One Anothering II

II. SHARING TRUTH WITH ONE ANOTHER:


A. Edify one another

(Definition) Vine’s Expository Dictionary, Vol. II, p. 18, literally means to build a house, used figuratively in the New Testament in the sense of promoting the spiritual growth and development of character of believes, by teaching and example, suggesting that such spiritual progress (growth) is the result of patient labor in the building process i.e. the action of believers toward each other.

1. I Thes. 5:11 – Therefore…edify one another.

2. I Cor. 14:26 -- …When you come together… let all things be done for edification. Edification is the theme of I Cor. 14:3,4,5,12,17, & 26.

3. Eph. 4:12-13 --…for the equipment of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for building up (edification) of the Body of Christ…

4. Romans 14:19 -- Let us then pursue the things, which make for peace and the building up of one another.

5. Romans 15:2 – Let each of us please his neighbor for his good to edify Him. The process of edification brings us back to the source of truth, God Himself. We cannot build up one another based on human ideas, thoughts or feelings. It is by the sharing of God’s truth as found in His Word that we are able to edify each other.

6. Acts 20:32 – And now I commend you to God and to the Word of His grace which is able to build you up…

B. Exhort, encourage one another

(Definition) Many ideas are included in the New Testament word “exhort” (also translated encourage). It is the verb form of the word that Jesus uses to describe the Holy Spirit in John 14:16,

16:7 (Paraclete). Ideas include: to entreat; to admonish or urge a person to pursue some prospective, future course of conduct; to help, give aid or assistance; to strengthen; to comfort; to counsel, instruct and teach; a friend who does whatever is necessary to promote the welfare of the one he loves.

1. Hebrews 3:13 – But exhort one another everyday, as long as it is called “today” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

2. Hebrews 10:24-25 – Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and Good deeds …encouraging one another.

3. I Thes. 4:18 – Therefore comfort (exhort) one another with these words.

4. I Thes. 5:11 -- …encourage one another, and build up one another.

C. Teach one another

(Definition) To give instruction, clarify truth; to give instruction and application in the doctrines of

God’s truth; A. Wetherall Johnson says that the aim of all teaching is “to make God Himself and what He says in the Bible so real that those who listen will do something about it.” She continues that a teacher is “ineffective unless the message is so interesting, encouraging, instructive, convicting and revealing of the whole character of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, that the hearer cannot listen without changing in his attitudes and daily action.” Teaching imparts
knowledge that affects attitudes and behavior.

1. Col. 3:16 – Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom…

2. Hebrews 5:11-14 – For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of God’s Word.

3. Deut. 6:4-9 – The Old Testament ideal: all teachers of God’s law.

D. Warn, admonish (NOUTHETEO) one another

(Definition) Literally a putting in mind. It is “the training by word” whether of encouragement, or if necessary by reproof or remonstrance (protest, complaint). It is distinguished from PAIDEUO which means to correct by discipline, to train by act. (cf. Hebrews 12:6, Eph. 6:4).

Nouthetic counseling has in view correcting something that is wrong in contrast to teaching which is the impartation of positive truth.

1. Col. 3:16 -- …As you teach and admonish one another

2. Romans 15:14 – I myself am satisfied about you…that you yourselves are Full of goodness filled with all knowledge and able to admonish one another.

3. I Thes. 5:12 --…Respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you.

4. I Thes. 5:14 – We exhort you brothers, admonish the idle.

5. II Thes. 3:15 – Do not look on him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

6. I Cor. 10:11 --…They (O.T. scriptures) were written down for our Instruction (admonition).

7. Eph. 6:4 – Fathers are to raise their children “in the discipline and instruction (admonition) of the Lord.”

8. Titus 3:10 – Reject a factious man after first and second warning.

9. Col. 1:28 – Him we proclaim, warning every man in all wisdom, that we may
Present every man mature in Christ.

10. Acts 20:31 – For three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every
One with tears.

Note: The edifying, exhorting, teaching and admonishing ministries in the Body are not confined to the pastor-teacher, but all believers have responsibility in these areas toward one another.

