Sunday, November 29, 2009

More Thoughts on Biblical Church

We have been talking about how little the Western church looks like the church that we see being formed in the New Testament. The Forgotten God, the Holy Spirit, brings about radical transformation in our lives to make the church look a 'lot more like love.' This will be OBVIOUS in the way that we treat each other inside the Kingdom (and out for that matter). The Bible gives us a list of commands that we call the 'one anothers' that will show us what this love should look like. Here they are:
The Biblical One-Anothers
1.Accept one another -- Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. (Rom. 15:7)
2.Admonish one another -- Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. (Col. 3:16)
3.Bear one another's burdens -- Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. (Gal. 6:2)
4.Bear with one another -- Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. (Eph. 4:2)
5.Build up one another -- Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification (original=build up one another). (Rom. 14:19)
6.Care for one another. . . so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. (1 Cor. 12:25)
7.Comfort one another -- Therefore encourage each other (original=comfort one another) with these words. (1 Thess. 4:18)
8.Confess faults to one another -- Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. (James 5:16)
9.Be Devoted to one another -- Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. (Rom. 12:10a)
10.Encourage one another -- Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. (1 Thess. 5:11)
11.Forgive one another -- Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Eph. 4:32)
12.Greet one another -- Greet one another with a holy kiss. (Rom. 16:16)
13.Be Honest with one another -- Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices . . . (Col. 3:9)
14.Honor one another -- Honor one another above yourselves. (Rom. 12:10b)
15.Be Hospitable to one another -- Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. (1 Pet. 4:9)
16.Be Kind to one another -- Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Eph. 4:32)
17.Love one another -- Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another . . . (Rom. 13:8)
18.Members one of another -- So in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. (Rom. 12:5)
19.Pray for one another -- Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. (James 5:16)
20.Be of the Same Mind with one another -- May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves (original=same mind among each other) as you follow Christ Jesus . . . (Rom. 15:5)
21.Serve one another -- You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature ; rather, serve one another in love. (Gal. 5:13)
22.Spur one another on -- And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. (Heb. 10:24)
23.Submit to one another -- Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Eph. 5:21).   

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