It sounds so simple.

Romans 15:7, the words of the Apostle Paul to the Christians of Rome, Capital City to the world. “Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.”

The verb “receive” is interesting.

And the example that follows the command is captivating too.

Let’s get started.

“Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.”

“Receive,” an imperative mood verb, is “proslambano,” a complex blend of both a preposition and a major New Testament verb. First, “lambano” means “to accept, to take (with the hand), to claim, to associate with a person as a companion.” It is not perhaps as emotional as its relative “dechomai.” But still it never harbors any hesitancy. Then the prefix “pros” means “to, toward,” almost “face-to-face” (with something or someone being the “focus”)!

Put it all together and we have a picture of … us in love, in Christ, opening our arms to those who are newly saved. Or those who have erred but returned. Or those whose personalities do not exactly “blend” with ours, but apparently love Jesus!

If they are “in Christ” … they should be “in our circles” of fellowship!

Maybe the earlier context will help illustrate here, Romans 15 begins … “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself.” This is somewhat clarifying, to me anyway. Often the Bible interprets the Bible!

Perhaps then “receiving” them means also “bearing (putting up) with their weaknesses, their little idiosyncratic quirks!” And trying “to please” them as well, literally keeping them “interested, excited” about the various things of God!

Do not think you’re “too good” to receive them, either.

If the person in question has repented of his or her sins, and turned to Jesus … we have no choice. “Receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.”

Now to the parallel thought, the example given me for “receiving” others who are “in Christ.” Here it is: “As Christ also received us to the glory of God.”

Amazing!

Did Christ Jesus “receive” you?

He sure did me!

In like manner, to the depth humanly possible, I am then to “receive” my fellow Christians into my heart … into my sphere of friendship!

So much for “cliques” and “clubs” and “walls and barriers” in our local Church environs, then! No more “holier than thou” attitudes either. (Isaiah 65:5 uses that exact phrase!)

No wonder Church is good for a  newborn child of God!

All that acceptance and love and warmth there.

Ideally so, anyway.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Sounds strange, doesn’t it?

“Provoking” one another!

But that’s exactly Paul’s advice in Hebrews 10:24, something us Christians should be doing “one to another.”

Here are his words, verbatim from the King James Version. “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works.”

Wow!

But not “provoking” to anger.

Or to some other sin.

Rather, inciting each other to acts of “love and good works!”

I love this thought!

But first, let’s study the verb “to provoke.”

In Greek it is spelled “paroxusmos,” which really is a noun.

It means, in our context here “an encouragement.” A fresh “motivation” to do good. Maybe even a little friendly “kick in the pants” in the right direction!

Also … it can at times (not here) mean “an irritation, a provocation.”

An “argument!”

In Acts 15:30 (to give you an idea of the pungency of the word) “paroxusmos” is translated “sharp contention.” Look … “And the CONTENTION was so SHARP between them (Paul and Barnabas), that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus.”

Basically the idea here is that we who are saved should constantly “police” (“watch, consider”) one another. And if we see a Brother or Sister “getting lazy” on God … we are to try (energetically if necessary) to “uge” them to more love and good works, for Jesus’ Sake.

This is astounding!

Trying to devise ideas about how you can “charge” fellow Christians to (forget about arguing and contention) love more and do more for one another, thus for the Lord.

What an idea!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

I have noticed that several of our “one to another” commands are taught in “pairs,” as if they “belong” together. Verses with “double” loads of instruction on how we Christians are to minister to one another.

Let me give you an example. Today’s Verse, Hebrews 10:24, is perfect for that purpose. (In fact, we will focus on this short Sentence two days, both today and Friday, the Lord willing.)

Here’s the whole Verse: “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works.” See them? Two clear admonitions!

Let me underline and capitalize the verbs involved. In English they are verbs, as translated in our King James Bible. “And let us CONSIDER one another to PROVOKE unto love and to good works.”

The first one is technically not an imperative verb, not an obvious command. “Consider” is the Greek word “katanoeo.” It is framed in the subjunctive mood here. Grammatically that means Paul is expressing a “longing” of his heart. A “craving, desire, yearning” he has for the Hebrew Believers he is writing. So … it was essentially a command, if one loved Paul enough and wanted to please that godly old (by now) Preacher. You know, that old “your wish is my command” kind of thing.

Now, what does “katanoeo” mean? “To fix one’s mind” upon something, or someone! “To watch, observe” him or her! Even “to keep an eye” on them, being sure they are progressing in the Faith. “To think” of them, the whole Church fellowship in this case. The pronoun “another” is plural.

“Katanoeo” is a blend, combining two Greek words. “Noeo” means “to ponder, to give heed, to think” about that fellow Believer. And the prefix “kata” (a preposition) intensifies the verbal thought. “Puts it in a higher gear!”

“Let us consider one another.”

And do note, this “considering” is used in a positive sense. Not grudgingly plotting against him, or feeling jealous of her. Thinking (evaluating) this person as a brother or sister in Christ.

Paul, who wrote this verse under the direction of the Holy Spirit (so I believe anyway), practiced what he preached. To his young protégée Timothy he wrote: “I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I HAVE REMEMBRANCE OF THEE ….” 2nd Timothy 1:3

A whole list of these example could be given.

