One Another
The following lovely compilation of scripture passages concerning the unity of saints is reprinted from the June 1883 issue of the Barley Cake.
The expression, “one another,” is of frequent occurence in the New Testament, and implies a reciprocity resulting from a divine fellowship that should know neither selfishness nor pride, wherein would be fulfilled those sweet words spoken to us by the Holy Ghost, “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfil ye my joy that ye be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind” (Philippians 2:1,2).
Most of the passages where the words occur are given in the following texts, which may be listed this way: (1)Those relating to love itself, (2) Those that relate to various precepts that flow out of our mutual relationship to God and to each other, and (3) Those relating to things we are not to do to one another.
First, let us look at the passages of Scripture that exhort us to love “one another”:
· Its authority. “A new commandment I give unto you that ye love one another” (John 13:34).
· Its measure. “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34).
· Its witness to discipleship. “By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35).
· Its characteristic. “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another” (i.e. to love the unloved) (1 John 4:10, 11).
· Its results. “If we love one another God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us” (1 John 4:12). “Every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God” (1 John 4:7).
· Its obligation. “We ought to love one another” (1 John 4:11). It is a debt we owe to God that never can be discharged (Romans 13:8).
· Its teacher. “Ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another” (1 Thessalonians 4:9). It comes not from the natural heart.
· Its nature. “Love one another with a pure heart fervently” (1 Peter 1:22).
Secondly, these passages show the precepts that flow out of love in those who are “members of one another”:
· Serve one another by love (Galatians 5:13).
· Be forbearing one with another in love, with all lowliness and meekness (Ephesians 4:2).
· Forgive one another even as God in Christ has forgiven (Ephesians 4: 32).
· Be kind and tender-hearted to one another (Ephesians 4:32).
· Be subject one to another (1 Peter 5:5).
· Have compassion one of another. In Greek—Be sympathizing. (1 Peter 3:8).
· Pray for one another (James 5:16).
· Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfil the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2).
· Use hospitality one to another (1 Peter 4:9).
· Comfort one another (1 Thessalonians 4:18).
· Have peace one with another (Mark 9:50).
· Follow what is good with one another (1 Thessalonians 5:15).
· Wash the feet of one another (John 13:14).
· Greet one another with a holy kiss (Romans 16:16); with a kiss of love (1 Peter 5:14).
· Have fellowship one with another (1 John 1:7).
· Receive one another as Christ hath received you to the glory of God (Romans 15:7).
· Exhort one another daily (Hebrews 3:13).
· Admonish one another (Romans 15:14).
· Prefer one another in honour (Romans 12:10).
· Esteem others better than yourselves (Philippians 2:3).
· Edify one another by following things that make for peace (Romans 14:19).
· Consider one another to provoke unto love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together (Hebrews 10:24).
· Minister to one another of the gift received as good stewards of the manifold grace of God (1 Peter 4:10).
· Submit to one another (Ephesians 5:21).
· Be of the same mind one to another. Be like-minded. (Romans 12:16).
· Care for one another as one member cares for another that there be no schism in the body (1 Corinthians 12: 25).
· Confess your faults one to another (James 5:16).
Lastly, here are passages showing what we are not to do to one another:
· Be not puffed up for one against another (1 Corinthians 4:6).
· Lie not one to another, for we are members of each other (Ephesians 4:25).
· Envy not one another (Galatians 5:26).
· Speak not evil one of another (James 4:11).
· Provoke not one another (Galatians 5:26).
· Judge not one another (Romans 14:13).
· Grudge not, or murmur not, one against another (James 5:9).
May He, who has made all believers one in Christ Jesus, write with His own Spirit on our hearts these precepts, that we may show forth His praises, “giving diligence to keep this unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace,” remembering that “there is one body, and one spirit, even as we are called in one hope of our calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in us all.”