Members One of Another

Romans 12:3-21

            The scriptures use several figures to explain God’s design for His people.  There is the husband and wife relationship, the family, a kingdom, an assembly, a body, the shepherd and the sheep, an army, a priesthood, etc.

            Although these are different in many respects, a common and most important theme is present in each figure given by the Holy Spirit.  And that element is fellowship or joint participation.  The church is a group of individual Christians living in community.  The church is a fellowship of believers.  Now, hardly anyone would disagree with this concept, but few people seem to grasp what this looks like as it is worked out on a day to day and week to week basis.

            Some believe that fellowship is nothing more than having the same beliefs, wearing the same name and attending a church service once a week with the same people.  Granted these are foundational elements of fellowship, but the scriptures plainly teach that the community of the church is much more than that.

            In our text, Paul is using the figure of the body (vv 4-5).  Let’s do some logical examining of what he is teaching.  If some have been given the gift of teaching (v 7), whom would they teach if not others in the church?  If someone has the gift of leadership (v 8), whom would he lead if not those in the church?  To whom would this genuine love (v 9) first be shown if not to the others in the church?  And how would you do that except through some deed of kindness?  Who is the “one another” to whom we are all to be devoted (v 10) if not other church members?  And how would that be accomplished except by some kind of personal interaction?  To whom would a Christian “give preference” (v 10) except to another church member?

            As you can see, the church is a love-bound community who live out their lives in close harmony, supporting each other, serving one another, and sharing their God-given gifts for the benefit of everyone.  There is a give-and-take in which the various members look out for each other as they travel the road of life.

            Fellowship - what a beautiful thing!