When feelings of discontentment tempt us toward sin, we point to Jesus who promises to never leave or forsake us (Heb. 13:5–6). Though our feelings, emotions, and physical stamina are ever changing, our hope rests in him who is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8). As we encourage each other with these truths today, we keep an eye toward the eternal day in which we shall see him face to face. Hope for Jesus’s return must remain in the forefront of our minds, hearts, and conversations.

Helping Each Other on Our Journey of Faith

The church is a primary means God uses to help you persevere in faith and be conformed to Jesus. You will not grow in purity or maturity apart from gospel community.1

God gives the church to help you resist temptation and draw you in a better direction, toward a better country. Our journey of faith is marked by the joyful assurance that God is with us and that soon we shall be with him. But this journey cannot be made alone; we make it together. You need other Christians, and they need you. Consider how God wants to use the fellowship of a church to help you fight sexual sin and endure in faith.

1. Commit to One Another

When God calls you to himself, he calls you into the church. Our union with Jesus necessarily unites us with other believers. A healthy congregation faithfully preaches Christ and fervently helps its members live for him. The deep fellowship and soul-strengthening friendships we need to fight for purity are best formed in our local church community.2

Commitment to a church is not optional for a believer; it is commanded.3 The commands to “exhort one another every day” and “not neglecting to meet together” assume we’re intentionally gathering (Heb. 3:13; 10:24–25; 13:17). They assume we’re actively involved in regular conversation about our spiritual condition. Let me put it this way: from the perspective of Scripture, it should be abnormal for a Christian to go a single week without a soul-strengthening, sin-fighting, Christ-honoring conversation with another believer.4 We are created to know and be known by each other.

It has been said that it takes a village to raise a child. I say it takes a church to raise a Christian. For many years I attended church but remained in isolation. I showed up, worshiped, and even ministered, but I didn’t experience the kind of persistent love that marks a New Testament church. It was mainly my fault, of course, and the effects were devastating. No one knew the state of my soul, or how it was being choked by hidden sin.

Again, sin thrives in the dark but withers in the light. That is, it withers when brought into the open of godly community. Selfishness, busy schedules, and spiritual laziness are enemies of the love that help us follow Jesus. You cannot help everyone in your church in the same way, but you can commit to a few close friends.

2. Warn One Another

The apostle James solemnly assured us, “My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:19–20).

Jesus left heaven to seek and save the lost, to pursue wayward sheep, and to show us the Father who runs to embrace prodigals (Luke 15:1–32; 19:10).

Read More