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One Another
| The New Testament uses
this phrase 39 times. It is used to describe individual believers in
their relationship to each other. The phrase is used 129 times in the
Old Testament. However, In the Old Testament those of Israel were
supposed to use their power of their will to observe their commandments
so as to limit the harm they caused themselves and each other.
The New Testament admonitions are different because believers have the
Holy Spirit to help them. While there are some differences between the
Jewish believers in their Messiah under the kingdom gospel from the
gentile believers under the grace gospel, what is significant is that
we have the opportunity to move past the obligations of the law and the
limits of the flesh to enter into the realm of godliness
(God-likeness). This is because we have the Holy Spirit to help us
transition from the selfishness of the flesh to the selfless love of
Christ-likeness.
While the Old Testament focused on not harming one another. The New
Testament is an exhortation to love one another. This is more than a
simple feeling of affection. The biblical definition of love (agape in
the Greek) is selflessness (1Cor 13:4-7). This is the key to godliness.
God is light and in him is not darkness at all. This means that God is
selfless and to be like God is to surrender our own selfishness.
Paul writes the Romans in chapter seven describing the frustration he
experienced trying to keep the law by the power of his flesh. He ends
the chapter asking who will save him from this body of death. The
answer is Christ. In chapter eight Paul describes the new life in the
Spirit in contrast to the flesh (also contrasted in Galatians in
chapter five.
The Jewish believers in Jerusalem held all things in common. This was
because there was the expectation of the earthly kingdom promised to
Israel and those entering the kingdom would have their material needs
provided for. The kingdom was not received by the nation at that time,
however, the believers cared for each other and even gentile believers
helped to provide for them.
It can be difficult for believers today to understand the “one another”
aspect was more than logistics and finances. Because believers have the
Holy Spirit, there is the opportunity to shed our old selfish nature
and conduct ourselves by the Spirit and approximate the selfless love
of Christ-likeness. Today most Christians in the West operate by the
selfishness of the flesh which sees in other Christians all of the
unpleasant qualities we all have. In a way we are like gas molecules in
a chamber. As the pressure increases we bounce off each other and give
off heat.
Love of the brethren (one another) is not achievable by the flesh. Duty
and obligation can lead one to make some sacrifice. However, real
heartfelt concern in spite of annoying differences is only achievable
to the degree one is able to shed the selfishness of the old nature.
This the spiritual maturity that the Corinthians were missing.
And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as
unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with
milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it,
neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas
there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not
carnal, and walk as men? - 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 |
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