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Christlike community and their responsibilities.
Often, we find believers who say they have decided to go their own way, mind their own business apart from other brethren. Usually they arrive at this position because of previous experiences of disappointments and misunderstandings. But, can this position be justified based on God’s words and expectation of the believers’ community. The answer is No! The bible clearly places some responsibilities on believers towards one another. If we must do it the bible way, it will be impossible for any believer to make it to the finishing line without an intercourse with other believers within the church ecosystem. In this study we shall examine some of the obligations the bible place on us Christians toward one another.
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- Love one another (John 13:34-35)
“I give you a new commandment – to love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. Everyone will know by this that you are my disciples – if you have love for one another”.
Jesus stressed a new commandment for those who follow him, a community built on love for one another, measured by his own love for us. But, how is it possible to love others as Jesus did? It is only possible when Jesus lives within us and does it through us as we depend on the power of the Holy Spirit within.
“For God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control” 2 Tim. 1:7.
- Honor one another eagerly (Rom 12:10).
The word honor in the Greek means to value something for what it is worth. At what price did Jesus value us? As his children, he priced us at the cost of his own death. So we are to honor those in our church community who drive us crazy, whose worth to the church we may question, who aren’t even living out their faith very well. Yet we are required to value them as Jesus does.
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- Build up one another (Ephesians 4: 11-13).8
Paul uses the word build metaphorically in both Rom. 14:9 and 1 Thess. 5:11. Instead of erecting a building, we are to build up one another spiritually. This happens when we use our talents and grace to serve in the church. Read
- Serve one another (Gal 5:13; 1 Peter 4:10).
Paul encouraged us to serve one another in love. This could involve denying oneself a privilege in order to serve the interest of a brother or sister. It could also be in terms of deploying our spiritual gifts, technical/professional skill or societal privileges to assist the church and other brethren. The community needs each of us to shoulder our part of the load so that God’s work is done (Eph 4:16). Discuss other practical ways by which can we serve one another.
- Carry one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:2).
This literally means to pick up and carry a weight for someone else. We do this when we pray for the other women in our groups, when we give to those who have need, when we weep with those who weep etc