“For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.”
(Romans 12:3–8 ESV)
When it comes to our salvation, Scripture teaches that this is possible only by the grace of God. It is not something that we can earn, nor is it something of which we’re deserving. And this grace is received through faith in Jesus.
This faith, by which we are saved, is a personal faith. What I mean is that we are not saved by the faith of our parents or grandparents. And we are not saved by the faith of our community. It is a faith that must be held personally.
However, many take this to mean that the church is unnecessary. They take it to mean that our faith can be held to and lived out apart from the church. The idea is promoted that the only thing necessary is Jesus and me.
But Scripture is clear that the church is immensely important. In fact, it’s essential. It’s essential as God works through the church for our blessing and for the blessing of all.
We see this as we look at the above passage. Paul encourages us to think of ourselves soberly. He encourages us to think of ourselves sensibly. And he encourages us to think of ourselves humbly.
We’re to do so, he says, according to the measure of faith God has assigned. We are to do so as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. We’re to do so, in other words, receiving God’s gifts and blessings by faith.
They are not something in which we can take pride, as if we had anything to do with them. We can acknowledge only that they are blessings from God’s hand. And, realizing this, we receive them as such.
Although we are many, he says, we are one in Christ. Individually, he says, we’re members one of another. So, again we find that our faith is not something to be lived in isolation.
Possessing gifts that have been given to us, we are called to use them. Whatever those gifts may be, we are called to use them. We’re called to use them for the benefit, for the blessing, of the church as a whole.
We learn from this that blessings of God are given in and through the church. We learn from this that the ministry of God is both given and received through the church. And, for this reason, our connection with the church is vital.
We’re to join with the church that we might receive God’s blessings. We’re to join with the church that we might share his blessings. We’re to join with the church realizing that, only in connection with the body do we experience the fullness of his blessing.
