Weekly Word Archives

One Another Series

Admonish One Another

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This is the result of a challenge issued by a very godly, older man who has been in the ministry for 40 years. He challenged us to do a study in the New Testament of the “one another” passages. I did that study and came up with quite a list of ways God calls us to relate to each other. The study made a real impact in my life and I hope that it will in yours as well. I would encourage you to look up the Scriptures in your Bible and see how God may want you to apply them to your circumstances in life.

Let’s examine God’s instruction on "admonish one another" and what that means. The verb "admonish" in the original Greek is "noutheteo." It means literally "to put in mind." It carries the idea of "to caution or reprove gently." It is sometimes translated "instruct" or "warn." Vines says it carries the thought that it is training by word of encouragement or, if necessary, by reproof or remonstrance. It is a warning based on instruction. God commands us to admonish each other three times in the New Testament.

As Paul is leaving the church in Ephesus, he says "Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears." Acts 20:31

And now concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able also to admonish one another. Romans 15:14

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you with all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16

And yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
2 Thessalonians 3:15

Many of us feel very inadequate to instruct or warn another Christian. We have to remember that anything God calls us to do, He gives us the power and ability to do through the Holy Spirit’s work in our life. I really believe that we would not have the great need for counselors today if the members of the body of Christ (the church) would choose to seek out God’s direction in the "one another" passages and to follow that direction.

God is very concerned about our relationships to each other as Christians. He wants us to love each other enough to warn and instruct. It is not an easy command to carry out because we must do it in context of all He tells us to do – we are to do it lovingly after first examining ourselves. Whatever we do with other members of the body is to be done to strengthen the whole body, not to tear it down. It is to be done so that it brings honor and glory to the head, to Christ.

How would we apply this principle to our relationships? When do we admonish another Christian? I think that first we must be certain that the Holy Spirit is leading us to do that. We must pray specifically for His guidance and direction in that situation. Then, we look at the circumstance.

Questions to ask yourself:

Is this person headed in the wrong direction in his or her life?
Is he or she headed away from the Lord instead of following Him?
Is it sin or is it a difference in opinion on how to live life?
What is your relationship with this person?
Does he or she know that you love and care about him or her?
Are you seeking the best for his or her life or just being critical?

Remember that admonishment always is to come in the context of love. If God has shown you that it is His leading, be courageous enough to follow Him even if it is difficult. You may worry, "What if I lose this friend?" The better question would be "What if God wants me to be an instrument to save a friend from destruction?"

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