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The Responsibility of Church Relationship
by H. Frank Fort

Lesson One

In this series of lessons, we shall consider the responsibility of the individual to others within "the church, which is his body." (Ephesians 1:22-23) There are certain personal privileges the individual must be willing to surrender if he would partake of the blessings which God has promised to the body made up of individuals. Paul wrote to the saints in Rome as "one body in Christ" in Romans 12:5, and called "every one members one of another." Paul called the individuals in "the church of God ... at Corinth" (I Cor. 1:2) "the members of Christ" in I Cor. 6:15. Thus,

1) The individual in the church is but one of the "members of that one body," (I Cor. 12:12), while,

2) "the body is one, and hath many members." (I Cor. 12:12)

There are three scriptures I wish to use in presenting the truth of our responsibility to one another in the service of the Lord as related to cooperation, impartiality and unselfishness.

1) "We are laborers together with God." (I Cor. 3:9)

2) "Have the same care one for another." (I Cor. 12:25)

3) "In honor, preferring one another." (Rom. 12:10)

We shall discuss these three things in order.

Cooperation - I Cor. 3:9

The secret of the early church as to the power of its testimony is discovered in the recognition by the members that the will of God demanded their inter-dependence on one another and, together, upon God. Our text says "laborers together" as to the former and "with God" as to the latter. Our labor together will avail nothing spiritually unless it is wrought according to "the will of God in Christ Jesus." (I Thes. 5:18)

We are greatly influenced by personality. Many facets of the confidence racket depend upon a dynamic personality, super salesmanship or a smooth line, but spirituality does not. Spirituality depends upon doing the will of God to the glory of God and is inseparable from it. It is written "that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called ... that no flesh should glory in his presence." (I Cor. 1:26, 29)

When we recognize that God is honored through the unity of His people, His people will strive for that unity. Paul wrote, "I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment," in I Cor. 1:10. Again, "Let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing." (Phil. 3:16)

1) "All speak the same thing," thus unity in utterance.

2) "Walk by the same rule," thus going in the same direction and doing it together with God. When we are thus "perfectly joined together," then the "whole body is fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." (Eph. 4:16)

a) Here we have an "increase of the body" effected through the supply of "every part." The supply comes from two sources, "the faith" (Eph. 4:13) and "love." (Eph. 4:15)

b) This increase is called "the increase of God" in Col. 2:19. Why? Because spiritual increase, or growth in grace, is always accorded through "faith which worketh by love." (Gal. 5:6) Thus do we "run well" (Gal. 5:7), and "in due season we shall reap." (Gal 6:9)

Now the testimony of a church to the world depends on conformity to the faith, therefore it is to "earnestly contend for," and on the members of the church loving one another. (Jude 3) Thus Christ prayed,

1) "that they all may be one...that the world may believe," in John 17:21, and commanded

2) "That ye love one another...By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another," in John 13:34-35.

Wherever God's people are "endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit" (Eph 4:3), according to the "unity of the faith," (Eph. 4:13) and "speaking the truth in love," (Eph 4:15) there will be found "increase of the body," (Eph. 4:16) "having nourishment ministered...with the increase of God." (Col. 2:19)

Here we are to beware. There is food which does not nourish and growth which adds nothing to spiritual stature. The Lord said of Israel, "destroyed for lack of knowledge...they shall eat, and not have enough," in Hosea 4:6,10. God said, "Israel...bringeth forth fruit unto himself," (Hosea 10:1) and said "I am become rich." (Compare Rev. 3:17) "I have found me out substance: in all my labors they shall find none iniquity in me that were sin." (Hosea 12:8) Why? Here is the answer. God said, "I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing." (Hosea 8:12) Here is the order of spiritual tragedy.

1) God gave Israel "the great things of my law." (Hosea 8:12)

2) Israel counted it "as a strange thing" (Hosea 4:8) and, refusing to judge herself by that law, she said, "they shall find none iniquity in me," (Hosea 12:8) but God said "thou hast fallen by thine iniquity" (Hosea 14:1) and "bringeth forth fruit unto herself." (Hosea 10:1) God said, "From me is thy fruit found," (Hosea 14:8) but in refusing to recognize God's will for fruit bearing, she "brought forth fruit unto herself." She thought herself "rich," (Hosea 12:8) but God said, "Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke." (Hosea 5:9)

Let us beware therefore, lest we, being puffed up with pride, fail to measure our growth by the rule of divine wisdom. There is an increase of God; let us be satisfied with no other. Let us remember that "the body is one, and hath many members." (I Cor. 12:12)

Not only is it our privilege to be members of the "church which is his body," (Eph. 1:22-23) but to recognize also the responsibility of being "members one of another," (Rom. 12:5) and that the spiritual health of the body is no better than the health of the members which constitute it.

Let us, therefore, pray one for another as did John for his friend Gaius, "that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." (II John 2) We shall, in another lesson, call attention to the various things signified by the expression "one another" as enjoined on us in order assure the health of the "body of Christ."

Impartiality

"Have the same care one for another," says I Cor. 12:25. James wrote, "My brethren, hold not the faith of out Lord, Jesus Christ...of glory, with respect of persons," in James 2:1. This reads in the foot-note, "do ye, in accepting persons, hold the faith...glory?" This means as the context shows accepting persons, not because of their spiritual qualifications, but on their material possessions, and Paul wrote, "God accepteth no man's person." (Gal. 2:6)

Elihu said, "God...accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor." (Job 34:19) Jude wrote of the wicked who have "men's persons in admiration because of advantage." (Jude 16)

In contrast, "There is no respect of persons with God." (Rom. 2:11, Acts 10:34, Deut. 10:17) We are to judge "righteous judgment," (John 7:24) and to do so is "not according to the appearance," but according to the eyes of Him who "knoweth the heart," (Act 15:8) and "knoweth all men." (John 2:24-25)

When we judge otherwise, or according to the person's personality, position or power, we "make all distinctions among ourselves." (James 2:4 ASV) Paul said, "Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits." (Romans 12:16) Paul rebuked the church at Corinth because it set some above others engaged in the same work. Paul wrote, "every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I am of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ." (I Cor. 1:12)

In I Cor. 3:4-7, Paul rebuked them as follows, "While one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as Christ gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth: but God that giveth the increase."

Here any distinction between men as to duty and ability to perform it, is not to cause men to set one above another, but rather to cause men to "glorify God." Here is the principle. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matt. 5:16)

When we recognize the value of each member to the work assigned to the "whole body," then will we be able to see clearly that the esteem one deserves must be measured by the contribution made to the health and strength of all.

Unselfishness

"In honor preferring one another," says Rom. 12:10.

Paul said, "Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not everyman on his own things, but every man also on the things of others." (Phil. 2:3-4)

Here Christians are taught not to be concerned only with their own things, but "also on the things of others," that is for their good. It is written, "None of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself," in Rom. 14:7. Let us not "set at naught" our "brother." (Rom. 14:10) "Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify one another." (Rom. 14:19)

Again, "let no man seek his own, but each his neighbor's good," (I Cor. 10:24) and "do good unto all men." (Gal 6:10) Selfishness closes up the door of compassion through which Christ would go forth to others, through us. Let us see to it that this shall not be. After all, what are we that we did not become "by grace"? (I Cor. 15:10) What do we have that we did "not receive"? (I Cor. 4:7) In the spirit there fore, that is engendered by the knowledge that we have received from the Lord, that which has made us rich, let us also "freely give," (Matt 10:8) desiring the good of which we have partaken for others also. This makes us rich indeed.

"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"