Saved Together

We’ve been learning a lot recently about the communal nature of our salvation and identity. God has reconciled us to himself and God has reconciled us to each other (Romans 1:16-17). One commentator says the key message of Romans is that “you must work out the gospel-shaped balance of Jew and Greek” (Paul: A Biography, 322). It’s true. Because Jesus saves people and saves a people, the gospel compels and empowers us to do life together.

In our cultural moment it’s easy to neglect the mutuality of our faith. It’s natural for many of us to think about our relationship with God in personal terms. This proclivity tempts us to live out the gospel in isolation. But Romans is teaching us that we’re supposed to embody and “work out” the way of Jesus together–Jews and Gentiles; those who grew up in the Church and those who didn’t; wealth and poor; women and men; and all different peoples.

What’s this look like? Well, things like confessing sin (James 5:17), continuing to meet together (Hebrews 10:25), and naming injustices as a church family are vital (Ephesians 2:11-22). But we also share our needs and burdens and everyday struggles. It reminds me of when our car was in the shop and I had to take my daughter to school in an Uber. On the way she asked me, why are we taking a taxi if we have friends with cars? I hadn’t shared a need with our community. And the Lord had been teaching my daughter that’s what we’re supposed to do.

In subtle and not so subtle ways we need each other. That’s why it’s such good news we’ve been saved together by Jesus.