Christ In Me (5)

How Do We Love Our Neighbor as Ourself?

Let’s think through two categories:

Our approach to other followers of Christ every day and our approach to those who are not followers of Christ every day.

How do we approach Christians and non-Christians on a daily basis?

This week, We will cover loving fellow believers, then we will cover loving unbelievers.

Care for One Another

One: We care for one another. As you receive mercy from God, reflect mercy toward one another. Romans 12:1-2

Romans 12:1–2 ESV

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

So this is the cross of Christ compelling us to do all these things.

We’ve received this kind of love, so we reflect this kind of love.

Our community with one another is intended to be a reflection of His character. Romans 12:9-13

Romans 12:9–13 ESV

9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

So, we love one another, John 13:34-35

John 13:34–35 ESV

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Receive One Another

Receive one another. Romans 15:7

Romans 15:7 ESV

7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

What does this mean?

Honor one another. Literally, prefer one another in honor. So outdo other people, other followers of Christ, in bestowing honor.

Have you ever tried to outdo someone in something?

Martial Arts story about outdoing Jacob Lee.

Young and Ambitious

Had a friend who was older

Tradition of pushing each other to the max

Sparring

I broke my arm but us constantly trying to outdo each other brought the best athleticism out of the both of us.

So outdo each other in honor so that Christlikeness shines bright in you and those you are with

How do you honor each other?

Serve one another. Galatians 5:13 “13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”  

Instruct one another. Romans 15:14 “14 I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.”  

Wait for one another. 1 Corinthians 11:33 “33 So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another—”

Forgive one another. Colossians 3:13 “13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”

Do not hold grudges against a brother or sister in Christ. It undercuts the gospel completely.

Submit to one another. Ephesians 5:21 “21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

Spur on one another. Hebrews 10:24 “24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,”

Promote peace with one another. 1 Thessalonians 5:13 “Be at peace among yourselves,”.

Bear one another’s burdens. Galatians 6:2, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” 

Encourage one another. First Thessalonians 5:11, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” 

Comfort one another. In 2 Corinthians 1, in just five verses, comfort is mentioned ten different times. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7

2 Corinthians 1:3–7 ESV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.

Comfort One Another

Comfort one another.

How do you do that?

Pray for and confess to one another. James 5:16

James 5:16 ESV

16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

Esteem one another. Philippians 2:3

Philippians 2:3 ESV

3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Edify one another. Romans 14:19

Romans 14:19 ESV

19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

Teach one another. The Word’s not just for you. (Colossians 3:16)

Colossians 3:16 ESV

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

So Teach one another. 

Be Kind to One Another

Be kind to one another. Ephesians 4:32 

Ephesians 4:32 ESV

32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Serve alongside one another with all the gifts that God’s given you in the body of Christ. Remember this: Serve alongside one another. Romans 12:3-8

Romans 12:3–8 ESV

3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

1 Corinthians 12:15-26 also speaks of a similar topic.

We are ultimately members of a family where everybody counts.

So don’t sit on the sidelines in the body of Christ.

Nobody is inferior.

We guard against self-depreciation, “Well, I’m not really needed in the church.” 

Nobody is superior.

We guard against self-exaltation, “I don’t need others in the church.”

There’s no need for us to compare ourselves to others and conclude that we have little to offer.

And then there is no need to copy somebody else in an attempt to be somebody we’re not.

God has saved every single follower of Christ.

He’s filled you with His Spirit.

He’s given you unique gifts to build up others in Christ.

We’re members of a family where everybody counts and members of a family where everybody contributes, where we all use our gifts to the glory of our God.

We serve alongside one another.

We give to one another. There are some great passages on giving in the New Testament that emphasize continually prioritizing care for the poor. Acts 2:45, “And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.” 

Acts 4:32–37 ESV

32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

2 Corinthians 8:1-9, 2 Corinthians 9:6-15, Are very similar passages.

These are discussing a very important command that I believe is woefully overlooked.

Care for the Poor

We are commanded to continually prioritize care for the poor among us, to help brothers and sisters among us in need. James 2:14-17 says,

James 2:14–17 ESV

14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

This is something that today’s culture

Be generous with what we’ve been given. So our resources, our salary is not just for us. They’re for other followers of Christ in need.

We Restore One Another

We restore one another when we see each other wandering into sin. Galatians 6:1-5 says, 

Galatians 6:1–5 ESV

1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For each will have to bear his own load.

Restore through Private Correction

We follow Jesus’ instruction on a continual basis. We’re continually doing this, starting with step one—private correction. If a brother or sister is caught in sin, we go to that brother or sister. We don’t wait. We go to them, humbly, lovingly, and address that. Matthew 18:15

Matthew 18:15 ESV

15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.

Ephesians 4:29–32 ESV

29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.