We have looked in a study on The Badge of Christians already at some of the great
truth about love which we are to have among us and for each other. The main focus was on what Jesus Christ commanded
his disciples, i.e. that they were to love one another as he had loved them. Others were to know them as his disciples
because of the love they would have for one another.
The love we have for each other is manifested in manifold ways
within the church. Therefore, a study of the different places where the expression "for one another", "to one another",
etc. is used in the Scriptures will be helpful for a better understanding of what "love one another" is about.
Especially those scriptures in the church epistles, those NT writings addressed to the church of God, will have much to
tell.
Ephesians 4:15 and 16:
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
The topic concerns the church and its increase or growth into him, Christ as the head, in all things. The
church here is the body of Christ, and Christ is the head, into whom the body is to grow up.
Here we are told some
remarkable truths about the church. Christ is the head, and from him the whole body is fitly joined together. In the
body, all members are compacted and properly joined together throughout every part, so that each member contributes or
supplies something according to its own measure and working. In this way then the increase of the body and the
edification of itself in love is accomplished.
Sometimes one can see a slightly different and slanted picture in
the church of the body of Christ because some believers have a different idea of how it should be in the church. They
come to the church gathering, become part of a local Christian church or fellowship, and begin to look for each and
every opportunity where they can get something from that which other members of the church contribute to the fellowship
and its growth. They either not look at all or very little on what they actually should be giving according to
their measure and their effectual working. Their focus is completely on what they can take, and sometimes such
an attitude is even disguised into nice words such as, "But I am giving another member of the body the opportunity to
edify and to supply something; and this way the other will have their reward from the Father in heaven."
These
verses however do show clearly that the focus of each member in the body of the church should be on what they according
to their own measure can contribute, what they can give in support of the whole, what they can give toward
accomplishing the goal of increase and edification of the church itself in love. Each member has something to do in
this body, in the fellowship of the church. And each member does have the possibilities and the means to fulfill this
responsibility of supplying and contributing to the increase and edification. Each member "supplieth according to the
effectual working in the measure of every part" – and that is always possible to each member. Even if some times
it would be a very small measure, it still would be "a measure".
Unfortunately, sometimes believers do not realize
this truth or perhaps have allowed themselves to be talked out of it. Then they begin to think that they are unable to
help someone else in the body of the church. Or they think, they are only a small and insignificant member whose
contribution would not make a difference anyway. Similar thoughts of worthlessness, discouragement, inability and other
useless confusing thoughts are part of the devil's methods to keep us from doing what God has called us to do. All such
thinking is wrong and not true!
We all have something to do and contribute in the body, each member has his/her
function and "job to do". When each member acknowledges what they are to do and what they have been entrusted with, and
when they with conviction and trust in God carry it out, an increase and edification of the body is possible and will
be accomplished. The growth and increase of the church happens from the inside, in that each member contributes toward
it. Among each other, by caring for each other, we contribute to the increase and edification of the body of the
church.
Of course, each member does have their own needs and they all need help and assistance and edification. But
it is interesting that the emphasis first and foremost is put on the fact that each member is to be focused on giving
and supplying to other members. Only that way can an increase be accomplished, and only this way can needs within the
church be best met. If we imagine for a moment how much help would be granted if all members of the body selfishly look
only to themselves and their own needs which must first be met before they want to help anyone else, it becomes evident
very quickly why God's Word only speaks of giving and not taking or receiving here! Only a church whose members focus
on giving and supplying can increase and grow up into him and it will have members who are constantly helped and whose
needs are met in manifold ways!
We now want to look at a few scriptures in the church epistles where such
expressions as "one another" are used. It will be remarkable to note that quite many of these passages are actually
commands. These passages do not just show one alternative among many other possibilities of behavior, but we are
commanded what we are to do. The things we as members in the church are commanded by the Word of God, we can also carry
out, for which reason we should take to heart what we will read.
Romans 12:10:
Be kindly affectioned one to another ["one to another"] with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another ["one another"];
The brotherly love is not manifested in that all are kindly affectioned to and in honor preferring only some, such as an elder, or overseer in the church. No – all are to behave this way "one to another", i.e. to all other members in the church.
Romans 12:16:
Be of the same mind one toward another ["one toward another"] …
This shows us a great challenge given us in the Word of God. On the basis of God's Word all believers within the church can and should be of the same mind one toward another. It is obvious that this does not necessarily mean that we all like the same song, the same color, or that we all like various other things equally well. This speaks of a conduct in love on the basis of God's Word – and as regards that we all ought to be of the same mind one toward another.
Romans 13:8:
Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
Once again we read a command. We are commanded to love one another. This is even a debt we owe each other in
the church. Other types of debts we certainly can and should pay off, but "to love one another" remains a constant debt
which we owe each other.
In Romans 14, we will read a passage in which we are commanded something which we are not
to continue to do toward one another.
