Living With One Another
How are Christians supposed to live with one another? How much does the Bible have to say about that?
I have been working on study material on the book Acts. We are just now wrapping up chapter 2. When we read those closing verses we have a vivid picture of life in the early Church. But, was that unique to them or should it be how the Church lives today? Don’t be quick to answer!
Before you decide, take a look at Deuteronomy 15. That chapter is God’s instruction (through Moses) about how His people are to live. God, in His sovereign wisdom, chooses to work through a chosen people. Does He have chosen people today? Yes, He does. We are called the Church. And our Father has a great deal to say about how we are to deal with one another and treat one another.
Love, Serve, Prefer One Another
I put all this before our small group leaders last night and it sparked a lively discussion (which is what I intended!). I’ll tell you now that we cannot answer the question definitively based solely on Acts 2. However, we have a great deal of information that came through the Apostle’s doctrine. Their teachings are a focal point of Acts 2 and the early Church. And we have that teaching in what we call the New Testament.
What follows is a summary of the one another verses of the New Testament. Take a look at these. There are many of them. Then wrestle with my question about today’s Church. And by the way, I’d love to see your thoughts in the comments section below!
Soli Deo Gloria!
I was glad to find this chart on the internet! I could have created it with my own search tools, but this is way easier! Take a look at overviewbible.com.
Acts 2:42-47 – Yes I think it applies to all eras of the church, then and now. 1- devoted to godly teaching; 2- celebration of the Lord’s Supper; 3- prayers; 4- signs and wonders being done; 5- sharing with others in need. I think we struggle with #5, the application of 2:44-45 as we think of its misuse in recent history in communists governments. I think the better way to view it is in light of Phil. 2:3, “in humility count others more significant than yourselves”. When we do that, I think we’ll have the thrust of what Paul was saying with the “one another” passages. Additionally we struggle with #4 in seeing signs and wonders done. Why aren’t we seeing more done today? One reason are the false teachers that hold the healing revivals for compensation to be made to their ministry, but that misuse doesn’t excuse the proper use in Acts 2. So why aren’t we seeing more? Maybe the secret is in Romans 4:20-21. Am I FULLY CONVINCED that God is able to do what he has promised?
Thanks for sharing. Good thoughts!