Do you have the biblical New Testament body life?
For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. (1 John 3:11-18)
This well needed article is about the biblical life of a believer in the body of Christ. We see in Romans 12:4-5 and 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 that there is one body in Christ. If you have repented (Luke 13:3) are born from above (John 3:3) and have been made a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) and are striving on in holiness and obedience to the scriptures (Hebrews 5:9, John 14:15) then you should strongly desire the fellowship of the body of Christ. (Click HERE to learn the gospel-good news- and how to gain eternal life.) Just as we had an earthly family before we were in Christ, we now have a spiritual family, the body of Christ. Sadly most all people place much more love, time and effort on their earthly family claiming 'blood is thicker than water'. How much more truth is there to that if you turn that to the body of Christ which was bought with Christ's blood? How much more fellowship shall there be with the spiritual family who we will be spending eternity with? And please know we are not talking about a ritual weekly Sunday gathering or the fleshly fellowship of a bake sale either. The true body of Christ is close, loving and accountable to each other as they strive to serve God by obeying His Word. As we have tested them all over the nation, it is easy to see that man made denominational religion is designed to please people NOT God. The true body and family of Christ is made clear by the word so of Jesus:
While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. Matthew 12:46-50
But, God knows the heart of man (Isaiah shows us it's wicked) and although we are a new creation with a new heart we still have struggles in the flesh to overcome.
We see in 2 Peter 1:2-8 how a believer is to grow into the love of the brethren:
Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Many would like to say that it takes a long time to progress through those steps and get to the point of charity/love toward the brethren, but God's word also tells us that one of the 2 greatest commandments is loving your neighbor as yourself. (Mark 12:28-31) Does God's Word say it will take a long time to do that? Read an article HERE about the Love Of The Brethren. It is a stern call out to the body of Christ.
The will of man is selfish and that is a trait that must be put to death and left with the old man. There are over 50 verses that help instruct believers in their love for one another (you can read them HERE) Here is a list of key words that help describe true love of the brethren and how to treat those in the body of Christ. Remember Christ said we are to love one another just as He loved us.
Love
Peace
Wash anothers feet (go the extra mile)
Kindly affectioned
Brotherly love
Preferring one another
Same mind toward one another
Judge one another rightly
Edify
Likeminded
Receive one another
Goodness
Admonish
Serve one another
Bear one anothers burdens
Kind
Submit to one another
Esteem others as better than ourselves
Forebearing
Fervent charity
Forgiving
Esteem
Exhort one another daily
Provoke unto love and good works
Confess faults to one another
Pray for each other
Unfeigned love
Fervent love with a pure heart
Minister to one another
Have fellowship
Countless times God's Word states to love one another in the body of Christ and if you read Matthew 10, it will show you a stark contrast from our earthly family to our spiritual family and the love that should abound in the body of Christ.
But unfortunately we see the opposite and people have more love for the earthly family and friends that are outside of Christ than those who are willing to die for them inside the body of Christ.
But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. (Hebrews 3:13)
Daily...this is important that God's Word would say daily because that means it doesn't take long for one to possibly be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. What do you do every day that is important to you? Feed yourself, clean yourself, take care of your family, take care of your home, men go to work etc. These are the important things that you make sure to do every day. We do what's important to us each day don't we? We make time for what we want to make time for every day, amen?
So where is the time for the brethen? Where is the bearing of one anothers burdens and the preferring of the brethren over yourself? Or the holding each other to the holy Word for accountability? Many would say they would die for Christ but their actions show they would not sacrifice themselves for a member of Christ's body. How can this be? Where is that love in the body of Christ? Where is the nurturing of the babes who come into the faith or the love and respect of those who have been through the battle and are here to help those new in Christ? Where is the daily one anothering and unfeigned, fervent love? If we are all one body are we not all willing to surrender our lives for one another? In order to do all the above for and with one another, the body must be close knit with a bond of unity, fervent love, serving one another.
Many are moved on by the command of Jesus to preach the gospel, (sadly they most often preach a false gospel) but most forget the command to teach all nations, make disciples... and that is done in the body that He ordained by being close to others. It is His ways that we must strive for as they alone grow true godly saints. It is man's traditions and fleshly ways that grow worldly, carnal, unloving and false converts to the faith. See this article HERE on making disciples:
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. (John 13:34)
We are to love one another as Christ loved us. Look at the life of Christ with His disciples, there were many that followed Him all the way to the cross but He gave us an example of the love we should have for one another through the 12 that He chose to become the apostles to spread the gospel. He spend His days with them, as we should be with our brethren.
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John 13:35)
That verse says 'all' will know so ask yourself, do even your brothers and sisters in Christ see the fervent daily love for them coming from you? By daily we don't mean you must meet up daily. But daily are you in contact, are you studying the Word together, are you sending emails or text or letters to love, encourage, rebuke and exhort. This is the 'essence' of one anothering, it is a daily lifestyle and NOT being focused around man made false Sunday religion.
Praise God we have His Word to direct us and if we are in sin we must repent and seek the Lord to help us learn and grow in knowledge, love and truth.
Let us know if we can help you.