Church of the Vine Articles

Instruct One Another

  • 03/18/09

This week I offer to you one the most interesting and important ‘one anothers’ of the New Testament:  Instruct one another.  Recall that we are in the process of learning how to be ‘church’ together.  Looking at the New Testament, it turns that there are many, many vital functions that God has given each of us for each other.  Rather than professional occupations, these are the giftings and callings that all of us are to share with one another, that through our growth in Christ, He might be glorified in us. 

 

Here is Romans 15:14-15 from the NIV:

 

14 I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another. 15 I have written you quite boldly on some points, as if to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me.

Rom 14:15

 

Two key phrases are, ‘you yourselves are full of goodnes’, and ‘competent to instruct one another’. 

 

First, goodness does mean simply ‘goodness’, but the word agathosyne carries the further connotation of ‘well constructed, prepared, or as Vine’s Greeek Dictionary says, ‘beneficial in its effect’.  What Paul seems to be saying is that because we have received Jesus by faith, we already have within us what is good for each other; we have the mind of Christ and the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.

 

Second, ‘competent to instruct’ is a combination of words that means the ‘power’( competent) to ‘establish’, or ‘set the mind’ (instruct).  Putting  these together, Paul is saying that because we are all filled with the presence of Christ by the Holy Spirit, we all have the power to establish one another(instruct) in the issues of our growth and life in Christ.  As the KJV puts it, we are ‘competent to counsel’ one another.  How important this is!  This means that we are not limited to a few for our instruction.  We have one another for the purpose of instruction and growth and discipleship.  Here are the same verses from The Message:

 

Personally, I've(Paul) been completely satisfied with who you are and what you are doing. You seem to me to be well-motivated and well-instructed, quite capable of guiding and advising one another. So, my dear friends, don't take my rather bold and blunt language as criticism. It's not criticism. I'm simply underlining how very much I need your help in carrying out this highly focused assignment God gave me.

 

Notice how clearly Paul understands that the whole body carries the gifting and competence to see all grow into Christ-likeness!

 

  • How can we more effectively help one another through mutually ‘establishing our minds (instruction)?
  • What are any hindrances to boldly taking on the role of discipling one another in this way?
  • What do would you think if someone said, ‘We all can’t instruct one another if we’re not properly educated’?

 

May the Grace of the Lord Jesus be with us!