The "One Another" Commandments

Rev Kev – Cornerstone Baptist – Sunday PM, March 27, 2011

1 John 5:1-5 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. ² By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. ³ For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. ⁴ For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. ⁵ Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

Commandment [Gr. en-tol-ay'] = injunction, authoritative prescription, precept, principle, rule, guideline, law.

We have all heard of “The Ten Commandments” (Exodus 20).

We should also be familiar with “The Greatest Commandments” (Mark 12:28-33). And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? ²⁹ And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: ³⁰ And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. ³¹ And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. ³² And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: ³³ And to love him with all the heart, and with all the under-standing, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.

I want us to examine “The One Another Commandments!”

1.    LOVE ONE ANOTHER. John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

John 15:17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.

Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

2.    SERVE ONE ANOTHER. Galatians 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

Ephesians 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

Matthew 20:25-28 Jesus said,.. whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

3.    BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER. Ephesians 4:32 Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Kind = good, pleasant, gracious.

4.    FORBEAR & FORGIVE ONE ANOTHER. Colossians 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

Forbear = to hold up with endurance.  

Forgive = to bestow favor unconditionally.

5.    TEACH & ADMONISH ONE ANOTHER. Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Teaching = indoctrinating.

Admonishing = warning.

6.   COMFORT ONE ANOTHER. 1Thessalonians 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Comfort = to come along side of.  We are to participate in, and accompany one another in life’s journey. Our greatest friendships should be founded and fostered among those who are a part of the body of Christ (believers).

7.    EDIFY ONE ANOTHER. 1Thessalonians 5:11 Wherefore comfort your-selves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

Edify = to build a house. We are to encourage each other to be our very best for Christ.

1Peter 2:5 Ye also,.. are built up a spiritual house..

8.   CONFESS YOUR FAULTS TO & PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER. James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Confess = acknowledge openly and joyfully, to one's honour: to celebrate, give praise to, to profess that one will do something, to promise, agree, engage.

Fault = trespass, offence, sin. We are to make commitments and then keep them. Too many Christians are unwilling to make and keep commitments. This is a plague on our society in general.