Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.
Believers are to receive, welcome and accept one another in the same way Christ has received and welcomed them, making His welcome the pattern for their own. That mutual reception is to the glory of God through united witness, being like-minded toward one another according to Christ Jesus so that with one mind and one mouth they glorify God with strict unity and no divisions. Such oneness calls for humility and shared purpose shaped by Christ, minding not high things but condescending to those of low estate, with no one demanding unquestioned deference or refusing to modify his own course. It means bearing the infirmities of the weak and pleasing a neighbor for his good to edification rather than pleasing self, judging one another no more and putting no stumbling block in a brother's way. In daily life this is worked by the Holy Spirit as love replacing animosity, criticism and faultfinding, guarding the tongue to speak kindly and encouragingly, meeting another's faults with pity and self-examination rather than casting him aside, and letting mercy and love stand beside justice to forgive and embrace the erring one.
Christ's Pattern for Unity
Wherefore receive, welcome and accept one another as Christ received and welcomed us, making Christ's welcome the pattern for receiving fellow believers across differences and without pride. This mutual reception is to the glory of God through united witness, with believers glorifying God together in shared life and striving to be one as Christ is one with the Father. That unity means being like-minded one toward another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one mind and one mouth they glorify God, even the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, in strict unity with no divisions among them.
Such likemindedness requires humility and shared purpose shaped by Christ: being of the same mind one toward another, minding not high things but condescending to men of low estate, and not being wise in self-conceit. It allows no worker to demand unquestioned deference and no one to insist his own course needs no modification, but calls for humility and love worked in the heart so that animosity is replaced with love. Receiving one another belongs with bearing the infirmities of the weak, not pleasing oneself but pleasing a neighbor for his good to edification and growth, following Christ who pleased not Himself, through self-denial, loving sympathy and united service that rules out actions that divide Christ's church. Since everyone shall give account of himself to God, receiving one another means judging one another no more and putting no stumbling block or occasion to fall in a brother's way, but being doers of the Word and not hearers only, with none of self and all of Christ.
Practicing Reception Daily
Receiving one another is an obligation to God, for as Christ received believers so they are to welcome one another to the glory of God in unity. This welcome requires humility and love, and when the Holy Spirit lives and works in the heart believers love one another rather than show animosity, criticism, or faultfinding. It requires a shared purpose shaped by Christ, so that they may glorify God together.
It requires ceasing to rely on finite sufficiency and falling on the Rock and being broken, and striving to overcome hereditary and cultivated faults of character. It requires drawing nigh to brethren to respect them and love them, and cultivating confidence rather than suspicion. It requires speaking any good that can be reported of another and acting it, never indulging a murmuring, faultfinding spirit, rejoicing not in iniquity but rejoicing in the truth, and making it a business to educate the tongue to speak pleasant words.
It means receiving one another by guarding the tongue and refusing faultfinding, criticism, and contention. It requires speaking kindly and tenderly to one another, refusing to listen when others begin to speak of someone's sins or faults, and speaking words of encouragement instead. It requires confessing one's own sins and humbling the heart before God, and answering provocation or harsh speech with silence. Christ's example in receiving us is that He never finds fault except to lay before us perils from which He would deliver us.
Rather than casting people aside because of their faults and inconsistencies, Christians are to receive one another as Christ receives them. Christ's grace tends toward unity, so seeing another person's wrong should lead to pity and self-examination, not despondency or imitation of un-Christlike conduct. Welcoming one another with love in the same way Christ welcomes erring people to His heart of infinite love means justice toward one who has done wrong must never stand alone but must always have mercy and love standing beside it as its twin. So an erring one is taken to the heart of love, forgiven and embraced rather than treated with severity. Receiving one another to the glory of God is service that requires sanctified brain-power and sanctified talent of speech, and only when both are sanctified is a person fitted for it.
Believers are to receive, welcome and accept one another in the same way Christ has received and welcomed them, making His welcome the pattern for their own. That mutual reception is to the glory of God through united witness, being like-minded toward one another according to Christ Jesus so that with one mind and one mouth they glorify God with strict unity and no divisions. Such oneness calls for humility and shared purpose shaped by Christ, minding not high things but condescending to those of low estate, with no one demanding unquestioned deference or refusing to modify his own course. It means bearing the infirmities of the weak and pleasing a neighbor for his good to edification rather than pleasing self, judging one another no more and putting no stumbling block in a brother's way. In daily life this is worked by the Holy Spirit as love replacing animosity, criticism and faultfinding, guarding the tongue to speak kindly and encouragingly, meeting another's faults with pity and self-examination rather than casting him aside, and letting mercy and love stand beside justice to forgive and embrace the erring one.
Christ's Pattern for Unity
Wherefore receive, welcome and accept one another as Christ received and welcomed us, making Christ's welcome the pattern for receiving fellow believers across differences and without pride. This mutual reception is to the glory of God through united witness, with believers glorifying God together in shared life and striving to be one as Christ is one with the Father. That unity means being like-minded one toward another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one mind and one mouth they glorify God, even the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, in strict unity with no divisions among them.
Such likemindedness requires humility and shared purpose shaped by Christ: being of the same mind one toward another, minding not high things but condescending to men of low estate, and not being wise in self-conceit. It allows no worker to demand unquestioned deference and no one to insist his own course needs no modification, but calls for humility and love worked in the heart so that animosity is replaced with love. Receiving one another belongs with bearing the infirmities of the weak, not pleasing oneself but pleasing a neighbor for his good to edification and growth, following Christ who pleased not Himself, through self-denial, loving sympathy and united service that rules out actions that divide Christ's church. Since everyone shall give account of himself to God, receiving one another means judging one another no more and putting no stumbling block or occasion to fall in a brother's way, but being doers of the Word and not hearers only, with none of self and all of Christ.
Practicing Reception Daily
Receiving one another is an obligation to God, for as Christ received believers so they are to welcome one another to the glory of God in unity. This welcome requires humility and love, and when the Holy Spirit lives and works in the heart believers love one another rather than show animosity, criticism, or faultfinding. It requires a shared purpose shaped by Christ, so that they may glorify God together.
It requires ceasing to rely on finite sufficiency and falling on the Rock and being broken, and striving to overcome hereditary and cultivated faults of character. It requires drawing nigh to brethren to respect them and love them, and cultivating confidence rather than suspicion. It requires speaking any good that can be reported of another and acting it, never indulging a murmuring, faultfinding spirit, rejoicing not in iniquity but rejoicing in the truth, and making it a business to educate the tongue to speak pleasant words.
It means receiving one another by guarding the tongue and refusing faultfinding, criticism, and contention. It requires speaking kindly and tenderly to one another, refusing to listen when others begin to speak of someone's sins or faults, and speaking words of encouragement instead. It requires confessing one's own sins and humbling the heart before God, and answering provocation or harsh speech with silence. Christ's example in receiving us is that He never finds fault except to lay before us perils from which He would deliver us.
Rather than casting people aside because of their faults and inconsistencies, Christians are to receive one another as Christ receives them. Christ's grace tends toward unity, so seeing another person's wrong should lead to pity and self-examination, not despondency or imitation of un-Christlike conduct. Welcoming one another with love in the same way Christ welcomes erring people to His heart of infinite love means justice toward one who has done wrong must never stand alone but must always have mercy and love standing beside it as its twin. So an erring one is taken to the heart of love, forgiven and embraced rather than treated with severity. Receiving one another to the glory of God is service that requires sanctified brain-power and sanctified talent of speech, and only when both are sanctified is a person fitted for it.