Relationships in the Bible

Christianity at its foundation is about relationships. Our relationship with God and with each other.

God is described as our Father throughout the Bible. “Is not He your Father who has bought you? He made you and established you” (Deuteronomy 32:6). “Pray then in this way: Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name” (Matthew 6:9).

Believers are consistently described as God’s children. In describing believers in the Old Testament God said, “Israel is my first-born son” (Exodus 4:22). Also, “When Israel was a youth I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son” (Hosea 11:1). Of New Testament believers the Bible says, “See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God” (1 John 3:1). Also, “And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me” (2 Corinthians 6:18).

If believers are God’s children then believers are also brothers and sisters, “For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister” (Mark 3:35). Paul told Timothy to treat younger men as brothers and younger women as sisters (1 Timothy 5:1-2).

The marriage relationship is also used to describe the relationship between God and His people. “For your husband is your Maker, whose name is Yehovah of hosts” (Isaiah 54:5). God likens His commitment to His people, to wedding vows “I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, in lovingkindness and in compassion” (Hosea 2:19). Jesus relationship to the church is described as that of a husband to his wife, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her” (Ephesians 5:25-26).

The greatest commandment identifies the importance of our relationship with God and with each other. We are instructed to love God with all of our heart, soul mind and strength and love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:34-40; Mark 12:28-34). God gives further, specific instruction to His church, His bride and His children to love one another.

Twenty times scripture commands us to love one another. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35).

How we are to love God, love our neighbors and love our fellow believers is detailed in the Bible.

Love God: “This is the love of God, that you keep His commandments” (1 John 5:3). Love People: “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12). Love the brethren (brothers and sisters): forty scriptures give specific instructions on how to love the brethren for the goal of unity in the church. We will explore this next.