For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. Romans 1:11-15
As Born Again Christians there should be a desire for community among other believers, as the Apostle Paul says here “For I long to see you” Paul had a great desire to be in fellowship with his brothers and sisters in Rome, but was unable to at the present time due to his mission of spreading the gospel. However Christians should not forsake the assembly of each other (Hebrews 10:25) There should be an actual desire for community and fellowship.
You might ask Why? Why does Paul need to fellowship with this community? Why do you need to be a part of a Church? Well as Paul says here “that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift” Hopefully most know, if you are a Born Again Christ, the Holy Spirit is living inside of you, you have been given gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12) When you forsake the Church, you forsake sharing your spiritual gifts with the rest of the body of Christ. This is a very self centered attitude, the Church needs you just as you need the Church. Paul had a great desire to share his spiritual gifts with the body of Christ, as he continues to bless us today with his writings inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Another reason we need the Church for community, as the Apostle Paul says here “that I may be comforted together with you by mutual faith” When you become set apart in Christ, fellowship in the world becomes almost impossible. While the world has desires of the world, Christians have the desire of Christ. Your soul longs and earns for mutual fellowship among other believers. You won’t find spiritual fellowship outside of Christ, or the fellowship you find may lead you away from Christ. It’s important to be part of a community of Christ that comforts one another. As the Apostle Paul also says , we the Church are to “bear each others burdens” (Galatians 6:2)
As I continually try to teach new believers, this Christian walk will be difficult, there will be persecution, there will be trials and testing. Nobody is going to survive this walk alone, you need the Church and the Church needs you. As Jesus said “those who endure to the end, shall be saved” (Matthew 24:13) This is not going to be a easy walk, you need the Church!
The Apostle Paul again states “I don’t want you to be ignorant or unaware brethren (Church), I planned to come to you” The Apostle Paul continually had a strong desire to be with his brothers and sisters in Christ, why? “That I may have some fruit or have a harvest among you” We have a mission as the Church, to fulfill the Great Commision (Matthew 28:19) It’s another blessing to see the spiritual fruit that is produced by an active Church sharing the gospel in their community and reaping a harvest for The Lord, Amen!
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