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Answer
Because we have all been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”, (Ephesians 1:3), one of our responsibilities is that we should be bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2 says, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”
In Ephesians 1:4–14, Paul explains that God has worked to accomplish on our behalf every spiritual blessing. God the Father has chosen us to be adopted as sons (Ephesians 1:4-6), Jesus has redeemed us through His own blood (Ephesians 1:7-12), and the Holy Spirit has sealed us, guaranteeing that we belong to God always (Ephesians 1:13-14). This is an incredible change from the lostness we previously experienced—we were so marred by sin that we were in our very nature children of God’s wrath, and all of us were walking in that brokenness and deadness (Ephesians 2:1-3). But God showed us incredible mercy, giving us new life and a new identity by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-10). Because of this new identity, we have a new unity with each other, because we are all related to Him, and now everyone who believes in Jesus Christ are brothers and sisters (Ephesians 2:11—3:13).
While our neOur identity in Christ is by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). Despite this, there are responsibilities we have toward one another. Paul urges believers to walk in a manner worthy of this remarkable calling «I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, », (Ephesians 4:1). Part of fulfilling this is to demonstrate humility, gentleness, and patience. With these qualities, we are to bear with one another in love «with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; », (Ephesians 4:2). The Greek word anechomenoi, translated as “bearing with,” means “to take responsibility for again and again.” The concept is to continually and patiently endure, tolerate, or bear with one another. This is a significant demonstration of the love believers in Christ should have for one another, as indicated by Paul’s inclusion of the phrase “in love.” As we are aware, “love covers over a multitude of sins” «And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. », (1 Peter 4:8).
In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, he explains that the first attribute of love is patience «Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, », (1 Corinthians 13:4). In Galatians 6:2, Paul once again links the concepts of expressing love and patiently enduring and helping each other. He states, “Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ” (NASB). The law that Paul refers to is Jesus’ mandate.That those who would follow Him should love the Lord their God with all their heart, soul, and mind, and they should also love their neighbor as they loved themselves (Matthew 22:37-39). Jesus added in that context that these two mandates were the essence of the entire Hebrew Scriptures, “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22:40).
Bearing with one another is an important part of expressing love properly to each other. Believers in Christ have every spiritual blessing in Christ by the grace of God (and through faith). We have been given a new identity and are now brothers and sisters. Of course, none of us are perfect or as mature in Christ as we will one day be; consequently, we fail God often, and inevitably we will fail each other. Because of that inherent weakness, we each need grace from each other.
The writer of Hebrews reminds us that we should be constantly thinking about how we can encourage each other to love and good deeds, “and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:” (Hebrews 10:24)—we need each other. Peter reminds us that we have all received mercy from God, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” (1 Peter 1:3), and that mercy is the basis of our new identity in Christ. As Peter challenges his readers to walk in that mercy, he exhorts them to be considerate of all and to honor everyone, “Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.”
Version/1peter-2-17″>(1 Peter 2:17). There are numerous particular ways we can bear with one another, but the main concept is that we bear with one another in love.