Romans 14:13:
Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
Among the believers in the church there is no reason for any one member "to judge one another". To the contrary, we are exhorted and told not to put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in a brother's way! Thus, possible occasions for "judging one another" can already be avoided.
Romans 15:7:
Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.
"Receive ye one another" — once again a command which is connected with a comparison. Christ did not first check us, investigate us, do all sorts of tests with us, etc. before he received us to the glory of God, did he? He simply received us as we were when we came to him in faith and trust in his accomplished work.
Romans 15:14:
And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
This verse shows clearly that within the church more than just one person or a few members are to be full of goodness and filled with all knowledge. We all can be such, and we all should become that way so that we then indeed can also admonish one another. The encouraging, exhorting and admonishing is not only the duty of one person, but of all toward one another.
Romans 16:16:
Salute one another with an holy kiss …
This speaks of the salutation when the church gets together, when all meet. There is to be a friendly and kind salutation as well as a similar parting from each other again. The kissing has reference to the custom of the times, but it also is many places today a sign of kindness and esteem for one another. In biblical times and the lands of the Bible, only believers of the same sex would greet each other with a kiss. This same matter is spoken of also at the end of 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians where we can read this same exhortation to salute one another with a holy kiss.
1 Corinthians 11:33 and 34:
Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.
And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.
This section speaks of a gathering of the church when the Lord's supper and a common meal were part of the meeting. The believers are encouraged to "tarry one for another". They were not to just start eating with no thought about anybody else, just because they were hungry. Even the natural desire and the need for food because of hunger was no reason to just start and disregard the others. If one was hungry, he should have eaten at home. When the church came together they were to tarry for one another. In this is expressed that all in the church was and is to be done to the edifying and that things are to be done decently and in order.
Galatians 5:13:
For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
This scripture points out that we have been called to liberty in Christ, and it continues by stating that this should lead to us serving one another by love. A vital church life emanates from believers serving one another by love. It is quite remarkable that "serving" and "liberty" are thus connected with each other!
Galatians 5:15:
But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
Once again we read of something which we are rather "NOT" to do to one another! Biting and devouring one another in the church will only lead to complete disaster in which all are consumed of one another. The result of such behavior is that nothing will be left at the end.
Galatians 5:26:
Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
Another example of a "not" in connection with "one another" — we are not to provoke one another, nor are
we to be envious of one another. For that there really is also no reason, for Christ has accepted all of us equally.
Therefore we can receive each other also and need not at all act in a provoking manner not envy one another.
In
Galatians 6 we can read something which is to be done instead within the church. Here we will read of helping one
another in the matter of carrying burdens.
Galatians 6:2:
Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
We each fulfill the law of Christ in that we help each other by carrying one another's burdens. This demonstrates the love we have for one another which Jesus commanded us to have. This verse speaks of such burdens that can be carried or borne by another. There are also burdens and responsibilities which each one of us has to carry for themselves and where no one else can lend a hand to help.1 But with such burdens where another can help, we are to be ready and willing to step in and help in bearing such burdens.
Ephesians 4:2:
… forbearing one another in love;
This statement once again combines "love" and "one another". Within the church we are to forbear one another in love.
Ephesians 4:32:
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Several things regarding "one another" are mentioned in this scripture as a command. Be kind one to another, tenderhearted and forgiving one another! And perhaps the forgiving one another is really emphasized most. We forgive "one another", and there is no need for some independent person to bring about the forgiving. We do our best to be kind toward all within the church, to be tenderhearted toward each other, and also to forgive one another, because God has been kind and tenderhearted in forgiving us for Christ's sake!
Ephesians 5:19–21:
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
These sections in Ephesians are filled with instruction for believers in the church and emphasize over and over
the aspect of "one another". "Speaking to yourselves" is not talking about each one talking to himself or herself, but
rather of us encouraging one another amongst each other. This is an important part of church life.
The point of
"submitting one to another in the fear of God" in verse 21 is then explored further in the following verses in
reference to the specific situation within a family. Nevertheless, the submitting one to another is a matter which has
bearing on the church as a whole and the way believers treat each other in the church in general.
Philippians 2:3 and 4:
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Once again we can see which important role "the other" has in these expressions about what we are to do "one
another". Not strife, not vainglory are to be our motivation for what we do in the church or anywhere else, but rather
lowliness of mind, humbleness. In such humbleness we then can turn our eyes away from us and on to the things of others
and incorporate them in a proper manner into our actions and what we do.
In Colossians 3, once again a passage of
Scripture with "one another" is to be considered.
Colossians 3:9 and 10:
Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
And have put on the new man …
We are now a new creation in Christ Jesus, therefore we are not to lie one to another, but rather we are to speak the truth to one another in love.