Questions:

a) What can the leadership of the church do to train and develop these ministries among all of the local Body?

b) How can members of the local church be encouraged to practice these ministries with one another?

c) How can the church program provide opportunities for these ministries to function between members of the local Body?

E. Admonishing one another,

 outline of related ideas (cf. Jay Adams, Competent to Counsel, Presbyterian and Reformed publishing Co., 1972, chapter IV
and V, pp. 41-78.) Nouthetic = Greek, “to warn, admonish.”

1. The command to nouthetic counseling
a. Romans 15:4
b. Col. 3:16
The priesthood of all believers involves nouthetic counsel to one another.

2. Definition:
a. It implies a problem, the need for personality or behavioral change in the one admonished.

b. It is training by word of mouth toward bringing about change in the direction
of greater conformity to Biblical principles and practices, e.g. the prophet Nathan with David.

c. The purpose of nouthetic counseling.
I Cor. 4:14, cf. I Thes. 2:7,8,11,12
The benefit and removal of harmful things ultimately that God will be glorified.

3. Nouthetic counseling accords with the purpose and use of Scripture

a. II Timothy 3:16 – The Scriptures are useful to perfect the man of God by what could be called nouthetic means ( teaching, reproving, correcting, training).

b. In II Timothy 4:2, Paul urges Timothy to use the scriptures in accordance with their nouthetic purposes. “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with great patience and instruction.”Adams, page 51 – “so nouthetic confrontation must be scriptural confrontation. Nouthetic confrontation is, in short, confrontation with the principles and practices of the scriptures.”

4. Nouthetic counseling embodies deep involvement

a. Acts 20:31 – “with tears”

b. II Cor. 11:29 – “Who is weak without my being weak; who is led into sin without my intense concern.”

c. III John 4 – “I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my own children walk in the truth.”

5. The goal of nouthetic counseling

I Timothy 1:5 – But the goal of our (authoritative) instruction is love which issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. God’s instruction in the Word is the Holy Spirit’s means of producing love in the believer. Sin, which leads to hypocrisy, a guilty conscience, and doubt makes love impossible. (A simple Biblical definition of love is the fulfilling of God’s commands i.e. having responsible relationships to God and man). Teaching and counseling the Word when blessed by the Holy Spirit, enables a man to become pure in heart, gain a peaceful conscience and trust God sincerely. Thus a person is able to fulfill the goal of Nouthetic Counseling which is love or conformity to God’s law.

6. Qualifications for Nouthetic counseling

a. Romans 15:14 – full of goodness, filled with all knowledge…

b. Col. 3:16 – “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another…”

1) KNOWLEDGE – being able to impart information. “The Holy Spirit uses counselors to right wrongs by the application of God’s Word to human problems” (Adams p.61)

2) GOODNESS – empathetic concern for the welfare of the other person which
communicates hope in Christ

3) WISDOM – Proverbs 1:1-7 = wisdom includes

a) learning and knowledge (vs. 5)

b) practical application of principles to concrete situations i.e. wise dealing,

righteousness, justice equity (vs. 3) the acquisition of skill (vs. 5)

c) Behavior in accord with relationship with God and his nature (vss.3, 7)

Wisdom – Proverbs 15:23 – To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is.

Wisdom – Proverbs 25:11-12 – A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise reprover to a to a listening ear.

F. Counseling one another in the Proverbs

1. Proverbs 9:7-9 – He who corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man, incurs injury. Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man and he will increase in learning.

2. Proverbs 11:14 – Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
3. Proverbs. 12:15 – The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel (RSV advice)
4. Proverbs 15:22 – Without counsel plans go wrong, but with many advisers they succeed
5. Proverbs 19:20 – Listen to counsel (RSV advice) and accept instruction that you may gain wisdom for the future.
6. Proverbs 20:1 – Plans are established by counsel
7. Proverbs 27:6 – Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are treacherous.
8. Proverbs 27:9 – Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so does the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel