Life Alongside One Another

Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Hebrews 10:23-25

We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.

1 Thessalonians 2:8

Flee from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

2 Timothy 2:22

Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God.

1 Peter 4:10

The scriptures are very clear that we are to live life alongside one another. In Milton Vincent’s A Gospel Primer, he outlines two [of many] ideas that 1) we preach the gospel to ourselves daily as a way to better serve our brothers and sisters in Christ, and 2) the gospel reconciles us to not only God but to other believers as well, leading us to experience the gift that is each other.

Unpacking these ideas more, my preaching the gospel to myself on a daily basis should lead me to further enjoy and pursue relationships with other believers. It should be why I am willing to be vulnerable, why I should have friendships, why I should share how the Lord is allowing me to behold, obey, and be transformed by the gospel. If the gospel is transforming me, that is a gift. But it is not a gift that I should be willing to do anything with other than share it as an encouragement to my brothers and sisters, helping to “stir one another to love and good works,” as Hebrews 10:23-25 tells us. The best way to be accountable to sharing these gospel transformation stories is to meet regularly with the intention of asking questions about how God is transforming us and being willing to share these stories instead of hoarding them because of a fear of being vulnerable or pride about the fact that our heart needed transformation in the first place. Vincent says it well. He says, “We are significant players in each other’s gospel narrative, and it is in relationship with one another that we experience the fullness of God in Christ.”

Truly, disregarding regularly meeting with other believers is not only disobedient to a very clear command that Christ has given us, and it not only deprives you of transformative connection with other believers, but it withholds from other believers the fullness of the gospel that they could experience by living in relationship with you.

Written by a Church Member