Colossians 3:13–16:
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
These verses remind us of a section in Ephesians where these points of teaching and admonishing were already stated also. Within the church there are teachers, but their ministry and service is not the only teaching and admonishing which is happening in the church. We all are encouraged and commanded to teach and admonish one another which of course necessitates that we all let the word of God about Christ dwell richly in us.
1 Thessalonians 3:12:
And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
Once again, love for one another and among each other is being spoken of, something which of necessity will be manifested more within the local church fellowship. But beyond that we are to increase and abound in our love also "toward all men" for which Paul uses his relationship to the Thessalonian saints as an example for comparison. "All men" in the context will be still first and foremost a reference to "all men within the greater framework of the church (beyond the local church)", but also in our love toward others outside of the church we can grow and abound with the help of the Lord!
1 Thessalonians 4:9:
But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
Once again, the command to love one another is mentioned – we are even taught of God to love one another!
1 Thessalonians 4:18:
Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
At the close of the instruction about the coming of our lord and about what will happen to those who have fallen asleep in Christ, another "one another" is mentioned. To comfort in such situations where a believer in the church dies, is also a matter which we do "one to another".
1 Thessalonians 5:11:
Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
It is interesting that the believers at Thessalonica were exhorted with a command to comfort and edify one
another even though they were already doing so — "even as also ye do". Obviously it was necessary and appropriate
that Paul would point this out in this manner that they should comfort and also edify one another. Such a command is
not only given when they have already stopped to do so, but rather while they are still doing it. This was also no
reason for them to now get all excited and upset about such words from Paul. They took this to be a further
encouragement toward an even more worthy endeavor and they regarded it as an exhortation to continue with even more
diligence to comfort and edify one another.
1 Corinthians 12 contains a section where these points are sort of
summarized. In this part of the epistle about spiritual matters in the church, a comparison of the church with a human
body is given, and some important points for our study are mentioned there.
1 Corinthians 12:14–16:
For the body is not one member, but many.
If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
One member could claim for itself that it was not a member of the body. But this would not be the truth, because hand or eye – despite their claim to the contrary – are members of the body! However, they would dislocate themselves from their responsibility within the body with such claims.
1 Corinthians 12:17:
If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
If it were this way that the whole body was only eye or hearing, then there would also be a big problem! The body could not function at all if it only consisted of all eye or all hearing, i.e. only one kind of member.
1 Corinthians 12:18–27:
But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
And if they were all one member, where were the body?
But now are they many members, yet but one body.
And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:
That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
Verse 25 contains another statement in which the words "one for another" are used — the individual members
are to "care one for another". Each believer in the church has possibilities, each one has opportunities and functions
which really only he can fulfill in a certain way and in this certain case. Someone else may do the same at another
place or at another time, but in each one's specific place each member cares for his part to fulfill what it has been
ordained to do for the edification of the whole body of the church
God is at work within each and every believer.
He has placed each and every member in the body of the church.
Philippians 2:13:
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
God works in us, i.e. in each and every believer and not only in one or the other. Now, this will also be
affected by how much a believer understands of God's Word, of God's working, and of letting God work. God is at work in
the believer who wants to walk according to God's will, and He works both to will and to do of His good pleasure.
Each member in the church of the body has the possibility and the ability to serve another, to care for another, to
love another. If this knowledge from God's Word is taught and believed, if this is foremost in the awareness of the
church, then a vital church life can and will develop and be present. Life in such a church will be as vital and full
of life as the members care for one another and share with one another.
Sometimes, we may hear that in a certain
church "nothing is happening", "everything is boring and dead", or "it's about time that someone from somewhere does
something to get things going". In a church there will be not much happening for as long as its members are mainly
egotistical and looking to themselves and as long as they are not willing to free themselves of such egotism and begin
to look to what they would like to do "one for another". Ten "dead" members will sit around "dead" until one of them
gets the idea that he could do something for another in this group. Then there are only eight of the "dead" type
sitting around, for one has decided to claim his new life in Christ and he already has been able to encourage one of
the other nine at least a little bit. This one can now help along and also bring a bit more "life" into the group, and
then the situation can rapidly change as they get more and more involved in caring for one another.
In Ephesians,
we had seen at the beginning of our study how the body of the church edifies itself in love. How does the body as a
whole edify itself? By each member caring for another and supplying to another member. One member supplies to another
and helps another. Each member is there for another, to edify, to love, to comfort, to strengthen, to exhort, to
admonish, to bear burdens, to serve … Each member is concerned to supply that which is according to its measure
and that way the body makes increase and edifies itself in love.
God's Word shows to the church that each member of
the body is important and has its specific function. May each one take this to heart and ponder it and carry out what
God works in him/her each day in their daily lives. Then, I would suppose with confidence, much in the life of a church
will become vital and effective because things are done according to God's plan.
1 Cp. Galatians 6:4 and 5: "But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden."