Matt. 22: 34-40

 God is love - it is His, and our, basic nature;

 we need one another;

 life’s greatest joys, fulfilment and satisfaction come from Godly relationships;

 we are at our best when all relationships are right.

B. Sin affected man’s relationship with God

Gen. 3:8 - Adam and Eve ran away and hid - estrangement

C. Sin affected man’s relationship with man

Gen. 4: 8

 Cain killed Abel;

 men and women have been fighting ever since (see also: Gen. 5: 1-3).

D. Salvation reconciled us to God

2Cor. 5: 17, 18

 through Jesus paying for our sin;

 now we have this ministry of reconciliation to pass on to others;

 we are now in a position to be reconciled to others.

E. We are in covenant with God

1Cor. 11: 24, 25

 an eternal contract;

 drawn up by the Greater, binding Himself into it, when the smaller accepts it.

F. All God’s people are bound into convenant

1Cor.10: 16, 17

 Christian relationships are covenant relationships,

 compared to casual and functional relationships;

 they are unconditional.

G. We are like parts of a human body

1Cor.12: 12-27

 we are different, yet one (unity in diversity) - vv. 12-14 ;

 we are part of the body, whether we like it or not - vv. 15, 16 ;

 each part has its valuable function - v. 17 ; Eph. 4: 11, 16 ;

 each part must be placed by God - v. 18 , i.e. be in the right local church!

 each part needs the others - vv. 19-22 ;

 some parts are more presentable and honoured than others, but all are important - vv. 23, 24 ;

 there must be no division - v. 25 ;

 we must all suffer, be honoured, and rejoice together - v. 26 .

H. “The one anothers” - we must build relationships according to God’s principles and values:

01 - love one another - Jhn. 13: 34, 35

02 - accept one another (do not judge one another) - Rom. 14:1-3, 15: 7

03 - forgive one another - 2Cor. 2: 6 ff , Eph.4 : 31, 32

04 - forbear one another (“make allowance for each other’s faults” – the Living Bible) - Eph. 4: 2

05 - restore one another - Gal. 6:1

06 - bear one another’s burdens (be kind and tenderhearted) - Gal. 6 : 2

07 - do not cause one another to stumble - Rom.14:13, 14

08 - serve one another - Jhn.13:15

09 - caring for one another -Phil. 2: 4

10 - preferring one another - Phil. 2: 3

11 - do not wrong one another - Lev. 25:17

12 - speak no evil of one another - James 4:11

13 - be truthful and honest with one another - Eph. 4: 25

14 - be devoted to one another (loyal) - Rom.12:10

15 - giving to one another - Rom.12:13

16 - rejoice with one another - Rom.12:15

17 - weep with one another - Rom.12:15

18 - be of the same mind to one another - Rom. 12:16

19 - never take revenge on one another - Rom.12:19

20 - stimulate one another - Heb.10: 24

21 - encourage one another - Heb. 3:13