Understanding the Nature and Practice of Spiritual Togetherness.

Spiritual togetherness is another way to say "unity." Believers will be spiritually one as we understand who God is and who we are in Christ. We should not want to live life alone.

The enemy of God and His people, Satan, would love to cause divisions in the church body. However, we are all equal in Christ's righteousness. Ephesians 4:1-2 and 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 tell us how to maintain unity within the church. Humility, gentleness, patience, and tolerance are all outgrowths of the primary command: love.

Love

1 Peter 4:7-11 also details how to cultivate spiritual togetherness. This lifestyle creates a sharp contrast to the previous verses (1 Peter 4:1-6). Love starts off the list in verse 8. To "cover over" means to build a bridge over an offense. We do not hold each other guilty for our pasts before we knew Christ.

We may fall again into sin that ruled our lives before Christ. 1 John 1:9 tells us that when we confess our failure, God forgives and forgets. Jesus shows an example of such forgiveness for the Samaritan woman in John 4:7-42. We are to treat each other likewise (Ephesians 4:32). Assume God's grace will do its work in immediate forgiveness for your own failings and the failings of others.

Hospitality

1 Peter 4:4 shows that many new believers lose their old family and friends when Jesus changes their behavior. They need a new family, and they have one in the body of Christ! We practice hospitality in our church family by showing friendship even to previous strangers (1 Peter 4:9). We treat them as detached from their past, as God sees them.

Serving

Each believer receives a gift at the point of their salvation, either a speaking or serving gift (1 Peter 4:10-11). We are to practice these in the body of Christ consistently and compassionately to build each other up. God gives His people "manifold" gifts, of all different kinds, to meet all the various needs in His body. Your family in Christ needs your gifting!

Application Points

• This is how you know that your past has been forgiven in Christ: Has Jesus ever changed the way you live? Salvation is more than assurance that you will go to Heaven when you die. It is Christ transforming your life here and now!
• God's love for you is not based on your performance but His grace. If you are in Christ, God loves Jesus in you. When you fail, He doesn't love you less; when you succeed, He doesn't love you more.
• Do you carve out time to welcome your family in Christ into your home? If not, what is a simple way you can begin?
• How do you exercise your spiritual gift in service in your church? Your family in Christ needs your gifting!

Tools for Further Study

Cross References to Explore

• Hebrews 10:24-25 – Healthy believers should not want to live life alone.
• 1 Corinthians 13:13 – Love is greater than faith and hope.

A Hymn to Encourage: "O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus"

Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus
Vast, unmeasured, boundless, free
Rolling as a mighty ocean
In its fullness over me
Underneath me, all around me
Is the current of Your love
Leading onward, leading homeward
To Your glorious rest above

Oh the deep, deep love
All I need and trust
Is the deep, deep love of Jesus

Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus
Spread His praise from shore to shore
How He came to pay our ransom
Through the saving cross He bore
How He watches o’er His loved ones
Those He died to make His own
How for them He’s interceding
Pleading now before the throne

Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus
Far surpassing all the rest
It’s an ocean full of blessing
In the midst of every test
Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus
Mighty Savior, precious Friend
You will bring us home to glory
Where Your love will never end

^{Music, chorus, and alt. words by Bob Kauflin. © 2008 Integrity's Praise! Music/Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI). CCLI License #1422210}