35 One Another Commands

by Andy Comer

In Scripture, the Church is referred to as a body, a family, a bride, and a flock. Each of these word pictures highlights a particular aspect of our relationship with Christ.

  • As a body, we’re members of one another under the headship of Christ.
  • As a family, we’re brothers and sisters in Christ with God as our Father.
  • As a bride, we’re betrothed to Jesus and He’s waiting to return for us.
  • As a flock, we’re sheep being lead by the Good Shepherd.

What strikes me the most about each of these four descriptors is the subtle yet powerful implication that we are called into community with others. God’s sanctifying work in our life often comes through the relationships we have with others. When you come into relationship with Jesus, you come into relationship with others.

You cannot be obedient to Jesus apart from walking in community with others. The following is a list of thirty five commands in the New Testament that Christ gives His Church. Notice how each of these one another’s is a way for us to display Christ-likeness in every day life.

Love One Another

  • “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” (1 John 4:7)
  • “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.” (1 John 4:11-12)
  • “And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another.” (2 John 1:5)

Honor One Another

Greet One Another

  • “Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.” (Romans 16:16)
  • “All the brothers send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.” (1 Corinthians 16:20)
  • “Greet one another with a holy kiss.” (2 Corinthians 13:12)
  • “Greet one another with the kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.” (1 Peter 5:14)

Welcome One Another

  • “Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” (Romans 15:7)

Show Hospitality to One Another

  • “Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.” (1 Peter 4:9)

Fellowship With One Another

  • “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)

Agree With One Another

  • “…agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” (2 Corinthians 13:11b)

Live in Harmony With One Another

  • “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.” (Romans 12:16)
  • “May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus.” (Romans 15:5)

Be at Peace With One Another

  • “Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.” (Mark 9:50)

Be Kind to One Another

Forgive One Another

  • “…forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32b)
  • “…and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” (Colossians 3:13b)

Bear With One Another

  • “With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:2-3)
  • “Bearing with one another…” (Colossians 3:13a)

Bear One Another’s Burdens

  • “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)

Comfort One Another

  • “Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another…” (2 Corinthians 13:11a)

Care for One Another

  • “That there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.” (1 Corinthians 12:25)

Confess Sins to One Another

  • “Therefore, confess your sins to one another…” (James 5:16a)

Pray for One Another

  • “…and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5:16b)

Encourage One Another

  • “Therefore encourage one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:18)
  • “Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:25)

Build One Another Up

Exhort One Another

  • “But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” (Hebrews 3:13)

Instruct One Another

  • “I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.” (Romans 15:14)

Teach and Admonish One Another

  • “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3:16)

Sing With One Another

  • “Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart.” (Ephesians 5:19)

Stir Up One Another to Love and Good Works

  • “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.” (Hebrews 10:24)

Do Good to One Another

  • “See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.” (1 Thessalonians 5:15)

Serve One Another

  • “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” (Galatians 5:13)
  • “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” (1 Peter 4:10)

Wash One Another’s Feet

  • “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” (John 13:14)

Wait for One Another

  • “So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.” (1 Corinthians 11:33)

Be Humble Toward One Another

  • “Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’” (1 Peter 5:5)

Submit to One Another

  • “Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Ephesians 5:21)

Speak the Truth to One Another

  • “Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.” (Ephesians 4:25)
  • “Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices.” (Colossians 3:9)

Do Not Speak Against One Another

  • “Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.” (James 4:11)
  • “Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.” (James 5:9)

Do Not Judge One Another

  • “Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.” (Romans 14:13)

Do Not Provoke One Another

  • “Let us not become conceited, provoking one another…” (Galatians 5:26a)

Do Not Envy One Another