Nov18am-Responsabilidades Unos a Otros
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Responsibilities to One Another Introduction: 1. Refer to current lesson series on the general theme of “responsibilities.” 2. In this lesson we shall consider our “responsibilities to One Another.” The expression “one another” could refer to various realms: a. Our “one another” responsibilities in the family – husbands to wives, wives to husbands, parents to children, children to parents, etc. Ephesians 5:25; Ephesians 5:22; Ephesians 6:4; Ephesians 61. b. Our “one another” responsibilities on the job, Genesis 3:19; I Timothy 5:8, etc. Obviously if our secular work involves laboring with other people, then of necessity we do sustain certain responsibilities to them. c. Our responsibilities as citizens, Romans 13:1. d. Our responsibilities to people in general. Basically, such falls into two categories: (1) Set the proper example, Philippians 2:15. (2) Share the word of God, 2 Timothy 2:2. 3. We could, with profit, consider somewhat in detail our responsibilities in all these realms. However, in this study we are dealing with our responsibilities to one another in the local church. 4. Two items which constitute “responsibility:” a. Ability -- Not obligated beyond my capability. Cf. The parable of the talents, Matthew 25:14-30. b. Opportunity, Galatians 6:10. (1) Ability plus opportunity = responsibility. (2) Properly understood, our responsibilities to one another constitute opportunities to use our abilities to serve one another. Discussion: I. Consider How “Church” is used. Primarily in two senses: A. The church universal, Matthew 16:18. 1. The saved relationship, consists of all who have been born again, all whose names are written in heaven, both living and dead. Cf. Hebrews 12:23. B. The church local, I Corinthians 1:1,2; Philippians 1:1. 1. Properly understood, a local church (as God has designed it) consists of saved people who reside in a given local area, who have banded together under one common oversight, to work and worship together as a local church. 2. In the local church we have responsibilities which are much deeper than those resulting from mere human relationships. We were baptized into one body, I Corinthians 12:13. We are “members one of another,” Ephesians 4:25; Romans 12:16. II. An Important Fact to Remember. A. God designed the church so that we could: 1. Have fellowship one with another, Acts 2:42; I Corinthians 1:9. 2. Be “living stones” in a spiritual house, I Peter 2:5. 3. We are “fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God,” Ephesians 2:19. 4. Because of this spiritual (both with God and each other) relationship we have responsibilities one to another which go deeper than mere human relationships. B. I Suppose that God could have: 1. Just given us a Bible, told us to read it, serve Him strictly on an individual basis, and journey to heaven on our own. a. But He didn’t! He designed the church so that His children would have a relationship with other Christians, have fellowship with other Christians, interact with other Christians, encourage and serve one another. This is evident by the existence of so many passages, directed to Christians, in which the words “one another,” and “one to another” appear so often. III. Negatively, there are many things we are Not to do to “one another.” A. We are not to bite and devour one another, Galatians 5:15. B. We are not to provoke one another, Galatians 5:26.
Transcript of Nov18am-Responsabilidades Unos a Otros
Responsibilities to One AnotherIntroduction:1. Refer to current lesson series on the general theme of “responsibilities.”2. In this lesson we shall consider our “responsibilities to One Another.” The expression “one another” could
refer to various realms:a. Our “one another” responsibilities in the family – husbands to wives, wives to husbands, parents to
children, children to parents, etc. Ephesians 5:25; Ephesians 5:22; Ephesians 6:4; Ephesians 61.b. Our “one another” responsibilities on the job, Genesis 3:19; I Timothy 5:8, etc. Obviously if our secular
work involves laboring with other people, then of necessity we do sustain certain responsibilities tothem.
c. Our responsibilities as citizens, Romans 13:1.d. Our responsibilities to people in general. Basically, such falls into two categories:
(1) Set the proper example, Philippians 2:15.(2) Share the word of God, 2 Timothy 2:2.
3. We could, with profit, consider somewhat in detail our responsibilities in all these realms. However, in thisstudy we are dealing with our responsibilities to one another in the local church.
4. Two items which constitute “responsibility:”a. Ability -- Not obligated beyond my capability. Cf. The parable of the talents, Matthew 25:14-30.b. Opportunity, Galatians 6:10.
(1) Ability plus opportunity = responsibility.(2) Properly understood, our responsibilities to one another constitute opportunities to use our abilities
to serve one another.Discussion:I. Consider How “Church” is used. Primarily in two senses:
A. The church universal, Matthew 16:18.1. The saved relationship, consists of all who have been born again, all whose names are written in
heaven, both living and dead. Cf. Hebrews 12:23.B. The church local, I Corinthians 1:1,2; Philippians 1:1.
