NT ASSEMBLY LIFE

NT ASSEMBLY LIFE
By Kent Secor

I wrote this originally as a series of posts, in a thread discussion on meetchristians.com in response to a direct question to me as to what I thought meetings should be like. As I considered the question and studied out the NT to answer it, I found what I now present in this little booklet.

My life in Christ has always been a radical, iconoclastic one. If some one said that something was true, I wanted proof. Early on I learned that the scriptures are the basis for our knowledge of faith and life in Christ, so I would only accept the scriptures as the proof for a doctrine or practice.

The answers I got to some of my questions, even though they were supported by scripture quotes, didn't always set right with me. Some teachers encouraged me to dig deeper into the scriptures and study what other scholars and teachers said. For 25 years I practiced my faith within the confines of the institutional Churches. I knew no other way to be the Body of Christ. I believed what I had been taught, that the modern Church fulfilled the NT teaching for the Body of Christ. Yet, some things didn't set right with me, questions persisted.

My seeking of the Lord for answers led me to go back, back to the Book, and the writings of the early church. I wanted to try to gain the ideas that the first and second generations of believers lived with. I wanted to learn what they did in their day because of their faith in Jesus the Christ.

What I discovered was simple truth, and a simple lifestyle of faith and love. They were a community of believers who lived out their love for God by simply and practically loving one another. They sought to serve one another out of a pure heart. They sought to meet each others needs in real practical ways, giving food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, clothes to the naked and shelter to the homeless.

They saw themselves as a living sacrifice, a new priesthood in Christ, a temple made by God's hands for Him to dwell in, a people of God. Two peoples, Jew and Gentile, joined into one people in Christ.

They met in each others' homes or the home of a wealthy believer who could accommodate all. They met to eat a meal, a celebration feast unto the Lord Jesus who had redeemed them and placed them in the body of believers. They functioned in an open meeting format, with each one bringing to the meeting what the Lord in His grace had given them to share. Elders who in their maturity knew the Lord and His voice, provided oversight as the Body functioned as a whole under the headship of Jesus and unto the praise of His glory. They came together to encourage each other in their walk in Christ.

I present this study as a compilation of my studies. I do not mean this to be a comprehensive teaching. I do not believe in systematic theologies. I see teaching as a means to encourage others in the Way of Christ, like a road map shows the way to travel from one land to another. I offer this work as such a map, it is the way I have trod to arrive at the place in the road I now stand and travel on from. It is the discovery of freedom in Christ, the way the early believers lived, the way we are called to live this new life in Christ Jesus.


FOUNDATIONS TO ASSEMBLY PRACTICES

JESUS THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE

Christ and Christ alone is the first foundation of our faith, He alone is the cornerstone by which all the other foundation blocks are laid by.

For those who don't know basic stone masonry, the cornerstone is the first block laid. Special care is taken to make it perfect in every way, square and straight. It is laid in perfect alignment according to the building plans upon the building site. All the other foundations stones are laid off of this cornerstone. A poorly laid cornerstone will cause the foundation to be skewed and the foundation will produce a weak, faulty and possible dangerous building.

So too in the Christian assembly, if the cornerstone is wrong all the rest will be off of plan. Without Christ and His loving redemptive work for us as the only cornerstone, our assembly lives will be faulty and possible dangerous.

There are a few foundation blocks in the teaching of NT assembly practice and life. I will not suppose to know them all, or know them all well enough to teach them. But a few of them do come to mind and seem germane to this discussion. Now I am referring to foundational ideas relating to the community of the redeemed in Christ. I pre-suppose the laying of the foundational ideas and realities of a saving relationship with the Lord Jesus and the work of the cross in one's life. These are prerequisites for life in the community of believers. The NT church was a community of believers; the idea of it being an evangelistic outreach meeting is a modern development, from the Revivalist movement of the 17th and 18th centuries.

FIRST AND SECOND FOUNDATION STONES

Jesus' teaching lays the foundation for the all the practices of the NT assembly.

In Matt 22:34-39 (NIV) (parallel passage; Mk 12:28-31), we read:
"Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?"

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord you God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commands."
(Cross references: Dt 6:4, 5 Lev 19:18)

These two commands are the foundation of all believers' lives in Christ. It is the central message of scripture, how we were made to live from the moment of the creation of our father Adam. All the Law and Prophets, all of God's revealed will for Israel and for the Body of Christ are based on these two commands.

All the practices of the New Testament Assembly are based on these commands. The 'one another' statements of NT teaching are built on the 'love one another' command, as we shall see.

So the first standard by which I judge any practice of my life on is; is it loving? And the first standard to judge our church practice on is the same one; does it focus first on God and direct us to love HIM? And does it spur us on to love one another and our neighbors as our self?

After the chief cornerstone of Christ and Christ alone is laid in our lives, I see this as the supreme foundational teaching. Love God with our all, and love one another/neighbor as ourselves.


JESUS TEACHES FURTHER ON LOVING ONE'S NEIGHBOR

Jesus applies his teaching on the greatest commandments to his students (disciples), who will then teach it to the rest of the followers of Jesus, after Pentecost.

John in his gospel account gives us these teachings from Jesus:

John 13:34-35 (NIV)
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this will all men know that you are my disciples (students or followers), if you love one another.”

And again in John 15:1-17 (NIV) (I won't quote the whole passage here, just the relevant parts, please read it though to see the context.)
“I am the true vine...Remain in me, and I will remain in you.....
...Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.
....My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.......
...This is my command: Love each other. “

Jesus' command expresses his teaching of the two greatest commandments: Love God and love your neighbor as yourself.

This is a community command. It is not an individual command, you can not “love one another” all alone. It takes a group of people, more than one, to love one another. This takes a community of believers, whereas you can 'love God’ to some extent alone. Yet, even to love God involves a community expression, as we shall see later in John's letter.

It is a popular teaching today to stress the individual's relationship with Jesus. But little is taught today about the community and Jesus.

The NT principally is addressed to communities of believers, and deals with corporate life rather than individuals.

The letters were written to the church at large, yes, they were addressed to certain assemblies, but with the understanding that they would be copied and shared with all the churches in a given area, as was the custom in that day.

One of the keys to proper interpretation, in how to apply these teachings today, is the understanding that when the address “you” is used it is a plural you, addressing the whole assembly, a ya' all, (if you will allow my southern vernacular to come through). Unless the context is clearly addressing an individual, like in some of the closing statements.

So the commandment of Jesus is to "Love one another". I've looked and can identify no other clear commandment Jesus made. Yes, there are some practices enjoined, "Breaking bread", but so is foot washing at that same last supper, (And how many do that so called "ordinance"?); and water baptism, are the only two that come to mind. Yet these were not commandments. Jesus never said they were. Only thing Jesus is recorded to have said is his commandment is to "Love one another as I have loved you."

Jesus said to love each other as I have loved you. He uses himself as our example of loving each other. Now remember when he gave this commandment. It was before his sacrifice on the cross. Either he was referring to his life with the disciples (students) for the last three years, or was giving them another statement that would be clear to them later, after the resurrection and pouring out of the Holy Spirit.

Either way Jesus is the example of how to "love one another".

THE THIRD FOUNDATION STONE OF NT ASSEMBLY PRACTICE:
JESUS' TEACHING ON SERVANTHOOD

First let's look at Matthew 20:20-28 (NIV)
"Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.

"What is it you want?" he asked.

She said, "Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at you right and the other at your left in your kingdom."

"You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said to them. "Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?"

"We can," they answered.

Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father."

When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers.

Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave - just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many." "


Jesus in this passage gives a clear instruction that the order of things in the Body is one of service, even slavery to each other. He uses himself as an example of servanthood, and this was before his death, though he did allude to it.

In the next passage he repeats this teaching. Servanthood is so foundational to the practice of the Body that Matthew chooses to state this teaching twice.

Now let’s look at Matthew 23:8 - 12 (NIV)
“But you are not to be called 'Rabbi' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth 'father', for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called 'teacher', for you have one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

Jesus shared this some time after the discussion about the greatest commandments. Servanthood naturally builds upon those commands. We shall see more on this in the NT letters.

Now let's look at John 13:14, 15
“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set the example that you should do as I have done for you.”

Is Jesus giving us some new 'ordinance' here? Some think so and practice 'foot washing' along with their observance of the 'Lord's Supper'. Yet no where is this practice discussed in any NT letter. So I don't see the early church teachers taught this 'ordinance' at all, or that the early assemblies practiced this.

So what was the point? Jesus demonstrated, one area of loving one another, serving one another in a real, practical way. It was the custom of that day that a servant of the house would wash a guest's feet when they entered the house. At least a bowl of water and towel would be provided for the guest, by the host.

There were no house servants there to do this service to the group, so Jesus used this opportunity to teach real service. Service, like love, must be sincere in deeds and not in words alone. This is greatly expounded on in the letters.

We can clearly see that servanthood is central to Jesus teaching. Remember those he taught were his hand picked future teachers in the body of believers. He taught them to serve one another.

This is one solid rock foundation block for assembly practice.

The foundations I've laid here are:

1) Love God with your all (We love Him, because He first loved us) means believers only, make up assembly.

2) Love one another.

3) Service to one another is primary and to be practical, not just in word.


JOHN'S TEACHING BUILDING ON THE FOUNDATIONS OF JESUS

The next step in trying to understand the teaching of the practice of the NT assembly is to go to the teaching of the first teachers, those who were Jesus' students (followers, disciples). Historically it is thought 1 John was written late, about 80-90 AD, yet it reflects accurately the teaching of Jesus and how the early disciples understood it.

To properly understand scripture you must keep it in its entire context, within the context of the writing it is in, the context of the historical period in which it was written, and the cultural context; there is also the context of the language in which it was written. Translators have the task of translating the original thoughts into words and terms that their intended readers can understand.

One of the dangers of taking verses out of context is they can seem to have a meaning that is different then the author intended them to have. Many today have built doctrines based on out-of-context verses strung together, the Jehovah's Witnesses are great at this ploy of false teaching, and I find too many teachers in the Church do this, to the detriment of the truth. Keeping the verse in context, the way the text was written, reading it in context is how you will find the true meaning of any given verse.

Let's look at John's first letter and see how he built upon the foundational teaching laid down by Jesus.

I will not quote all the passages I'm referencing, just the highlights, please read the passages in the whole to see the whole context and that I am not changing the meaning by taking them out of context.

1John 1:5-7 (NIV)
"This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 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, purifies us from all sin."

John wrote this letter in response to Gnostic teaching that was being formed in the assemblies. That is why some of the language he uses is so symbolic, that was the way the Gnostic teachers taught, with symbols that their initiates understood.

What does it mean to “walk in darkness” or “walk in the light“? John tells us,”...if we walk in darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. “To walk in the light then, means to speak the truth and live by the truth. When we live by the truth, we have fellowship with one another.

The point here is that our fellowship together is based on the truth.

Now let's look at 1 John 2:3-11 (NIV), {I will not quote this whole passage, please read it all.}
"We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.....if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

...Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light..."

Here John tells us that one who is living in the truth, the truth about and from Jesus, loves his brother, or loves one another. This is how Jesus walked (lived) among us; it was what John experienced when he lived with Jesus for those years. So out of his own experience he calls his readers to imitate Jesus, by loving your brothers.

Remember to be in the light means to know, speak and live by the truth. The truth as Jesus taught it, and lived it.

Next let's look at 1 John 3:10-23 (NIV), {again just quoting portions, please read the whole passage.}
"This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God: nor is anyone who does not love his brother.

This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. .....We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our bothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

...if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God ....And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them...."

Here John tells us plainly how to know if someone is in Christ, or as we say today, is saved. By whether they love the brethren or not. He doesn't give a standard of doctrine; the standard he gives is one of love. Even John's test for whether one has true doctrine (being in the light), is whether they love their brothers.

John reminds us that this is the same message we had from the beginning; the foundational teaching was laid by Jesus, as we have seen. And again the proof of whether one is saved, “passed from death to life” is whether one loves his brothers.

Love for the brethren comes out of the life we now have, it is a fruit of that life, as we shall see in Paul's writings to the Galatians.

John also reminds us of Jesus' example, how out of his love for man, he gave his life for us. We ought to live as he did, we too should “lay down our lives for our brothers”. Then he makes sure we understand this is not just something we say to each other, but is a real and practical thing.

I see implied in this passage a couple of things, for one they needed to be in intimate contact with each other. How else could they know when each other was in real need? And this was not just a weekly greeting at meeting kind of life they had, it was a close relationship. How else could they know one another's need of material things?

John calls to mind the passage he wrote in his telling of the Good News, in chapter 15, where Jesus tells how to remain in him, the vine, by obedience to his commands, and what is that command: Love one another.

One more passage from John's letter: 1John 4:7-21 (NIV)
"....let us love one another...This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear children, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another...

We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother whom he has seen can not love God, whom he has not seen. Whoever loves God must also love his brother."

Again John brings it home, one who loves God does love his brothers, the two greatest commands are tied up together, and one proceeds from the other. Love God with your all (personal, individual), causes you to love your brother (corporate).

We love God and one another, because He first loved us and died for us.

This is a true building on the foundations laid by Christ's teaching, and proper building for practice in the assembly. It is founded on a real and practical love for each other. We shall see that the other NT teachers saw this as foundational to our lives together.


WHAT IS THE GOAL OF NT ASSEMBLY PRACTICE?

I see in all of the Bible revelation that the right character of the believer is the goal that God is after. Any practices were for the purpose of shaping the believer's character. Consider the sin offering of an animal for a substitution of yourself under the Law. You laid your hands upon it, gave it over to the priest for sacrifice, to make atonement for your sins.

What happened in this giving over of a harmless lamb, ox, cow, dove... for slaughter for your sins? It made the very real point that death is the requirement for your sins; it built a gentler attitude towards others, as the believer regarded his own sinful state before a Holy God. There is a purpose to the believer's religion (I define religion as those things you do because of your faith in God. There is true religion, of works based on Faith and false religion, trying to win God's favor with works.)

What is the goal of NT Assembly Practice? If we know why we meet and the goal of our meetings, it is easier to judge whether the form we use is right or not. It does matter what form we use, as form determines function. Within the NT teaching I see that the function is to build each other up in Christ, unto the Head, as Paul says, and that their form of assembly was for that purpose. This building up was done by encouraging one another, to see the character of Christ in each individual and in the life of the assembly.

Let us look more at the basic character of believers as Paul taught it.

PAUL'S TEACHING ON THE FOUNDATION OF JESUS

Paul is the main teacher whose writings we have in the NT. He had a lot to say about what the believer was to be like and how they were to function in the local assembly.

I'd like to start by looking at what Paul communicated in the letter to the Romans. Remember Paul had not yet been to Rome at the writing of this letter, probably AD 57. Paul sent this letter to Rome to prepare them for his intended visit; he was on his way to Jerusalem with the collections for the needs of the saints in Jerusalem. As he was not personally acquainted with any problems in Rome, he gives a basic theological treatises as introduction to his teaching and soon (hoped for) visit.

Paul very well lays out the nature of our relationship in Christ, and the themes of salvation by faith in Christ alone. He lays out how in Christ, both peoples, those in Israel and those out side of Israel are joined into one, new people. He shows that salvation in Christ is not for Israel alone, but is for all men and women everywhere, Jew, Greek, master, slave, men and women. All are included in the offer, of “whosoever will come...”

Let us look at the change in Paul's discussion, in chapter 12. Paul changes subjects, building on the teaching he just shared, which is one's salvation relationship with Christ (individual and corporate), he now moves to the subject of how one's life is changed. Now that you are saved, how then should you live?

Let's read the opening statement of Romans 12. (NIV)
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship."

We see here the transition from the subject of “God's mercy” in salvation in Christ; to a how now should we live, in; “offering your bodies as living sacrifices”.

Many today have a lot to say about “worship”; many have an agenda of selling their tapes and books to teach us how to have a proper worship service/meeting. We have “worship” leaders in most churches today, who lead the singing and praise times. We do all kinds of religious activities (remember I define religion as the works you do because of your faith in Christ), that we call “worship”. We offer the sacrifices of praise, and think that God inhabits the praises of his people. We offer up words and declarations. We attend meetings where the “worship leaders” sing repetitious phrases over and over, seeking to lead people into an “attitude of worship. “

This is not the idea that Paul here applies to the term “worship.” The teaching of Paul is that our lives are to be our worship. We live as sacrifices to God, holy and pleasing. As Paul says elsewhere, “Whatever you do, do as unto the Lord.” In Paul's teaching I do not see a difference drawn between the “sacred and secular”, another popular idea today. We are in Christ 24/7, therefore we live as a living sacrifice 24/7, and therefore we are in worship 24/7. All we do, all we are is living as a sacrifice. We can not do otherwise, except to live a carnal life, one devoid of the works of Christ in it, and is such a one really saved???

Now Paul finishes his letter discussing this new theme, offering your bodies as living sacrifices.

Remember this is a corporate thing, a 'you all’; it is in the plural; he was addressing the whole church in Rome to discuss their lives together as a community. This is not a “me and Jesus“ discussion, but an ”us and Jesus“ discussion.

Remember the two greatest commandments: Love the Lord your God with all....and Love your neighbor as yourself. Then Jesus' commandment: Love one another. Upon these Paul builds.

Romans 12:1, 2 (NIV)
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not be conformed any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Paul in this transition to the new subject of life in Christ calls the Romans to make a complete change in the thinking; “do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” This change is brought about by changing the standards you use, the patterns of thought and action. This is what Paul continues in this passage to do, teach a different standard then the one they knew previously when they were in the world and not in Christ.

The term “world” does not mean the physical earth, or the people upon it. Paul uses this term to talk about the world's system and way of thinking. To just think about the temporary things of this life in comparison to thinking about things the way God reveals to us. The world's way is to live just for today, satisfying the desires for this life, food, clothes, things, and others, just for you. It is a selfish way, with little thought for others. It is the way of the sinner, living by the dictates of his own mind and ignoring the God who created Him, “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools...”

Here also is a key, a very vital key to understand scriptures. This being “transformed by the renewing of your mind,” gives one an ability to know what God's will is. See what Paul says here; “Then ...” this is a connection to the preceding phrase. First you conform yourself to the way of God, then you understand his will.

Obedience precedes understanding.

To understand the will of God, obey what you clearly understand of his word. Look again, do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, (system of doing things, i.e. love your self), but conform yourself to the Lord's way (live in obedience to his commands, especially to love one another), then you will understand, “be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Paul now expands his discussion to show how this works in real life. He takes all his theology and shows how this is practically applied to real life. Romans 1-11 is the foundational theological treatises for Romans 12-15, which is about Assembly life in Christ.

I will not quote the whole passage, please do read it to see the whole context. I will look at passages that in particular apply to how we are to relate to one another. Paul here does deal with how we as a community relate to those outside the body of believers. I will not address those topics in this discussion. But to say that it is important, because as Jesus said, “...all the world will know you are my disciples by your love for one another.”

Paul starts with a discussion of what I term “Body Life”.

Romans 12:3-8 (NIV)
"For by the grace given to me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully."

Paul here lays the foundation for the rest the discussion to follow. What are the main points in this passage? Some think that each one of us are a different assigned part of the Body and correspond to some determined part; eye, mouth, arm, hand, leg, foot, etc.... but Paul does not make such an emphasis here.

The emphasis is that we are all part of one body, we all are necessary and all of us function differently. Let me list it this way:

1) We function in the body according to the measure of Faith God has given us. No room for pride, it is the gift of God that allows us to function in the Body.

2) We do not all have the same function. All have a function; all are necessary in their functioning.

3) We all belong to each other, as the members of our own body all belong to the whole. This means he is talking to the community of believers and not individuals. The importance here is the whole community, not one's individual function.

4) We each have different gifts according to the grace given to us. Grace here means talents, or positions, like ability to teach, time available to serve others, or moneys to give to those in need (you must have something to give away to give to the needs of others, this is grace from the Lord, an abundance to give out of). Grace is receiving something you do not deserve. So it is something the Lord gave us, graced us with, for the good of the whole body, in this discussion.

Following this introductory passage Paul gives a lot of guiding principles and statements to show the practical nature of the community's life together. These are what I refer to as the “one another” statements of NT teaching. I will just quote the applicable verses.

Romans 12:9 "Love must be sincere."

Romans 12:10 "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves."

Romans 12:13 "Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality."

Romans 12:16 "Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited."

Romans 12:17, 18 "Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."

Romans 13:8-10 "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.....are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefor love is the fulfillment of the law."

Romans 14:1 "Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters."

Romans 14:13 "Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put a stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way."

Romans 14:15 "...you are no longer acting in love. Do not let your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died."

Romans 14:19 "Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification."

Romans 15:1-3 "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. Even as Christ did not please himself..."

Romans 15:5, 6 "May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Romans 15:7 "Accept one another, then just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God."

Romans 15:14 "I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another."

(This word instruct here is the Greek word; mutheto, which means to 'put in mind’; KJV uses admonish. This does not mean to teach, as we think of teaching!)

This is a long list of practices, all based on the commandment of Jesus to “love one another”. There are many more “one another” statements which I will reference next.

Why do I see these as foundational to the actual NT Assembly practice? These give us no idea of meeting times or formats. No idea if music is allowed or instruments.

Yes, that is true, but is shows us what the priority of our communities really are, according to Paul. These ideas, guiding principles, relationship practices are the foundation to NT Assembly gatherings. To find the correct form, you must know how it is to function.

Let me sum up what I've said here in this section:

1) We are a community, likened to the body; each has a function and is necessary to the whole community.

2) We each need to function.

3) The “one anothers” of NT scripture are the foundational ideas for Assembly practice.

ONE ANOTHER STATEMENTS IN THE NT TEACHING.

As I stated in the previous article, the “one another” statements, based on Jesus' teaching to love God, one another, and serve one another, are the foundational principles for NT Assembly practice. We've looked at Paul's discussion of the “saved” life, and seen the emphasis is on our lives together, or community. Now let's look at the “one another” statements throughout the NT.

Galatians 5:13, 14 (NIV)
"You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”"

Ephesians 4:1-6 (NIV)
"As a prisoner of the Lord, then I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to one hope when you were called - one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."

Ephesians 4: 25- 5:2 (NIV) {Just quoting part, please read the whole passage to see the context.}
"Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor for we are all members of one body......

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that is may benefit those who listen....Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other , just as in Christ God forgave you.

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

Ephesians 5:17-21 (NIV)
"Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ."

Philippians 2:2-5 (NIV)
"...being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus..."

Colossians 3:11-17 (NIV)
"...but Christ is all, and is in all.

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach {Greek word here is; didasko, means to hold discourse with others in order to instruct them} and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

1Thessalonians 5:10, 11, 14, 15 (NIV)
"He died for us so that, whether we are awake of asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing....And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else."

