As Iron Sharpens Iron: The Biblical Principle of Mutual Edification
As Proverbs 27:17 says, "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another." When iron blades are rubbed together, each becomes sharper and thus more effective. Likewise, when believers are involved in one another's lives, mutual edification occurs, making each person more effective in their calling.
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| Iron Sharpens Iron with Bishop Nelson Nzvimbo |
The Power of Fellowship
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 is a similar passage: "Two are better than one... For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!" Humans were created for fellowship (Genesis 2:18). When we're living in healthy fellowship, we rely on one another and help one another. This is all the more so for Christians (Matthew 18:19-20).
A Call to Action for Believers
The New Testament is replete with instructions concerning how believers should relate with one another. They are to:
- Do good to each other (Galatians 6:10)
- Bear each other's burdens (Galatians 6:2)
- Forgive each other (Colossians 3:13)
- Restore each other (Galatians 6:1)
- Submit to one another (Ephesians 5:21)
- Encourage each other (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
- Admonish and exhort each other (Colossians 3:16)
- Pursue peace and mutual up-building (Romans 14:19)
- Stir one another on to love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24-25)
The Desired Outcome
The Body of Christ – believers – should be encouraging and edifying one another. When they do, they are like iron sharpening iron. Each believer becomes more effective in his calling. He comes to know God more and to more effectively carry out the good works for which he has been made (Ephesians 2:10).
Frequently Asked Questions
The phrase comes from Proverbs 27:17. It means that just as rubbing two iron blades together makes both sharper, believers who engage in healthy fellowship help each other become more effective, mature, and edified in their faith.
Fellowship is important because humans were created for it (Genesis 2:18). For Christians, it provides a support system to help one another, bear burdens, offer encouragement, and hold each other accountable, which is essential for spiritual growth.
The ultimate goal is for each believer to become more effective in their calling, to know God more deeply, and to better carry out the good works that God has prepared for them to do, as mentioned in Ephesians 2:10.
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