Lesson over.

Practice ready to begin!

Think of someone today who is within your circle of Believers. As you “consider” him, pray for him (or her). If the Lord then leads you … do more than pray. Write them a card, give them a call, have them over for lunch Sunday (after Church). That’s “considering” him in the full Bible sense of the word.

This is the model of Christianity in which we truly do “serve one another,” nearly “pastor one another,” taking “oversight” one of another. (Not discounting the place and vital ministry of our Pastors, mind you.) But still, each member of the Body of Christ serving every other member of the Body of Christ!

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Paul loved the Thessalonians!

They comprised one of his most gracious Churches, congregations of Believers.

He longed for their continued growth in the Lord.

And wonderfully, what a testimony they had!

Paul often remembered their … “work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father.”

How their faith was … “sounded out by the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place … spread abroad.”

How they … “turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus.”

Wow, all the above facts are gleaned from 1st Thessalonians chapter one.

And it’s to this beloved group of saints that Paul wrote today’s “one-to-another” Text. “Wherefore edify one another, even as also ye do.” 1st Thessalonians 5:11

Edify one another, just like you have already been doing!

Or literally … Continue to edify each other!

Paul is often absent from this “special” Church. Most of the time, traveling and preaching the Gospel “where Christ was not named!” See Romans 15:20 to get his exact terminology.

So the Apostle instructed (actually commanded, since “edify” is written in the imperative mood) the Christians there to “build up” one another!

That’s exactly what the Greek verb for “edify” means, “oikodomeo.”

To build up!

The word is a “blend” of the noun “oikos” (meaning “house) and “demo” (meaning “to build”). It’s a construction site term! From the world of the home building industry!

I’m now wondering if “tent-makers” often used it?

The verb pictorially looks at every Christian as a spiritual “house” under construction! One in which his or her fellow believers have the privilege of further “building up” … to the Glory of God.

There is a negative slant on the thought too. DO NOT “TEAR DOWN” A FELLOW BELIEVER! DO NOTHING IN THE LINE OF “DEMOLITION” IN THEIR LIVES!

Be a builder instead!

What wonderful advice.

Practicing this single line of Scripture would revolutionize our Churches, folks.

Edify, “even as also ye do!”

No wonder the Church in Thessalonica was doing so well!

Every member there caring for every other member there!

Mutual fortification!

No gossip, slander, bitterness, ill will, jealousy … only kind support and help and encouragement for other true believers! Praise the Lord!

How worthy they were of imitation!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Is there any difference between “loving one another” (1st John 4:7) and “preferring one another” (Romans 12:10) and “forbearing one another” (Ephesians 4:2) and today’s Lesson, “comforting one another?”

Yes, or the Holy Spirit would not have singly listed these duties, as He so clearly does!

Obligations we Christians owe “each other!”

Just slight shades of difference in some cases, maybe, but differences nonetheless.

So we notice 1st Thessalonians 4:18. “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” The Apostle Paul wrote this sentence, using an imperative mood verb. It’s a command!

Oh, that we Christians better practiced this art!

The verb selected (for “comfort”) is “parakaleo,” used a hefty 109 times in the New Testament. (“Hefty” is an old English word meaning “hard to raise up.” I was personally curious and thought some of you might like that background. Thus in our context here it means “heavy, weighty, significant!”)

By grammatical definition “parakaleo” blends two Greek words, “para” (a preposition) and “kaleo” (a verb). They mean, when used jointly, “to be called to a person’s side” … in order to help that man or woman!

An encourager!

An exhorter!

A cheerleader of sorts!

An uplifter of spirits.

Wow!

In fact, “parakaleo” is akin to the New Testament noun “parakletos,” the very word Jesus loved to use for … the Holy Spirit, our COMFORTER!

So … I have warrant to say that we can (having the God given ability to do so) comfort one other (parakaleo) … because of our relationship to the Holy Ghost (parakletos), Who abides within us as Believers in Jesus.

This is exciting!

“Wherefore comfort one another … thank you, Paul.

But … how?

The rest of the short verse. “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” By means of the powerful Word of God! By staying “in” (Greek “en” here being used for the preposition “with” in English) the “Word!” Live “in” God’s Word. Stay there!

Psalm 23 surely would comfort a grieving Brother or Sister, who had just lost a loved one.

And Revelation 21 would edify a saint who was about to die.

And Psalm 63 would help an individual who can’t sleep, but badly needs to do so. (Just worship God a while, though it be early in the morning, 2:00 AM say!)

Plus … hundreds of other Passages!

Romans 15:4 actually says that the Bible presents massive doses of “comfort” (paraklesis) for those of us who are saved. “For whatsoever things were written aforetime (the Old Testament) were written for our learning, that we through patience and COMFORT of the scriptures might have hope.”

Need I say any more?

By the way, I said “Old Testament” above for this reason. The New Testament (all 260 chapters) had not yet been written, not completely anyway.

Yes, the Old Testament is God’s Word too!

Lord willing, another verse tomorrow morning.

Until then, let’s diligently try to enact today’s verse in our lives. “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

Amen.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell