Loving the Church

1 John 4:7-21

Emperor Penguins are remarkable birds because of how well they care for one another in the long, dark, frigid winters of Antarctica. To shield each other from freezing temperatures and fierce winds, they huddle together tightly in a large group, sharing body heat to maintain warmth. Adult, male penguins rotate positions within these huddles, allowing those on out edges to move inward. This prevents any of them from suffering prolonged exposure to the bitter cold and biting winds, and it significantly reduces heat loss and can elevate the group’s core temperature critical for survival in subzero temps.

At the same time, female Emperor Penguins go on dangerous, grueling trips across the icy landscape to find food in the icy ocean waters, hunting fish and krill. They then return home to the group and feed their chicks and mates who are waiting for them on the ice, prioritizing the needs of the others over their own. To protect against dangers like leopard seals, these penguins use distinct vocal calls and physical gestures to alert the group, prompting group responses such as tightening their formation to deter predators. These acts of cooperation, resource sharing, and vigilance are vital for the colony’s survival in Antarctica’s unforgiving environment, making possible the survival of the next generation

I share this example from the wonderful world of nature because it illustrates how God, in the NT, describes what should be the behavior of the church. The church as a whole, but especially individual churches, congregations, should behave towards each other like Emperor Penguins behave towards one another during the frigid winters of Antarctica. We should make it our personal mission and priority to care for one another.

Scripture portrays the church as “one another.”

If you’ve watched many nature documentaries, you’ve probably heard the narrator say something like this, “In the wild world of nature, no animal survives alone.” While the Emperor Penguins certainly show how this works for them and other highly social, group-oriented animals, not all animals behave this way. Some animals – such as polar bears, sloths, tigers, and red pandas – live in a highly isolated, solitary way. But even these animals rely on other creatures for their survival, including pollinators (like bees) who keep alive plants which are necessary for survival, and including other animals which they not only eat but which rely on other creatures for their own existence.

But when Scripture speaks of the church, it does not envision followers of Christ existing in an isolated way, as tigers do, relying independently on a network of unintentional people and resources which inadvertently contribute to their survival. Instead, it speaks of groups of people – as churches – who are committed to one another as Emperor Penguins are committed to one another in the harsh winters of Antarctica.

One way the NT teaches us about this is how it uses the words “one another,” abt. 100 times in 94 verses, with at least half of these verses giving instructions to believers about how we should behave towards other believers. In most instances where you read “one another” in the NT, it’s actually one word in Greek which we translate as “one another.”

According to James Swanson in The Dictionary of Biblical Languages, this word describes “reciprocation between two persons or groups.” Reciprocation refers to the act of responding to a gesture, action, or behavior with a similar or equivalent one, often in a mutual exchange. When this applies to human interactions and relationships, it involves things like sharing resources, returning a favor, and so on, and is essentially a give-and-take experience that promotes balance and mutual interdependence.

So, one of the challenges for a church in achieving and fulfilling the biblical ideal and purpose for a church is discovering how to overcome our cultural, social tendencies towards isolation, independence, and free agency. To become a church that more thoroughly and completely embraces mutual dependence upon and involvement with one another in life, service, and worship, we must be persuaded of our need to transition from living the life of ones to one anothers. And to do this, we should begin by seeing how strongly the NT emphasizes the importance of committing ourselves to one another in a real, personal, and meaningful way.

Of the 47 times in the NT that we’re given instructions from God about how we should behave towards one another, 8.5% (or 4) of those times give us instructions about showing affection towards one another by kissing (Rom 16:16; 1 Cor 16:20; 2 Cor 13:12; 1 Pet 5:14). Awkward, right? Three of these instances say to greet one another with a “holy kiss,” and one other with a “kiss of love.”

In these cases, the apostles are upholding a cultural greeting between family and close friends. While our Minnesotan, North Dakotan culture may not express close friendship this way, we should acknowledge that whatever our expressions of close friendship may be, we should include such expressions in our interactions with one another. This is a “one another” obligation that Christ calls for us to express within the church and is a way to show that we cherish the church as he desires.

Other one-off, misc. “one another” instructions for Christians include:

• Don’t pass uninformed judgments on one another, and don’t put a stumbling block in one another’s way. (Rom 14:13)
• [Married couples within the church] don’t deprive one another of physical intimacy. (1 Cor 7:5)
• Bear one another’s burdens when such burdens are too overwhelming to carry alone. (Gal 6:2)
• Speak truth to one another. (Eph 4:25)
• Don’t lie to one another. (Col 3:9)
• Comfort one another, especially by reminding each other about the resurrection. (1 Ths 4:18)
• Encourage and build up one another. (1 Ths 5:11)
• Stimulate, inspire, and motivate one another to love and good deeds. (Heb 10:24)
• Pray for one another. (Jam 5:16)
• Be hospitable to one another. (1 Pet 4:9)

This set of instructions alone is enough for each of us to think about and apply to our lives in a meaningful, life-changing way. If we each did this over the weeks and months ahead, prayerfully considering these instructions and deliberately depending upon God to implement them into our interactions with and relationships with one another in the church, it would transform our church in amazing ways. Would you be willing to do this? This is the kind of change that the gospel calls us into as followers of Christ and which God intends for us to work out together as a church family.

This in mind, let us also recognize three kinds of primary instructions that the other “one another” instructions in the NT place upon our hearts. These other primary instructions may be summarized into three primary messages or mutual commitments we should have towards one another.

This emphasizes our call to unity.

One-third (33%) of the “one another” commands speak of our duty to pursue unity within the church. Here are the instructions that God gives to people in the church about nurturing unity with one another.

• Be at peace with one another. (Mk 9:50)
• Don’t grumble and complain to one another (Jn 6:43)
• Be of the same mind with one another. (Rom 12:16; 15:5)
• Accept one another. (Rom 15:7)
• Be patient with and serve one another. (1 Cor 11:33)
• Don’t bite, devour, and consume one another – don’t eat each other ? (Gal 5:15)
• Don’t boastfully challenge one another or envy (be jealous of) one another. (Gal 5:26).
• Tolerate one another with gentleness and patience. (Eph 4:2)
• Be kind, tender-hearted (affectionate, sympathetic), and forgiving to one another. (Eph 4:32)
• Bear with (tolerate for a long time) and forgive one another [frequently]. (Col 3:13)
• Seek good for one another, and don’t repay evil for evil. (1 Ths 5:15)
• Don’t complain about one another. (Jam 4:11, 5:9)
• Confess sins to one another. (Jam 5:16)

Unity means “oneness,” oneness of shared beliefs, goals, mission, purpose, and passion. It means worshiping and working together – thinking, feeling, speaking, and acting as one. This unity was the primary, dominant prayer request of Jesus Christ the night of his betrayal, arrest, and crucifixion as he prayed to God the Father about his followers for centuries to come. And such unity does not happen automatically or without intentional effort on our parts. Such unity is something that we owe to Christ and to one another. It is something we must pursue for one another, together.

This emphasizes our call to humility.

15% (7x) of the “one another” commands speak of our need for humility within the church.

• Give preference (deference) to one another and show honor and respect to one another. (Rom 12:10)
• View one another as more important than you view yourself. (Phil 2:3)
• Serve one another. (Gal 5:13)
• Wash one another’s feet (be willing to do menial, low-level tasks for one another). (Jn 13:14)
• Don’t be arrogant, but be of the same mind with one another, instead. (Rom 12:16)
• Submit yourself to one another. (Eph 5:21)
• Clothe yourselves in humility toward one another. (1 Pet 5:5)

There can be no unity without humility, so we not only owe unity to one another, but we owe humility to one another, too. To be humble, we must always view ourselves in the shadow of the cross – as sinners saved by the costly grace of Christ. And when we do this, we realize that we don’t deserve the love we have received, nor are we better or superior to the followers of Christ around us. In the humility that Christ provides, we are able to genuinely believe that and behave towards others as more significant than ourself.

This emphasizes our call to love.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, one-third (33%) of the “one another” commands speak of our need for love within the church.

• Love one another. (Jn 13:34, 15:12, 17; Rom 13:8; 1 Ths 3:12, 4:9; 1 Pet 1:22; 1 Jn 3:11, 4:7, 11; 2 Jn 5)
• Serve one another through love. (Gal 5:13)
• Tolerate one another in love. (Eph 4:2)
• Devote yourselves to one another in love (a deep, affectionate commitment). (Rom 12:10)

These frequent calls to love one another by all the apostles – whether John, Peter, or Paul – mean that we should deeply, genuinely care for one another in all the ways that make family and friendship relationships meaningful and lasting. This requires genuine interest, sacrificial care, uncomfortable conversations, and unwavering support. And though we certainly experience love in our emotions, to love one another is a call to action, as well. It should be obvious to those who observe our lives that we love our fellow brothers and sisters in the church, and this love should be visible, obvious, inspiring, and compelling – encouraging and enticing others to believe on and follow Christ.

We should commit ourselves to one another.

