edifying of itself in love
Eph 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
Eph 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
http://www.derekprince.org/
Derek Prince
Quote from the radio message, "Relationship With God's People."
There are mutual obligations when we are in covenant one with another. There might be many different ways of answering the question. What are those mutual obligations? One of the ways you can do it is to look through the New Testament and pick out all the passages where the phrase “one another” or “each other” is used about believers. It’s a very interesting task and it’s rewarding. I’ve found 19 different places where the phrase “one another” or “each other” is used about believers in their relationship to one another. In other words, these are some of our mutual obligations. I’m just going to read out to you those 19 different passages which speak about one another and emphasize what we’re required to do in each passage.
The first one is to wash one another’s feet.
The second, to love one another.
To build up one another.
To accept one another.
To admonish one another.
To greet one another.
To serve one another.
To bear one another’s burdens.
To show forbearance to one another.
To forgive one another.
To be subject to one another.
To teach one another.
To comfort one another.
To encourage one another.
To stimulate one another to love and good deeds.
To confess our sins to one another.
To pray for one another.
To be hospitable to one another.
And to be clothed with humility toward one another.
There are nineteen specific obligations of the New Covenant. I think all of us need to ask ourselves, How far are we fulfilling those obligations? And in some cases, are we perhaps doing the very opposite of what we ought to be doing? We’re admonished to “love one another,” to “build up one another.” Does it ever happen that one group of believers, instead of building up another group, actually breaks them down, criticizes them, tears them apart? That’s not covenant behavior. We’re admonished to “serve one another,” to “bear one another’s burdens.” If we go out selfishly for our own ends and ambitions and pay no heed to other people’s needs or problems, we’re not acting like covenant brothers and sisters. In actual fact, we’re going contrary to the obligations of the covenant.
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