Lenten MidWeek Series: The One Anothers of Scripture
March 21, 2012
Intro:
Welcome again to our Lenten series on the one anothers of Scripture. Lent is a time for self-examination, for reflection on our sins, to ponder where we have gone astray from God’s commandments. The Great Commandment is to “love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and love our neighbor as our self.” That was the Old Testament.
In the New Testament the Gospel writers and Aposltes in letters to the churches flesh out the Great Commandment in detail as they use a number of
One another” phrases to describe what it means to “love your neighbor as I have loved you.” That is the kind of behavior by Christians that makes the world sit up and take notice.
When we look at these commands, the “one anothers”, how we are to behave towards others, we can only admit that we are sinners, who have failed, and desire God’s forgiveness in Christ. That is exactly the emphasis of Lent. We are to confess our sins and turn to God. We can only begin to fulfill these commands as we are born again by the Holy Spirit and by the power of the Spirit begin to live the new life we have in Christ Jesus.
This evening will take a look at four more:
Submit to One Another – Ephesians 5:21
Be Devoted to One Another in Brotherly Love – Romans 12:10
Honor One another Above Yourselves – Romans 12:10
Live in Harmony With One Another – Romans 12:16
1. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.Ephesians 5:21
People often misunderstand the concept of submitting to another person. It does not mean becoming totally passive. Christ—at whose name "every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth" (Phil. 2:10)—submitted his will to the Father, and we honor Christ by following his example. Jesus gave us a perfect example of submitting and serving in the Gospel lesson read a while ago in John 13 of washing the disciples feet.
When we submit to God, we become more willing to obey his command to submit to others, that is, to subordinate our rights to theirs. In Paul's day, women, children, and slaves were to submit to the head of the family—slaves would submit until they were freed, male children until they grew up, and women and girls their whole lives.
Paul emphasized the equality of all believers in Christ (Gal. 3:28) in regard to salvation, but he counseled all believers to submit to one another by choice. This kind of mutual submission preserves order and harmony.
Submission provides evidence that we have Spirit-controlled relationships, and it requires the Holy Spirit's guidance and restraint (4:2-3). The Holy Spirit is the key to being able to do any of these “one another” commands. In verse 18 Paul tells how our relationship with the Holy Spirit is supposed to be. He says: Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.(5:18)
These words should be considered in light of the whole section (4:17–5:20) in which Paul has contrasted the "before and after" of the believers' lives. Getting drunk with wine was associated with the old way of life and its selfish desires, which Paul has already condemned as corrupt (4:22).
When a person is drunk, everyone can tell. His or her actions make it obvious. In like manner, our lives should be so completely under the Spirit's control that our actions and words show beyond a doubt that we are filled with the presence of God's Holy Spirit.
Although Ephesians 5:18 is often quoted in support of anti-drinking efforts, the underlying issue goes deeper than whether or not to drink alcohol. The more important concern is, what—or who—is going to be in control of your life? Either the Holy Spirit is, or something else is. And whatever else it may be, it's a poor substitute. Being filled with alcohol can make you lose control and do stupid things. Being filled with the Holy Spirit gives you self-control (Gal.5:23) and helps you worship God and serve others.
The words "be filled" are a command for all believers, yet believers do not manufacture it—God fills believers with his Spirit when they profess faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. Paul was not suggesting that the believers needed to "get filled"; rather, he was saying, "Since you are already filled with the Spirit, keep on like that." The words are also in the present tense, indicating constant replenishment with the Spirit—believers are not "once-and-for-all" filled but rather are continually being filled with the Spirit as they continue to walk with God.
The effects of alcohol are obvious. What happens when we are under the influence of the Holy Spirit? In the church, the believers should be willing to learn from others, serve others, give to others, or be corrected by others in the fellowship. Such submission can allow growth both individually and corporately as the believers seek to follow Christ. Our motives should be "reverence" for Christ. We should not treat one another rightly just because it is expected or because we will be well regarded but because one day we must give account to Christ of how we have lived.
How do you respond to the idea of submitting to others? Are you willing to place the interests and desires of others ahead of your own in Jesus' name?
Our other one anothers for this evening take us to Romans chapter 12:
2. Be Devoted to One Another in Brotherly Love – Romans 12:10
Paul's thinking in Romans chapter 12 progresses from the use of gifts (verses 4-8) to the motivation behind those gifts—love. Whereas the previous section pointed to individual contributions that each believer can make to the body, this section includes practical commands that require application by all believers. These commands cover two distinct concerns: among believers, there must be evidence that love is being practiced and that evil is being defeated.