1. Properly understood, a local church (as God has designed it) consists of saved people who residein a given local area, who have banded together under one common oversight, to work andworship together as a local church.
2. In the local church we have responsibilities which are much deeper than those resulting frommere human relationships. We were baptized into one body, I Corinthians 12:13. We are“members one of another,” Ephesians 4:25; Romans 12:16.
II. An Important Fact to Remember.A. God designed the church so that we could:
1. Have fellowship one with another, Acts 2:42; I Corinthians 1:9.2. Be “living stones” in a spiritual house, I Peter 2:5.3. We are “fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God,” Ephesians 2:19.4. Because of this spiritual (both with God and each other) relationship we have responsibilities one
to another which go deeper than mere human relationships.B. I Suppose that God could have:
1. Just given us a Bible, told us to read it, serve Him strictly on an individual basis, and journey toheaven on our own.a. But He didn’t! He designed the church so that His children would have a relationship with
other Christians, have fellowship with other Christians, interact with other Christians,encourage and serve one another. This is evident by the existence of so many passages,directed to Christians, in which the words “one another,” and “one to another” appear sooften.
III. Negatively, there are many things we are Not to do to “one another.”A. We are not to bite and devour one another, Galatians 5:15.B. We are not to provoke one another, Galatians 5:26.
C. We are not to go to law with one another, I Corinthians 6:7.D. We are not to lie to one another, Colossians 3:9.E. We are not to speak evil of one another, James 4:11.F. We are not to “grumble against” (NKJV) one another, James 5:9.
IV. Some Positive “One Another Responsibilities.”A. We are to Love “one another.”
1. This is probably the most comprehensive command Jesus gave us with reference to our dutiesone to another.
2. John 13:34,35; John 15:12,17; Romans 13:8; I Thessalonians 4:9; I Peter 1:22; I John 3:11; IJohn 4:7: I John 4:10,11.
3. Love is doing what is best for someone else; it is putting their needs above our own.4. Through love, we are to “serve one another,” Galatians 5:13.
a. Love is not simply a feeling which we merely verbalize; it is a principle which governs ourconduct toward and our interaction with each other.
B. We are to forgive “one another,” Ephesians 4:32.1. In a sense, forgiveness is a condition of salvation, Matthew 6:14,15; Matthew 18:35.2. Of course, there are conditions for forgiveness. Note Luke 17:3-5.
C. Responsibility to Confront Sin.1. Restore a brother overtaken in a fault, Galatians 6:1.2. We must deal with sin both in ourselves and in our brother in Christ.
a. Self, Matthew 5:23,24.b. In our brother, Matthew 18:15-17.
D. Responsibility to forbear one another, Ephesians 4:1,2.1. Forbearance is from Anecho (Greek), means “to hold up, to sustain, to bear with equanimity, to
bear with, to endure, (Weust, Word Studies).2. “It denotes the absence of a proneness to take offense; it is the tendency not to flare up at every
provocation or fancied neglect,” (Pulpit Commentary).3. This is needed in the local church; every congregation has diverse personalities. Cf. Romans
14:1; 15:11. Illustrate this by looking at the apostles themselves – cf. Peter, James & John, Simon “the
zealot” (Luke 6:15), Matthew the tax collector. One might wonder how they could everwork together! But they followed Christ, so they we able to work together. We can too!
E. Responsibility to practice hospitality, Romans 12:13; I Peter 4:9.1. From a root word, meaning “fond of guests.”2. If we truly love one another and want to build them up, we will be hospitable.
F. Responsibility to worship with one another, Hebrews 10:25. In worship, we:1. Teach and admonish one another, Colossians 3:16.2. Collectively observe the Lord’s supper, Acts 20:7; I Corinthians 11:33.3. Consider one another, Hebrews 10:24, to “provoke unto love and good works.” Note verse 25.4. Have fellowship with one another, Acts 2:42.5. Provide Bible instruction, Acts 2:42; 20:7.
G. Responsibility to Build Each Other Up, I Thessalonians 5:11; Romans 14:19.1. We will avoid putting a stumbling block before others, Romans 14:13.2. We must seek to exhort, encourage, one another, Hebrews 3:13.3. A word of encouragement, a pat on the back, a card, a phone call, etc., can work wonders. It is
easy to tear down; to be a part of the wrecking crew, but God wants us to be builders – notwreckers!
Conclusion:1. More could be said. We should bear one another’s burdens, Galatians 6:2; relieve the needs of one
another,” Matthew 25:40; pray for “one another,” James 5:16, etc. Let us honor these obligations!--Bobby Witherington, November 18, 2005
