Our faith in The Lord Jesus Christ is a relational faith. It is a relation that is first and foremost with God. But it is also a relation with one another.
Jesus was asked the question, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
In Luke’s gospel we read that a lawyer, in an attempt to wiggle their way out of the meaning of these words asked Jesus to explain who their neighbor was. We both know the answer Jesus gave.
This commandment refers to how we relate to one another in our church family. But it extends to how we relate to our families, our neighbors and our co-workers. Living out the gospel of Jesus Christ is done within a community setting. You cannot be a “hermit Christian.” You cannot be a Christian with a “chip on your shoulder” or “an axe to grind.”
We are not followers of a certain political party. We are not followers of a denomination. We are followers of The Risen, Glorified, Lord of heaven and earth. These “one another” verses are not suggestions. They are not good advice. They are gospel commands that are meant to be when obeyed. They are a vital part of the abundant life that is ours in Christ.
