Doctrine of Christian Camaraderie

I.    Character of Christ – Until Christ be formed in you (Galatians 4:19)

1.      Authority orientation (Matthew 22:21).

2.      Compassionate (Luke 10:33-42).

3.      Evangelistic minded (John 4:1-42).

4.      Flexible in non-essentials and inflexible in essentials (Mark 2:13-20; Mark 10:13-16; John 4:7-10; John 18-19).

5.      Followed His Father’s will in life (Luke 22:39-46).

6.      Forgiving (Luke 4:36-50).

7.      Gentle (Matthew 11:29).

8.      Gracious (John 8:1-11).

9.      Humble ((Matthew 11:28; Philippians 2:8).

10.  Kept His purpose in mind (John 4:54).

11.  Leader-shepherd (John 10:11; Mark 3:12-16):

12.  Lived life by the power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:1, 14).

13.  Loved Father (John 14:31) and believers (John 13:1, 34).

14.  Man of God’s Word (Luke 4:16-22).

15.  Man of prayer (Luke 22:38-46).

16.  Merciful (Luke 17:11-19).

17.  Perceptive about people and life (Luke 19:1-10).

18.  Acted favorably to ones that believed Him (Luke 5:17-20).

19.  Self-confident because of good relationship with the Father and spiritual preparation for life (Matthew 7:28-29).

20.  Gave wise answers (Matthew 13:54).

II. One another – Have the same care for one another (1 Corinthians 12:25)

1. Accept one another – into society with you, do not be a snob (Romans 15:7).
2. Be able to warn and instruct one another – wisely say the right thing in the right way at the right time to one who has given the right (Romans 15:14).
3. Be devoted to one another – family care, affection, protection because believers are members of God’s family (Romans 12:10).
4. Be hospitable to one another – give a friendly and helpful reception, provide needed food and shelter (1 Peter 4:9).
5. Be kind and tender-hearted to one another – be useful, considerate, and sympathetic and compassionate (Ephesians 4:32).
6. Be of the same mind toward one another – think unprejudiced grace thinking toward (Romans 12:16).
7. Be of the same mind with one another – think the same Bible doctrine with (Romans 15:5).
8. Bear one another’s burdens – temporarily shoulder the overwhelming worry, trouble, circumstances for another (Galatians 6:2).
9. Build up one another – strengthen, benefit, improve, do not tear down (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
10. Care for one another – genuine interest in the welfare of others in the church (1 Corinthians 12:25).
11. Confess faults and pray for one another – attempt to clear up a known problem that eats on both of you so you can better pray for one another and so the illness due to divine discipline will be removed (James 5:16).

12. Do not … one another.

a.       Become arrogant toward (1 Corinthians 4:6)

b.      Challenge (Galatians 5:26)

c.       Complain against (James 5:9)

d.      Envy (Galatians 5:26)

e.       Fight (Galatians 5:15)

f.       Judge (James 4:11)

g.      Lie to (Colossians 3:9)

h.      Slander (James 4:11)

i.        Take inter-Christian matters to civil court (1 Corinthians 6:7)

13. Encourage one another – support, hearten, bolster (Hebrews 10:25).
14. Forgive one another – do it freely and completely, then forget the past failure (Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13).
15. Greet one another – Pass on greetings from Paul and other authors of Scripture. Application for us is that we ought to give friendly greetings to believers (Romans16:16).
16. Honor one another – accept and value as a member of Christ’s body; each is useful for service (Romans 12:10).
17. Love one another – desire for God’s will and best in one another (John 13:34-35; 1 John 3:23).
18. Put up with one another – graciously endure or bear with even though one may be hard to be around (Colossians 3:13).
19. Serve one another – freely assist, wait on, do things for (Galatians 5:13).
20. Submit to one another – authority orientation everywhere, humility (Ephesians 5:21).
21. Wait for one another at communion – do not rush ahead thinking only of yourself, instead be polite and considerate (1 Corinthians 11:33).

III. Relationships among believers – Be diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit (Ephesians 4:3)

Guidelines:

1.   Oneness is the principle. The positional unity in the body of Christ is greater than any differences (John 17:11, 20-22; Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 4:4-6; Colossians 3:14).

2.   Graciousness is the rule. Treat others as you desire God to treat you, in grace (1 Corinthians 13:4-7; Ephesians 4:1-3, 31-32; Colossians 3:12-13).

3.   Separation is the exception, though it may be necessary under certain conditions. Separate from those that undermine the authority and doctrine of the pastor-teacher (Romans 16:17-18), from those characterized by consistent and well known sin (1 Corinthians 5:9), and from those who are undisciplined busybodies (2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14-15).

4.   Stand firm for well established Bible doctrine (2 Thessalonians 2:15; 2 Timothy 1:13; Jude 3).

5.   Conflicts can be resolved if those involved will learn, accept, and apply the same Bible doctrine and so have the same thinking (1 Corinthians 1:10; Philippians 2:2; 4:2).

Primary factors that make relationships work:

1.      Authority orientation – content with your place in the chain of command, whether up or down (Ephesians 5:22; Hebrews 13:17).

2.      Humility – the way you think about yourself in relation to God and others; you are a product of God’s grace, not of your natural greatness (Ephesians 4:2).

3.      Love – desire for God’s will and best in another (1 John 3:23).

4.      Genuine interest in another’s welfare without interfering in their life (John 21:21-22; 1 Corinthians 12:25).