Hebrews 3:12-14 (NIV)
"See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first."

{Here the writer is calling the believers to continue and not turn back, he has been using the example of Israel in the desert to warn them to continue “firmly till the end”. For Israel the end was to enter the promised land of Canaan, for us it is Christ and His kingdom, which is now in our hearts, but will yet be upon the earth, after His return

Notice that the teaching is to “daily” “encourage one another” with the goal that “none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turn away from the living God.}

Hebrews 10:23-25 (NIV)
"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

{Here we are taught the reasons to meet, spurring “one another on toward love and good deeds“and “encouraging one another. “}

1Peter 1:22
"Now that you have purified your selves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart."

{Again obeying the commands or in this case the truth is equated with loving one another}

1 Peter 3:8 (NIV)
"Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble."

1 Peter 4:7-11 (NIV)
"The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in it various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen."

{Peter here almost quotes Paul, about using the gifts we have received by serving one another}

1 Peter 5:5 (NIV)
"...All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another..."

And we have already looked at John's letters.

These quotes build upon the foundational teaching, the foundation stones laid by Jesus, as recorded in the Good News, the Gospels. Love one another, serve one another.

These are the foundational ideas that show how we are to behave towards one another, what community character is to be like. These are the foundational ideas or how we are to function together in community. The form of our gatherings must therefore be towards these ends, as form dictates function.

PETER ON THE NATURE OF THE ASSEMBLIES

Much has been said since the start of the Reformation regarding the priesthood of all believers, little seems to have affected church practice. Let's look at where this idea comes from and what else Peter had to say about us, the assembly of Jesus.

First let’s look at who Peter addressed this letter to:

“To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit , for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood:”

This was addressed to a large area of assemblies, keep this in mind, it is addressed to communities so the 'you' used in this letter is a plural you.

Let's look at a couple of descriptions Peter gives us of the assemblies.

1Peter 2:4, 5 (NIV)
"As you come to him, the living Stone - rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him - you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."


Peter says we are

1) living stones,

2) are being built into a spiritual house,

3) are...to be a holy priesthood

4) offer spiritual sacrifices

Remember, this is referring to all believers, no where in the text does the subject change from the original addressees, Peter is still referring to the communities of believers in their entirety.

We are living stones; being built into a house......this refers to the fact that it takes us all together to make this building. We all of us must be functioning together.

The term “a spiritual house” gives us two pictures, one is a building, the Temple in Jerusalem, where the priests performed the sacrifices for the other people. The other is a family, like the house of Aaron who were selected to be priests from out of the tribe of Levi.

Spiritual sacrifices are our lives lived in obedience to Christ's commands (Love one another, the foundational command). Paul built this idea in Romans 12-15. Jesus is used as an example of being a sacrifice.

So I see it like this: We are living stones, we are the temple, we are the priesthood offering up ourselves as living sacrifices by loving one another, which is acceptable to God in Christ Jesus.

1 Peter 2:9, 10 (NIV)
"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."

We are:

1) a chosen people,

2) a royal priesthood,

3) a holy nation,

4) a people belonging to God

Again the subject here is the whole community of believers, not some special clerical class.

According to Peter we are a living house for, us, the priesthood to offer up, us, the living sacrifices. We are a special chosen people; we are a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God.

This means all believers, whether Jew or Gentile, whether slave or free, whether man or woman. The offer held out to Israel at the Mount, (Exodus 19:6 “...'you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.'”) to be a holy nation of priests, that they rejected, (Exodus20:8 “the people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.”) is made real in the assemblies of Jesus, His body. The people of Israel rejected the offer of fellowship directly with God at the mount that day, “...They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, 'speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.' ” (Exodus 20:18, 19).

My point here is that we now, all believers, those who are in Christ, we are his holy nation of royal priests.


End of part 1