Living Out Faith in Community Like Christ's Example
Living out faith in community, following Christ's example, involves a multifaceted commitment to sincerity, boldness, and active fellowship. The New Testament frequently presents Jesus as the ultimate model for believers in their communal life and individual conduct [1, 2, 5, 6].
Sincerity is a core aspect of this communal faith. Christ himself was an example of sincerity, being "without sin" (1 Peter 2:22) [2]. This quality should characterize various aspects of a believer's life within the community, including love for God (2 Corinthians 8:8, 24), love for Christ (Ephesians 6:24), and service to God (Joshua 24:14; John 4:23, 24) [2]. Furthermore, sincerity should define love for one another within the community (Romans 12:9; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:18) and one's entire conduct (2 Corinthians 1:12) [2]. The preaching of the gospel should also be marked by sincerity (2 Corinthians 2:17; 1 Thessalonians 2:3-5), reflecting the sincere nature of the gospel's doctrines (1 Peter 2:2) [2].
Another vital characteristic is boldness, which Christ exemplified (John 7:26) [1]. This boldness is rooted in faith in Christ (Ephesians 3:12; Hebrews 10:19) and is a distinguishing mark of saints (Proverbs 28:1) [1]. It stems from trust in God (Isaiah 50:7), the fear of God (Acts 4:19; 5:29), and faithfulness to God (1 Timothy 3:13) [1]. Believers are encouraged to express their trust in God with boldness (Hebrews 13:6) and to approach prayer with boldness (Ephesians 3:12; Hebrews 4:16) [1]. This boldness will extend even to judgment (1 John 4:17) [1]. Ministers, in particular, are called to exhibit boldness in their faithfulness to their people (2 Corinthians 7:4; 10:1) and in their preaching (Acts 4:31; Philippians 1:14) [1]. The early church prayed for boldness (Acts 4:29; Ephesians 6:19, 20) [1].
The concept of "work of faith" is also central to living out faith in community. This is not merely a passive assent but a "realizing, working faith" that manifests in continuous action, as described in 1 Thessalonians 1:3 [7]. This "work of faith" is intrinsically linked to love and hope, forming a triad of graces that characterize Christian life [7]. The apostle Paul, for instance, boasted in Christ Jesus concerning "things pertaining to God" (Romans 15:17), indicating an active engagement with divine purposes [4].
Communion with God, exemplified by Christ (Luke 19:41, 42), is a foundational practice that underpins communal life [5]. This communion extends to fellow believers and those in need, manifesting as empathy and support for the afflicted (Job 6:14; Hebrews 13:3), the chastened (Isaiah 22:4; Jeremiah 9:1), enemies (Psalm 35:13), the poor (Proverbs 19:17), the weak (2 Corinthians 11:29; Galatians 6:2), and other saints (1 Corinthians 12:25, 26) [5]. Such communion is inseparable from love for God (1 John 3:17; John 4:20) [5].
The early Christian communities served as examples of this communal living. The churches in Judea, for instance, were noted for enduring suffering from their countrymen, a pattern that other churches, like those in Thessalonica, were encouraged to follow (1 Thessalonians 2:14) [3]. Within these communities, individuals like Barnabas were recognized for their generous and unselfish giving, responding to the genuine needs of others (Acts 4:36-37) [8]. This generosity highlights the practical outworking of faith within the community.
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Boldness, Holy — Christ set an example of -- Joh 7:26. Is through faith in Christ -- Eph 3:12; Heb 10:19. A characteristic of saints -- Pr 28:1. Produced by Trust in God. -- Isa 50:7. The fear of God. -- Ac 4:19; 5:29. Faithfulness to God. -- 1Ti 3:13. Express your trust in God with -- Heb 13:6. Have, in prayer -- Eph 3:12; Heb 4:16. Saints shall have, in judgment -- 1Jo 4:17. Exhortations to -- Jos 1:7; 2Ch 19:11; Jer 1:8; Eze 3:9. Pray for -- Ac 4:29; Eph 6:19,20. Ministers should exhibit, in Faithfulness to their people. -- 2Co 7:4; 10:1. Preaching. -- Ac 4:31; Ph”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Sincerity — Christ was an example of -- 1Pe 2:22. Ministers should be examples of -- Tit 2:7. Opposed to fleshly wisdom -- 2Co 1:12. Should characterise Our love to God. -- 2Co 8:8,24. Our love to Christ. -- Eph 6:24. Our service to God. -- Jos 24:14; Joh 4:23,24. Our faith. -- 1Ti 1:5. Our love to one another. -- Ro 12:9; 1Pe 1:22; 1Jo 3:18. Our whole conduct. -- 2Co 1:12. The preaching of the gospel. -- 2Co 2:17; 1Th 2:3-5. A characteristic of the doctrines of the gospel -- 1Pe 2:2. The gospel sometimes preached without -- Php 1:16. The wicked devoid of -- Ps 5:9; ”
- I Thessalonians “I Thessalonians 2:14 (BBE) — For you, my brothers, took as your examples the churches of God which are in Judaea in Christ Jesus; because you underwent the same things from your countrymen as they did from the Jews;”
- Romans “I have therefore my boasting in Christ Jesus in things pertaining to God. -- Romans 15:17”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Communion With God — Christ set an example of -- Lu 19:41,42. Exhortation to -- Ro 12:15; 1Pe 3:8. Exercise towards The afflicted. -- Job 6:14; Heb 13:3. The chastened. -- Isa 22:4; Jer 9:1. Enemies. -- Ps 35:13. The poor. -- Pr 19:17. The weak. -- 2Co 11:29; Ga 6:2. Saints. -- 1Co 12:25,26. Inseparable from love to God -- 1Jo 3:17; Joh 4:20. Motives to The compassion of God. -- Mt 13:27,33. The sense of our infirmities. -- Heb 5:2. The wicked made to feel, for saints -- Ps 106:46. Promise to those who show -- Pr 19:17; Mt 10:42. Illustrated -- Lu 10:33; 15:20. Exemp”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Early Rising — Christ set an example of -- Mr 1:35; Lu 21:38; Joh 8:2. Requisite for Devotion. -- Ps 5:3; 59:16; 63:1; 88:13; Isa 26:9. Executing God's commands. -- Ge 22:3. Discharge of daily duties. -- Pr 31:15. Neglect of, leads to poverty -- Pr 6:9-11. Practised by the wicked, for Deceit. -- Pr 27:14. Executing plans of evil. -- Mic 2:1. Illustrates spiritual diligence -- Ro 13:11,12. Exemplified Abraham. -- Ge 19:27. Isaac, &c. -- Ge 26:31. Jacob. -- Ge 28:18. Joshua &c. -- Jos 3:1. Gideon. -- Jdj 6:38. Samuel. -- 1Sa 15:12. David. -- 1Sa 17:20. Mary, &c. -- Mr ”
- 1 Thessalonians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Thessalonians 1:3: work of faith--the working reality of your faith; its alacrity in receiving the truth, and in evincing itself by its fruits. Not an otiose assent; but a realizing, working faith; not "in word only," but in one continuous chain of "work" (singular, not plural, works), Th1 1:5-10; Jam 2:22. So "the work of faith" in Th2 1:11 implies its perfect development (compare Jam 1:4). The other governing substantives similarly mark respectively the characteristic manifestation of the grace which follows each in the genitive. Faith, love, and hope, are the ”
- Acts (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Acts 4:36: 4:36-37 Barnabas is held up as an example of generous, unselfish giving in response to the genuine needs in the Christian community.”