Mastering the Art of One–Anothering

Last week I said... “in a community of Christians we need only His counsel, nothing else.  It is just you, your brother and your sister in Christ and the purity of God’s own words to lead you into deeper fellowship and love with each other and Him!”

So this week God’s words from His Holy Word, not mine, will be in sharp focus.  They need no elaborate explanation.  Truth shines and is always simple to comprehend.  So, one verse at a time, let’s review the 22 One–Anothering passages, along with several supporting scriptures and see what God is trying to tell us.  As you consider each passage, look for that which MUST BE CULTIVATED in our relationships with ONE ANOTHER.

1. "Be at peace with one another" (Mark 9:50). "If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men" (Romans 12:18). "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God" (Matthew 5:9). "So then let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another" (Romans 14:19). Jesus is our peace; He broke down all barriers that divide us and made us into ONE BODY, "thus establishing peace" (Ephesians 2:14-18). "Be diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3). 

2.  "If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you" (John 13:14-15). Jesus did not intend here to institute a new symbolic rite/ritual or an actual sacrament, rather He showed that He, their leader, had stooped to serve their needs, and that they should do the same for one another. The emphasis is on the inner attitude of humble and voluntary service for others. 

3.  "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:34-35). "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. This I command you, that you love one another" (John 15:12, 17). See also: Matthew 22:37-40; Romans 13:8-10; 1 John 2:9-11; 3:10-11, 14-15, 23; 4:7-21. 

4.  "For I long to see you in order that .... you and I may be mutually encouraged by one another's faith" (Romans 1:11-12). "...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" (Hebrews 10:25). "Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing" (1 Thessalonians 5:11). 

5.  "For as each of us has one body with many members, and not all the members have the same function, so too we, though many, are one body in Christ and individually members one of another. We have gifts (abilities, talents) that differ according to the favor bestowed on each of us" (Romans 12:4-6). "We are members of one another" (Ephesians 4:25). See also: 1 Corinthians 12:4-30; Ephesians 4:1-16; 1 Peter 4:10. 

6. "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves" (Romans 12:10). "Let each of you regard one another as more important than himself" (Philippians 2:3). "All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another" (1 Peter 5:5). "Submit to (defer to, be subject to) one another out of reverence for Christ" (Ephesians 5:21). 

7.  "Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited" (Romans 12:16). The NIV phrases it this way: "Live in harmony with one another." The NAB says: "Have the same attitude toward all." "May God, the source of all patience and encouragement, enable you to live in perfect harmony with one another according to the Spirit of Christ Jesus" (Romans 15:5, NAB). 

8.  "Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. Love does no wrong to a neighbor; love therefore is the fulfillment of the law" (Romans 13:8, 10). 

9.  "Let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another" (Romans 14:19). "Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing" (1 Thessalonians 5:11). When each member of the Body does its part in love, it "causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love" (Ephesians 4:16). 

10.  "Accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God" (Romans 15:7). See also: Romans 14:1-3. 

11.  "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). This is the Greek word noutheteo which means: "to place within the mind; to instruct; warning based on instruction" (Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words). The NIV says: "Competent to instruct one another." The NAB & NEB say: "Able to give advice to one another." 

12.  "Greet one another with a holy kiss" (Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12). "Greet one another with a kiss of love" (1 Peter 5:14). A visible, physical expression of love and fellowship.  A firm hand-shake... a genuine hug, embrace... these are the expressions of love and care we can express to one another. 

13.  "There should be no division (schism, dissension) in the body, but the members should have the same care (equally concerned) for one another. If one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members share its joy" (1 Corinthians 12:25-26). "Help carry (bear) one another's burdens; in that way you will fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2). 

14.   "Through love serve one another" (Galatians 5:13). "As each one has received a special gift (talent, ability), employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God" (1 Peter 4:10). 

15.  "Walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance (bearing with, endure patiently) to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:1-3). "Put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace" (Colossians 3:12-15). "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you" (Eph. 4:31-32). "Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed" (James 5:16). 

16.  "May the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all men" (1 Thessalonians 3:12). "Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; and this you are doing with respect to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more" (1 Thessalonians 4:9-10). "The love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater" (2 Thessalonians 1:3). 

17.  "Therefore comfort one another " (1 Thessalonians 4:18). This is from a Greek word which conveys the idea of calling someone to your side and placing an arm around them for the purpose of giving comfort, consolation and encouragement.  

18.  "See that no one repays another with evil for evil (or "wrong for wrong" --NIV), but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all men" (1 Thessalonians 5:15). 

19.  "Let us consider how to stimulate (stir up, rouse, spur on) one another to love and good deeds" (Hebrews 10:24). 

20.  "Be hospitable to one another without complaining (grumbling)" (1 Peter 4:9). "Practice hospitality" (Romans 12:13). "An overseer, then, must be .... hospitable" (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8). 

21.  "Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere (unhypocritical) love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart" (1 Peter 1:22). "Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers over a multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8). 

22.  "For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another" (I John 3:11). "And this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us" (1 John 3:23). "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.   The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love" (1 John 4:7-8). "Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has beheld God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us" (1 John 4:11-12). "If someone says 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also" (1 John 4:20-21). "And now I ask you, lady, not as writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another" (2 John 5). 

