Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:23)
Perhaps you have heard that the 10th chapter of the book of Hebrews has been referred to as the “lettuce” chapter. Do you know why that is? Well, it is because you will find in the space of four verses (22-25), the powerful phrase “Let us . . .” Now that “let – us” is a supernatural salad that is designed to both challenge and comfort you right where this finds you today.
The first thing we need to know as Christians is found in the fact that inasmuch as we are saved individually, we are saved to community. The Bible knows nothing of the solitary saint. When God in Christ saved us, He placed a new obligation on us and that is the obligation we have to the family of faith. The word US makes it clear that there must be a mutual responsibility in the body of Christ . . . each for the other. Perhaps the best way to lay this out is found in the “one another’s” of the Scriptures. Here are just a few:
- Care for one another – Galatians 6:2
- Accept one another – Romans 15:5
- Serve one another – Galatians 5:13
- Confess to one another – James 5:15
- Submit to one another – Ephesians 5:21
- Comfort one another – 1 Thessalonians 4:18
- Carry one another’s burdens – Galatians 6:2
- Love one another – John 13:35
So, how well have you been feasting on the supernatural salad Jesus has set before you? What we need to remember is that Jesus died to make us His family of faith. He wants us to live as a community of believers who put the gospel on display in such a way that the community of unbelievers begins to ask why are we so different. The answer, of course, is found in the grace of God – the grace that saved us and is in the process of sanctifying us. Without the grace of God, we would still be as selfish and self-centered as we were before we were saved. Even after salvation, we must appropriate the grace of God in order to live out the “lettuce” chapter.
Remember, living in community for the Christian is not only God’s desire for each one of US, it is the clear and present sign of maturity – growing in our faith. As we grow in our relationship with Jesus vertically, we are to also be growing in our relationship with others horizontally. In the creation account, everything was good except one thing. It was not good for the man Adam to be alone (Genesis 2:18), so God created Eve, as the first community in the world. You are part of the most important community in the world today, the church. But in order for the church to be the church, we must do our part, and commit to community.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 