Being the Church - The One Another's of the New Testament

One of the ways that we can grow in our understanding of what it means to do church together is by looking at the "one another" statements of the New Testament. These are how we are to relate together as the people of God in the local church.

The list is a bit daunting, but also a vivid reminder of what it means to be joined in this community life. Use them for personal meditation and memorization. Use them for a small group discussion. Here is the list (from the NASB):

• "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. ³⁵ "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:34-35)
• "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. (John 15:12)
• "This I command you, that you love one another. (John 15:17)
• Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; (Rom. 12:10)
• Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. (Rom. 12:16)
• Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. (Rom. 13:8)
• Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this-- not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother's way. (Rom. 14:13)
• So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another. (Rom. 14:19)
• Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, (Rom. 15:5)
• Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God. (Rom. 15:7)
• And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another. (Rom. 15:14)
• Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you. (Rom. 16:16)
• Actually, then, it is already a defeat for you, that you have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? (1 Cor. 6:7)
• So then, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. (1 Cor. 11:33)
• So that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. (1 Cor. 12:25)
• All the brethren greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. (1 Cor. 16:20)
• Greet one another with a holy kiss. (2 Cor. 13:12)
• For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (Gal. 5:13)
• But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. (Gal. 5:15)
• Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another. (Gal. 5:26)
• With all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, (Eph. 4:2)
• Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE of you WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another. (Eph. 4:25)
• Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. (Eph. 4:32)
• Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; (Eph. 5:19)
• And be subject to one another in the fear of Christ. (Eph. 5:21)
• Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; (Phil. 2:3)
• Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, (Col. 3:9)
• Bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. (Col. 3:13)
• Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Col. 3:16)
• And may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; (1 Thess. 3:12)
• Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; (1 Thess. 4:9)
• Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing. (1 Thess. 5:11)
• And that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another. (1 Thess. 5:13)
• We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater; (2 Thess. 1:3)
• But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. (Heb. 3:13)
• And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, (Heb. 10:24)
• Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it. (James 4:11)
• Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door. (James 5:9)
• Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. (James 5:16)
• Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, (1 Peter 1:22)
• Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. ⁹ Be hospitable to one another without complaint. ¹⁰ As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. ¹¹ Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 4:8-11)
• You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE. (1 Peter 5:5)
• Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace be to you all who are in Christ. (1 Peter 5:14)
• But if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)
• For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; (1 John 3:11)
• This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. (1 John 3:23)
• Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. (1 John 4:7)
• Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ¹² No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. (1 John 4:11-12)
• Now I ask you, lady, not as though I were writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another. (2 John 1:5)

God help us to be this kind of people and to build this kind of church!