The Importance of Faith and Fellowship
Scripture: Romans 10:9-13 (NIV)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As Scripture says, ‘Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.’ For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
In this podcast episode, the Apostle Paul’s heartfelt desire and prayer for the Israelites to be saved resonates with us today. It reminds us that attending church or simply knowing about God does not guarantee salvation. Our righteousness is not earned through our own efforts, but through faith in Jesus Christ.
Practical Insights:
Authentic Faith: Merely going to church or knowing the Bible is not enough. We must have a personal relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ. It is through His sacrifice that we find forgiveness and freedom from the bondage of sin.
The Power of Fellowship: Attending church provides us with the opportunity to worship God in a larger community of believers. It allows us to hear the Word of God, receive wisdom, and be encouraged by others. Fellowship with fellow believers is a vital part of our spiritual growth.
Choosing the Right Church: Not all churches are the same, and it is important to find a church that preaches the Word of God and acknowledges Jesus as the only way to salvation. Seek out a community where you can grow in your faith and be surrounded by like-minded believers.
Action Steps:
Evaluate Your Faith: Reflect on your relationship with God. Are you relying on your own efforts or truly placing your faith in Jesus Christ for salvation? Surrender your life to Him and trust in His finished work on the cross.
Engage in Fellowship: If you are not already attending a local church, consider finding one where you can connect with other believers and grow in your faith. Seek opportunities to worship, learn, and serve alongside fellow Christians.
Seek God’s Presence: Make it a priority to spend time in prayer, reading the Bible, and seeking God’s presence in your daily life. Allow His Word to transform your heart and guide your actions.
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. Help me to deepen my faith and not rely on my own efforts for righteousness. Lead me to a community of believers where I can grow in my relationship with You. May Your Word guide me and may I experience the power of fellowship with other believers. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Remember, salvation is not based on our works, but on our faith in Jesus Christ. Let us continually seek Him and grow in fellowship with other believers as we journey together in our faith.
Podcast Transcript: The Surprising Impact of Church Community
Introduction
I was reading through Romans chapter 10 today and I’m going to really break this up into two podcasts because there’s so much here in chapter 10. And I don’t want to not do it justice. But what stands out to me right out the gate, as soon as I read the first verse, I got to thinking about the people that go to church and then the people that don’t go to church.
Desire for Salvation
Romans 10:1 – Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.
Now that stands out to me because the Israelites were just known as God’s people. They have been God’s people for centuries and are still considered God’s people. The Apostle Paul is writing to them. He’s like, man, I sure hope they’re saved. I sure, I sure hope that they’re going to heaven. It’s like, if they’re not going, then who is?
Church Attendance vs. Faith
There is a variety of people that attend church. And I often think maybe the same way as the Apostle Paul did here for the church in Rome. I hope the people I sit next to have a relationship with God. I mean, just because they show up on Sunday doesn’t mean that they do. And just because these people that the Apostle Paul was writing to were Israelites, didn’t mean that they had faith in the very God that they were supposed to be serving. They were very good at knowing the Bible and knowing the rules that God has set forth. They may even have been pretty good at following those rules.
The Apostle Paul makes it clear throughout the book of Romans that you’re not righteous by trying to be good enough. You are righteous through your faith. and you cannot be good enough without God in your life. It is through the death of Jesus Christ that gives us the opportunity to have atonement for our sins so that we can turn from the slavery and bondage of sin and turn towards God. And when we do that, God can use that faith and make us righteous, free us from the bondage of sin so that we’re able to live a life that’s holy and pleasing to Him. Being able to quote scripture and know scripture and know all about God isn’t what saves us.
Importance of Church
So it’s kind of funny when you’re reading through Romans chapter 10, my heart’s desire and prayer to God is for the Israelites. That’s what the Apostle Paul says. That’s like saying, man, my prayer is that all those people that are going to church will be saved. And going to church definitely doesn’t save you. There’s definitely some people at church that are there because they need it and they need to get right with God. But man, for those of us, for those of you who are not going to church for whatever reason, I think you’re missing out on something great too.
You don’t go to church because you have everything figured out. You go to hear the Word of God, to have an opportunity to worship Him in a bigger setting with other believers. And as the Word of God is being preached, to be open to that, to hear that, To have somebody who has more wisdom and knowledge be able to explain what the scriptures mean and to pour into you. Sure, there’s going to be people there that annoy you or are just crazy. Don’t let that stop you from getting plugged in to your local church. If you’re not around other believers, you’re missing out on one of the best things that we have as a body of Christ. And that’s each other. We each have our own gifts, talents, abilities. God has a purpose for each of us. And if you’re missing out on the body of Christ, you’re missing out on encouragement. You’re missing out on some of the things that we’re called to experience, going before him and worshiping him through song and prayer with others, where there’s two or more gathered, the presence of God is surrounded by us and with us, and that’s worth going for. That is worth going to church for.
Choosing the Right Church
Now, not all churches are created equal. There are definitely some weird ones out there, but those who are in the word of God, who preach the word of God, who say that Jesus is the only way, those are the ones that you want to be a part of, and those are the ones where you have an opportunity to hear God’s word and to grow.
Conclusion
I hope that you’re saved. I hope that you’ve given your life to Jesus Christ so that you can experience him in worship and in song. And I hope that you’ve had the opportunity to get plugged into a church around you.
Romans 10:9-13 – That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As scripture says, anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame, for there is no difference between Jew and Gentile. The same Lord is Lord of all, and richly blesses all who call on him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
My hope and prayer is that you’re saved, that you’ve given your life to him because he paid a big price so that you would have the opportunity. But he leaves the ball in your court. He forces nobody to serve.