In verse 9, Paul presents the theme of this section, in verses 10-13 he applies it to the relationship among the believers, and in verses 14-21 he applies it to the relationship believers have with unbelievers.
Let love be genuine.(12:9NRSV)I like the NRSV “genuine” instead of “sincere” as in some other translations.
The key ingredient in interpersonal relationships is love—God's love (agape). This kind of love is a self-sacrificial love, a love that cares for the well-being of others. All the gifts that are exercised in the body should be expressed in this love.
This love is the most accurate indicator of spiritual health in the body of Christ. To the Ephesians Paul wrote, "Speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work" (Ephesians 4:15-16).
Believers have God's love within because "God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us". For our love to be different from most of what is called "love" in the world, it must be genuine—without hypocrisy, deceit, falseness. Sincere love is genuine love. Jesus was referring to this kind of love when he said, "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).
Most people know how to pretend to love others—how to speak kindly, avoid hurting their feelings, and appear to take an interest in them. We may even be skilled in pretending to feel moved with compassion when we hear of others' needs, or to become indignant when we learn of injustice. But God calls us to real and sincere love that goes far beyond politeness. Sincere love requires concentration and effort. It means helping others become better people. It demands our time, money, and personal involvement. No individual has the capacity to express love to a whole community, but the body of Christ does. Look for people who need your love, and look for ways you and your fellow believers can show your Christian love to others
Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.(12:10)
The words here are clear and forceful, and they continue the thought of the first phrase. The whole might be translated, "Your love must be genuine, hating what is evil, clinging to what is good."Genuine love is not blind, but able to recognize evil and good. To hate and cling call for emotional involvement and energetic action. Believers are to hate evil (see Psalm 97:10; Proverbs 8:13). Turning from evil means turning toward what is good and clinging to it. This principle is practiced when we are able to detest an evil act while practicing compassion toward the one who has done it. This principle is also important regarding the exercise of spiritual gifts. Believers must always be careful that the use of their gifts does not lead them to unloving or evil motives, attitudes, or actions.
Paul's charge to “be devoted to one another in brotherly love” goes against the value of rugged individualism—the attitude of "doing it all by myself." Believers are to show brotherly love to fellow believers, and respect all the gifted people in the church, not just those whose gifts are visible. That's the only way that the body of Christ can function effectively and make a positive impact on the unbelieving world. The Greek word for "be devoted" means the type of loyalty and affection that family members have for one another. This kind of love allows for weaknesses and imperfections. It deals with problems, affirms others, and has a strong commitment and loyalty to others. Such a bond will hold any church together no matter what problems come from without or within.
Right along with “Be devoted to one another” in the same verse is…
3. Honor one another above yourselves.(12:10)
God's command for us to honor others also involves love. To honor means to give a person high value and respect. As Christians, we honor people because they have been created in God's image, because they are our brothers and sisters in Christ, and because they have a unique contribution to make to Christ's church.
Paul makes a similar statement in Philippians 2:3: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.”
And finally in the same context of romans chapter 16 we have in verse 16:
4. Live in harmony with one another.
In order to live in harmony with others, and especially with fellow believers, we cannot be proud. Instead, we are to be willing to associate with people of low position. In other words, do not be conceited, for then empathy and harmony are impossible. James leveled a scathing indictment on believers who were practicing favoritism and elitism in the church (James 2:1-9). People of low position are only identified as such by the world's standards. Christ thought they were worth dying for, and so we can associate with them.
Many people use their contacts and relationships for selfish ambition. They select those people who will help them climb the social ladder.
Jesus demonstrated and taught that we should treat all people with respect—those of a different race, the handicapped, the poor, young and old, male and female. We must never consider others as being beneath ourselves.
Are we able to do humble tasks with others?
Do we welcome conversation with unattractive, nonprestigious people?
Are we willing to befriend newcomers and entry-level people?
Or do we relate only to those who will help us get ahead?
These are questions we need to ask ourselves to check if we are obeying these one another commands from the Bible.
Conclusion:
I think it is pretty obvious from these four one anothers we have talked about this evening that it is next to impossible for any of us to be perfect in obedience to them. If we are at all honest with ourselves we must admit that there are many times when we have not done so well at being devoted to one another, living in harmony, honoring and submitting to one another. God forgive us. And that is what it does, it shows us how we are to live as new creations in Christ, but it also drives us to the cross where we confess our failures and seek the forgiveness won for us by the blood of Jesus Christ.
Prayer:
Dear Father in heaven, we confess that we fall short in these commands. Fill us up every day with your Holy Spirit, that our lives would be controlled by the Spirit, who will lead us into obedience to all you commands. In the strong and precious name of Jesus. Amen.
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