whom Paul greeted personally as he closed his letter to the Roman believers. In fact, he mentioned 26 people by name, and his exhortation to "greet one another with a holy kiss" represents only one of five such exhortations in the New Testament letters (see also 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:26; 1 Peter 5:14).

Admonish One Another

"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" (Romans 15:14, NASB).

Some of the most significant relationships I've developed over the years have resulted from experiences in which I've had to confront another Christian about his sin It has never been an easy task (I dread it every time). Yet in the end it usually (not always) has been a very emotionally and spiritually rewarding task. Furthermore, it always provides me an opportunity for personal, psychological and spiritual growth. I inevitably end up evaluating my own Christian life-style and frequently discover I need to make some changes too.

Accept One Another

As mentioned last time we are looking at the command to “Accept One Another.” One of many commands that can only be fulfilled in the believers life if they are connected to and in fellowship with others in a local church.

"Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God" (Romans 15:7).

I grew up in a church where "acceptance" by others depended primarily on what you did or did not do And, as you might guess, the list of "do's and don'ts" certainly did not comprise a biblical list. Rather, it consisted of extra-scriptural activities, most of which were cultural.

Be of the Same Mind with One Another

"Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus" (Romans 15:5, NASB).

There is one outstanding lesson we can learn from church history: Satan's primary strategy involves destroying unity among Christians. He is the author of confusion, insensitivity, false doctrine, and church splits. Turning to the Bible, one soon discovers the power whereby Satan's strategy can be defeated. It's the power of "one-mindedness" in the body of Christ.

Honor one another above yourselves

We are talking about a number of “one another” verses in the New Testament that form the basis for community life as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. Today, we want to consider the second of the main “one another” verses… "Honor one another above yourselves" (Romans 12:10).

Every Christian should strive to make other believers "look and sound good." Every Christian should rejoice when others achieve, when others are honored, when others are successful. When this happens, the body of Christ will function beautifully and mature and grow in Christ.

Christ's Supreme Example

Practical Steps for Developing Family Relationships in Your Church

Step 1

Showing affection and love to other Christians and treating them as brothers and sisters in Christ does not happen automatically. If it were automatic, we would not have so many exhortations to do so. Our first step must be to take seriously what the Bible says about brotherly love. Study carefully the following additional exhortations. Ask God to help you take them seriously as being a necessary part of walking in His will:

"Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more" (1 Thessalonians 4:9-10).

Be Devoted to One Another

The Bible states, “Be devoted to one another in brotherly (Christian) love.” Romans 12:10

The Family of God

Being a part of a family is something with which most people can identify. This is why Paul wrote what he did in Romans 12:10. With the exhortation to "be devoted to one another in brotherly love," he introduced the Roman Christians (and us) to another analogy to illustrate the functioning church.

He was referring to the family unit. The "body" concept graphically portrays that Christians are "members one of another." Each believer (no matter what his or her status in life) is necessary and vitally important in God's order of things. The "family" concept gives us an even greater appreciation of what a functioning church should be. The "human body" serves as a beautiful illustration, but as with all analogies, it can go only so far in describing reality. Its more significant contribution is to illustrate how the church functions.

Body Life

If you would like to see body life happen in your church where “every member is a minister” and can use their gifts to touch others with the love of Jesus... some steps you are encouraged to take:

1> Body life happens within the context of a local church. So, you need to realize that you have been planted in a local church (see last week where we discussed “Believing-Belonging-Becoming) and that you can only practice body life in a practical way in and through the local church. You practice ministering within the loving family of God that you belong to. Then, with the support of other believers, you step out and begin to minister to those who do not know Jesus. So, being a vital part of a local family of God (church) is extremely important to fulfilling the many “one another” verses in Scripture.

2> It is important to understand a local body of believers does not function automatically. There must be a degree of spiritual maturity. In order to become mature, believers must be taught the nature of the body of Christ. This, of course, is why Paul took so much effort to spell this out in his Corinthian letter.

Character – A Necessary Ingredient

If we are to truly be fulfilling the many “one another” verses in Scripture we must be connected to “one another.” We must belong to the local church – the local expression of the Body of Christ. And, you must be connected relationally in that local assembly. This means you do more than attend and absorb on a Sunday. It means being relationally connected with others throughout the week as believers sharing a common life-style and a common goal – to glorify the Lord in everything you do.

To “love one another,” or “bear one another’s burdens,” or “encourage one another” you need to know and be connected to the “one another” you are wanting to love or encourage or help. I cannot bear the burdens of my brothers in Africa but I can help those I meet weekly here in my home church and in the city where I live. I can pray for others worldwide but to fulfill most “one another” verses it is essential to belong to and be connected to a local church.

Creating Unity in the Body of Christ

We have been looking at what it means to be connected to others in the Christian faith and in His Church. We are looking at the "one another" verses in the New Testament and setting the groundwork to understand the numerous references to how we live with one another. Let me finish the introduction to "one another" in this article. You can review the first several articles by going to the web site and spending a few minutes reading over what we have already said.

The third thing Paul was teaching is that Christians should work hard at creating unity in the body of Christ. That is why Paul wrote clearly to the Christians in Corinth: "The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts" (1 Corinthians 12:12). This is why he immediately opened the letter to them by saying, "I appeal to you brothers, in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of yo agree with one another so that there will be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. (1 Corinthians 1:10).

Humility and Interdependence

Last time we saw that Paul was teaching that no individual Christian can function effectively by himself. That we are all “members of the body” and need each other.

The second thing Paul taught was that NO MEMBER OF CHRIST’S BODY SHOULD FEEL THEY ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANOTHER MEMBER OF CHRIST’S BODY. No Christian has exclusive rights to God’s grace. This is one of Paul’s most important points as he teaches on the “one another” verses...His emphasis is on humility and interdependence. And, to recognize that you need others and thus are interdependent and independent you must have a humble heart. It is often not easy to admit that you cannot do it alone as pride often prevents us from recognizing that fact.

Members One of Another

The New Testament clearly states that we are “members one of another.” Although all New Testament authors recognized this truth it was Paul the apostle who developed the concept extensively in his letters to the churches. In most of his references he referred to the body – in half of his “one another” comments he was referring to the physical body with its many parts (members) and the other half to the church. Both had reference to health and wholeness as the body functioned as one.

The "One Another's"

In the New Testament there are 55 different references to “one another” and “each other.” These are biblical injunctions and principles for Christian relationships. In fact, in many cases they are stated as commands for the believer.

These are important principles for relationships to flourish and for the Christian to become strong in character and thus be Christ-like. Every disciple must strive to do their best to grow and improve in each of these “one another” commands. Many of these do not come naturally and you will need the grace and power of God to walk in the fullness of these biblical injunctions. However, it is essential that we all do so as this will enable the Body of Christ to become healthy and whole.