There is one final passage that must be considered. This passage should be viewed as a challenge to each disciple of Christ. "Now Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for before they had been at enmity with one another" (Luke 23:12).  They didn’t like each other...?  But, on the day they “attacked” Jesus, common cause bound them together as friends...?

If two pagans can put their conflict behind them and become friends over their hatred for Jesus Christ, is it not possible for Christians to put their conflict behind them and become friends over their love for Jesus Christ?!!  Think about that one for awhile... decide how that stark reminder makes you feel when you harbor resentments toward a fellow Christian.  “In Christ”... we should never allow the standards and philosophies of the world to define our love and care for one another.  

Remember... we chose to be the way we are, to act and think the way we do.   God will only help us grow in Christlikeness if we let Him have unrestricted access to our lives.  To avoid those things which destroy relationships, and to cultivate those things which build them up... let God rule freely in your life!

One to Another... bound together in Brotherhood.

For many years I have used the 22 "one-anothering" verses in the NT as the linchpin of my Biblical teaching.  They are the bedrock of what Christ is trying to teach us.  

We accept Biblical truths, we commit our lives to him, we die to our former self in baptism and rise to a joyous new life.  That's a great start to a new life in Christ.  It might also be the easiest part of the journey.   Like money in the bank, the Christian-walk will get rough and rocky as we journey in fellowship and frequent conflict with other Christians.   

We come face-to-face with all the sordid baggage, temptations and unsavory tendencies we all have – pride, arrogance, the need to feel and be important to name a few of our issues with one another.    It's a tall order to live in peace in Christian community when faced with this person and that person we don't much care for.   Our prejudices toward one another boil over in anger, bitterness and all forms of resentments.   Often, these ungodly tendencies [we all have them] are enflamed by deep anxieties that seem beyond our control.  In frustration we lash out at the first person available... often an outsider, a new person in the congregation or the person front and center.... like the preacher or the elders.  The preacher is such an easy target to attack.... everything he says and does is under constant unrelenting scrutiny.  The elders, they're "in charge" so they get blamed for everything.  Often... we get embroiled in unexpected situations that quickly spin out of control and we end up hurting someone or being wounded ourselves by a fellow Christian.

Christ knew we would suffer from these potentially destructive situations.  Therefore, He provided a strategy based on “accepting each other as we are” and learning to love one another without unrealistic expectations.  

Christians today are no different than those of the first century... we are desperately in need of admonishment, forgiveness and unconditional acceptance of one another.  Easy?  Absolutely not... its one of the hardest things you will ever do in life.  Can you do it?  You absolutely can. God has given us the foundation... we just have to be humble enough to apply it to ourselves.

The One–Anothering principles set forth by our Lord and championed by the Apostles were demonstrated to be essential for genuine Christian brotherhood as exemplified by the first century Christians.  The cornerstone of these principles begin with Jesus saying...

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35   

The ultimate living challenge for all professing Christians... is to work through the following list of verses and try and imagine yourself as the catalyst, an initiator among a group of people who above all things seek to demonstrate and practice the art of one-anothering.   Our Lord set forth these principles to help us accept one another in-spite of our flaws and faults.  

With these principles guiding our relationships, we can overcome the human tendency to be critical of one another.  We can accept all persons regardless of the occasional hurt and harm we do to one another, just as God accepts each and everyone who embraces Him as Savior.  Here's the LIST of 22 Biblical passages that speak to Christian Relationships...

1. Loving one another (John 13:34) 

2. Forgiving one another ((Ephesians 4:32) 

3. Accepting one another (Romans 15:7) 

4. Bearing with one another (Ephesians 4:2 

5. Being devoted to one another (Romans 12:10) 

6. Honoring one another (Romans 12:10) 

7. Greeting one another (2 Corinthians 13:12) 

8. Being hospitable to one another (1 Peter 4:9) 

9. Being kind and compassionate to one another (Ephesians 4:32) 

10. Sharing with one another (Hebrews 13:16) 

11. Serving one another (Galatians 5:13) 

12. Carrying one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2) 

13. Building up one another  (1 Thessalonians 5:11) 

14. Encouraging one another daily (Hebrews 3:13) 

15. Comforting one another (1 Thessalonians) 

16. Stimulating one another to love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24) 

17. Instructing one another (Romans 15:14) 

18. Admonishing one another (Colossians 3:16) 

19. Praying for one another (James 5:16) 

20. Confessing your sins to one another (James 5:16) 

21. Being of the same mind toward one another (Romans 12:16) 

22. Submitting to one another (Ephesians 5:21)

Committed Christians should desire to make these qualities their natural response in all interpersonal relationships.  Learning to love one another as Christ loved us is a monumental challenge... but with a willing heart and the power of the Holy Spirit by whom “we are transformed”... we can come to know what God would have us cultivate so that our relationships with one another might be more mutually edifying.   

The benefits for a growing Church family are endless.  There is no limit to how much we can grow in personal awareness and spiritual intimacy with one another.  We can truly be the bridges to others who seek to know God and be “bound together in the Spirit” with others of like faith.  But only if there is peace among brethren.  Conflict, divisiveness, divisions... will destroy unity and fellowship. 

These “22 one-anotherings” designed by God Himself, His words, from His Word, are not the writings' of men.  Therefore, in a community of Christians we need only His counsel, nothing else.  It is just you, your brother and your sister in Christ and the purity of God’s own words to lead you into deeper fellowship and love with each other and Him!