That’s what the Apostle John teaches us in the passage given in our public Scripture reading today, 1 Jn 4:7-21. To conclude the sermon today, let’s look once again at what this passage tells us about our call to love one another and to make one another a top priority in our lives.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

Here, we see God calls us to love one another. The reason for this obligation is that love comes from God, and love for one another in the church is a key evidence that a person has been genuinely born again, has genuinely believed on Christ, has genuinely become a child of God who loves others as God the Father loves him. John speaks about this so strongly that he indicates that anyone who does not express love for other followers of Christ is not actually a genuine child of God at all – because God is love and therefore his children will exhibit that dominant trait, as well.

In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Here, we see that God’s love was most perfectly expressed and shown to us by how God the Father sent Jesus Christ the Son to die as a sacrifice for our sins. This extraordinary, horrific, extreme expression of love not only shows us how greatly God loves us but, as John explains, it also shows us how greatly we are to love one another.

No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.

Here, we see that when we love each other as we are taught to do by Christ’s own teaching and example, the very love of God himself is revealed through us, and this expression of God’s love through us helps people to see past being afraid of God to viewing God even more as one who will forgive and welcome them into his family, too. After all, we love God because we first understood how he loved us.

If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

Finally, we see here that John emphasizes once again that people who claim to be followers of Christ but who do not love other brothers and sisters in Christ in the church, these cannot be genuine believers. Why? Because if you truly love God, you will love God’s children, also. And this – John says – is a commandment from Christ himself, not merely an inspirational quote or nice suggestion. It is a bedrock, core, and essential feature of genuine Christian faith and living.

So, if we are going to cherish the church, we will pursue unity within the church among other followers of Christ in humility and love, and we will do so with all of our heart. As the Empire Penguins take risks, work closely together, and commit to caring for, providing for, and protecting one another, so we should do the same, loving others rather than ourselves. This is how we cherish the church, by loving one another in a committed, devoted way – as God himself through Christ has loved us.

Imagine a woman named Julie, single mother of two, finding love and acceptance in a small church community that practiced the NT’s “one another” commands. Struggling with financial strain and physical and emotional exhaustion, she was welcomed by a church that prioritized personal care, much like Emperor Penguins huddling for survival. Members greeted her with warm embraces, reflecting the biblical call to show affection. When her car broke down, a couple in the church covered repair costs, bearing her burdens, while others provided meals and childcare, showing hospitality. During Bible studies, they encouraged one another to pursue love and good deeds, fostering unity through shared honesty and confession. This church’s commitment to humility, love, and unity changed Sarah’s view of life, giving her hope and a sense of belonging, proving the power of a community devoted to living out Christ’s call to love one another. Because of this love, she put her trust in Christ and became a baptized, serving member.

Next, imagine the Thompson family, a young couple with three children, active members of the same church that embraced Sarah. They made the NT’s “one another” commands a top priority in their busy lives. Seeing the call to love and serve, they adjusted their schedules, declining extracurricular activities, like weekend sports leagues, that conflicted with church gatherings, choosing instead to participate in Sunday morning events at church and host small group meetings in their home to foster unity. They chose sports and events for their children, instead, which occurred during the week on other days. They committed to regular prayer for fellow members and organized meal trains for families in need, showing hospitality. Despite the demands of parenting, they modeled humility by volunteering for nursery duties and mentoring younger couples, viewing others as more significant. By saying no to cultural pressures and yes to mutual care, the Thompsons helped cultivate a thriving church community, balancing family life with a devoted pursuit of loving one another. For this reason, they not only made a significant difference for Christ in their church, but their children grew up to embrace the same values in their own families as well, passing down these values to the grandchildren, too.

And then imagine the Hendersons, a senior couple in their seventies, facing chronic health challenges—John with arthritis and Margaret with heart issues. But they, too, made the “one another” commands central to their lives within the same church. Despite physical limitations, they prioritized unity and love by hosting a weekly prayer group in their accessible home, fostering encouragement and prayer. They declined time-consuming hobbies like golf, instead dedicating evenings to calling or visiting struggling members, offering comfort and reminding them of Christ’s hope. John, though mobility-challenged, served by writing notes of encouragement, while Margaret shared her wisdom in mentoring younger women, embodying humility. Since frequent travel was hard, they invited young couples into their home, instead.
By adjusting their lifestyle to focus on these acts of service and hospitality, the Hendersons strengthened their church’s community, proving that love for one another transcends physical constraints.

What about you? How are you as an active member of your church making these “one another” commands from Christ a priority in your and your family’s life? We love him because he first loved us!