Experiencing the power of the Gospel in community

We were not saved for isolation. We were saved into community. Through the cross of Christ, God made us family not only with himself, but also with everyone who trusts in Christ alone for eternal life. God has gathered under his roof an enormous crew of former rebels, and he has turned us into family.

While we look forward to worshiping Jesus as a family forever in his castle, our King and heavenly Father tells us not to wait until heaven to pursue each other. He tells us that now is the time to live in community together for the glory of his name, for the joy of our own souls, and for bringing more people into his kingdom (Heb. 10:24–25).

"God has gathered under his roof an enormous crew of former rebels, and he has turned us into family."

Through Christian community, and specifically through the local church, we point each other to Jesus and we live on mission together as partners in the gospel (Phil. 1:5).

Here are five ways we get to experience the power of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection through Christian community:

1. The gospel defeats our self-pity and self-centeredness

Sometimes, one of our subtle motives for community is to have others approve of us, fawn over us, and tell us we are valuable. Consequently, when our peers don’t give us their approval, or they don’t ascribe value to us, then we pity ourselves.

The gospel defeats self-pity, because it shows us that we don’t need to try to impress others or have them tell us we are valuable, because Jesus already gave us our value on the cross. Further, the gospel defeats self-centeredness because it show us that our salvation and our lives are not primarily about us at all, but about Jesus and the value we ascribe to him.

"The gospel defeats self-pity, because it shows us that we don’t need to try to impress others."

So when you’re tempted to stop attending church or community group because you feel that nobody likes you, consider asking yourself this question: “Instead of seeking to be served, how can I serve the Lord and others through my physical presence, through words of encouragement, through listening to others, and through showing mercy?”

2. The gospel defeats our shame

Every Christian has spoken hurtful words, thought impure thoughts, and participated in sinful activities. On the cross, Jesus suffered in our place the punishment we deserve for these actions. By doing so, he wiped away our guilt and shame, and he replaced it with an eternal standing before God of innocence and righteousness.

But even though God no longer looks at our past mistakes, Satan, our flesh, and the world constantly tempt us to remember our past and to cling to our shame. As a result, we often don’t feel justified to enjoy friendships, to be part of a community of people who love Jesus, or to be used by God for good purposes. The gospel combats these feelings by reminding us that we’re not justified to receive the blessings of community because of our own merits; we’re justified and liberated to enjoy the family of God because of the merits of Christ, which we can now claim as our own through faith.

"Satan, our flesh, and the world constantly tempt us to remember our past and to cling to our shame."

So whenever you feel unworthy to enjoy community with others, remember that nobody is worthy on their own. The only reason any of us now enter and enjoy Christian community is because of Christ, and that’s why we worship him whenever we’re together.

3. The gospel defeats our delusions of self-reliance

Our flesh tells us that we don’t really need help from anyone, that we shouldn’t burden others with our problems, and that we can meet our needs ourselves. The gospel tells us otherwise.

The gospel tells us we are totally incapable of saving ourselves. If God had not helped us in our helplessness, we would not know him or his salvation. And while we don’t need the church in order to be eternally saved, God gives us the church as an instrument of his grace to support us, to transform us into his image, and to humble us.

"You need other Christians.

You need the local church."

You need other Christians. You need the local church. God’s not in the work of building kingdoms—he’s in the work of building a kingdom. Live in light of the gospel message as you join in fellowship with other Christians who recognize their need for God and his family.

4. The gospel defeats our conceit

A conceited person believes that he is more valuable than other people. He looks down on others and separates himself from those he finds unacceptable or unworthy of honor. We all struggle with conceit on some level.

The gospel both highlights and eradicates our conceited claims. The gospel highlights our conceit by showing us that we have deemed ourselves not only better than others, but also better than God himself. Our sin reveals that we’ve considered it better to worship ourselves and our own desires rather than worship God and obey his desires for us.

"How on earth can anyone be arrogant when standing next to the cross?"

The gospel then deals with our conceit on the cross of Christ, showing us that the punishment for our conceit was the death of Jesus. As Carl Henry said, “How on earth can anyone be arrogant when standing next to the cross?”

No Christian should be esteemed so much by themselves or by others that they are unapproachable. In God’s family, nobody is too cool, too powerful, too talented, or too refined for others. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ. We are equally valuable in God’s eyes and worthy of community, regardless of age, gender, race, or social class (Gal. 3:28).

Through the gospel, God brings together the unlikeliest of people and makes them family.

5. The gospel gives us a game plan

Many of us have spent much time, energy, and resources embracing fruitless community. It’s more comfortable for us to remain superficial, talking about the weather, sports, and movies, than to step on anyone’s toes.

The gospel shatters our superficial, lukewarm, inoffensive notions of life together. Nothing about Jesus on the cross bleeds superficiality, ambiguity, or timidity. Jesus died on the cross and rose again for the glory of God by boldly winning a people for himself. This is the gospel message with which we have been entrusted. This is the gospel we preach, we teach, we memorize, we claim, and we treasure.

"The gospel shatters our superficial, lukewarm, inoffensive notions of life together."

The gospel gives us the game plan of living on mission together as we proclaim our crucified King throughout the world. And as God saves more of his children, we will gather them into our fellowship and together grow as his disciples by the power of his Holy Spirit. We will seek to love others well, to forgive as we’ve been forgiven, and to grow in the grace of God. The advance of the gospel of Jesus is our game plan, our purpose, our vision, and our joy.

Thank you, King Jesus, for leaving your castle; for entering enemy territory; for showing us your Father’s glory; for building us a bridge and carrying us into your holy throne room as your blood-bought family, once and for all. Thank you for the gracious gift of redeemed community with yourself and with your church. Help us to live lives together worthy of your gospel.

By Dan Hallock

Dan Hallock is the lead pastor at Cedarhome Baptist Church, located an hour north of Seattle, WA (USA). Dan has a B.A. in English from the University of Wyoming and a Master of Divinity degree from Denver Seminary. Dan’s family includes his wife, Cindy, and his three kids: Jackson, Grace, and Josiah.
http://cedarhome.org/