Bible Students

A. Through love, serve one another (Galatians 5:13).

Just as Christ as served His body through love, Christians are to serve eachother through love. Love must be serving. Love can not be served, only. The one who claims to love must be willing to serve other people, lest they are not truly loving others. Those who will not serve other people do not care to love them. 

B. In living by the Spirit, do not become boastful, challenging one another, or envying one another (Galatians 5:24-26).

Christians must live in the Spirit. Christians must not show off what they have as meaning they are better than others. Christians must not challenge one another. Christians must not desire what others have. Love does none of these negative things. Love is in the Spirit. Love is given by the Spirit, so love should be present with the other fruit and gifts of the Spirit. 

C. Gently restore those who are caught in any sin (Galatians 6:1).

Christians have been shown so much mercy by God when they have been confronted in their sin by Him. The Lord has shown grace on the Christian. Therefore, Christians must show grace on others, even when they do not believe the others are worthy of it. Therefore, if Christians are showing grace and mercy on others because they have been shown those, their attitude toward the other should be similar to the attitude toward themself. They should love the person, and desire them to come out of the sin. 

D. Bear one another’s burdens and thus fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2).

The law of Christ is to love one another as oneself, and as Christ has loved the church. Christians have One who bears their burdens ultimately. Therefore, they must bear the burdens of those around them. Christians must do what the Lord has done for them. 

E. Bear with one another in love and thus preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:2-3).

The unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace are the marks of the Spirit in the church. Unity and peace bring Christians together and show the Spirit’s work in the church. When Christians do not love each other, they break this unity. The love of Christians will show the Spirit’s work in the church. 

F. Be truthful because you are a member with others in the Body of Christ (Ephesians 4:25).

Christians all have equal standing in the body of Christ because their standing is not based on what they have done. Christians are in the body of Christ because of the work of Christ, so they must be good to all members of the body. 

G. Forgive one another just as Christ forgave you (Ephesians 4:32).

This is another of the most basic Christian tenants. Christ has forgiven the Christian of their wicked sins. Therefore, the minor sins against the Christian should be forgiven. The Christian who does not allow a small debt to be forgiven is a hypocrite to hope their large sin will be forgiven. Christians should forgive debts and sins because their greater sin and debt against God has been forgiven. 

H. Be kind and tenderhearted toward one another, putting off bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and malice (Ephesians 4:31-32).

The signs of love are to be kind and tenderhearted. Christians must treat others how they would want to be treated. Additionally, love not only does but also does not, especially in the case of bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and malice. This covers just about everything in terms of frustration. The Christian must love how Christ has loved them, not being frustrated. 

I. In thankfulness, speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord (Ephesians 5:18-20).

Christians should be joyful in their inner self and encouraging to others. One of the ways to do this is to dwell on the goodness of the Lord through the use of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. These are not just any songs, but songs that focus on spiritual things, namely the Lord and the need for Him. This is a practical way to show love to one’s inner being and to others. 

J. In living a life controlled by the Spirit, be subject to one another in the fear (reverence) of Christ (Ephesians 5:18-21).

One of the results of having the Spirit is that Christians will be controlled by the Spirit, following where He leads. This leading will be toward reverence of Christ, not into sin and disobedience. Christians should love the Lord through the work of the Spirit.