Million Kambuli Devotional - "Are you in the greeting list?"

But friends, it is far more than that. It is part of the scriptures. meaning that it is inspired by God. It is profitable for doctrine. It is profitable for reproof. It is profitable for correction and for training in righteousness so that we can be thoroughly equipped for every good work. So dear friends, this text is far more than just a mere list of names.

It is a portrait of a living church. It is a portrait of a living church. Behind every greeting in our text, we see a testimony. Behind every name is a life shaped by Christ. And what is striking is this, Paul does not merely mention people, he describes them. Did you see that in the text? We'll be seeing that very soon. He describes them. Their Christianity was visible. Their faith produced service. Their salvation produced labor.

This reminds us of Ephesians chapter 2, verse 8 to 10. The Bible says, and I quote,

for by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing. It is a gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

But verse 10 says,

for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works. which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Friends, we are not saved by good works. We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, and faith in Christ alone, and to the glory of God alone. But we are certainly saved for good works. You know, at times we emphasize, saved by grace, saved by, which is very important, but we are saved for good works.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand.

The gospel produces workers, not spectators

Grace does not produce spectators. Grace produce servants. And so the question before us tonight is simple, friends, but yet searching. Are you in the greeting list? Kind of observe with me from our text a few things. Number one, observe the fact that the gospel produces workers, not spectators. The gospel produces workers, not spectators. Paul begins in Romans 16 verse one,

I commend to you our sister Feb, a servant of the church.

Feb is remembered for her service in the church. She was a servant, she worked for the Lord. Verse three to four, Paul says

greet Prisca and Aquila,

what does he attach to their names? He says,

my fellow workers, in Christ Jesus, who risks their necks for my life?

They were willing to suffer for Christ and for his people. They were not spectators. Verse six, what does Paul say? Greet Mary. What did Mary do?

Says,

who has worked hard for you?

Verse 12,

greet those workers in the Lord. Triphaena and Triphosa greet the beloved Perseus who has worked hard in the Lord.

I don't know whether you are getting the verbs, you know, being used in the text. You know, notice the repeated language, servant, fellow workers, worked hard, risked their lives.

This was normal Christianity. The gospel had transformed these people so deeply that they could not remain passive. Sadly, many today approach the church like consumers, attending but not serving, listening but not laboring, receiving but never giving. But the church is not a theater, friends. It is the body of Christ. And the church is not a theater where, you know, you are just sitting, you know, watching a movie. It is a body. James 2 verse 17 says,

faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Good works do not save us, but genuine salvation, dear friends, always produce fruit. So let us ask honestly this evening, where is the evidence of your faith? What labor is attached to your name here at Jefferson Park Baptist? Who is helped because you belong to this church?

The church is a family

Beloved, spectators fill stadiums, servants build churches. That's the first thing we see there, that the gospel produces workers, not spectators. But observe number two, the church is a family. That's also what we see here. That the church is a family, not merely a crowd. You are more of my brothers and sisters than my own biological brothers and sisters who are not Christians. A church is a family. Romans 16 is filled with warmth and affection. It is filled with a language of endearment. Paul says,

greet also the church in their house,

verse five. Then he continues, says,

greet my beloved.

You see, a language of endearment.

My beloved apennitus. Greet ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord.

Great Rufus, also his mother,

observe with me verse 13, friends. Verse 13 of our text. It says,

Great Rufus, chosen in the Lord, also his mother,

who has been a what?

A mother to me as well.

Are there people in the church who would say that has been like a mother to me? That has been like a brother to me. That has been like a big sister to me.

Well, because a church is a family. It's not just merely a crowd. This is not called religion. This is spiritual family. The early church was deeply relational friends. They knew one another. They cared for one another. They welcomed one another. Hebrews 10, verse 24, 25 says,

and let us consider how to steer up one another to love and good works.

There it comes.

To love and good works, not neglecting to meet together as the habit of some, but encouraging.

You cannot encourage people if you remain distant from them. You cannot steer others up to love if nobody truly knows you. Some people attend church for years and remain strangers. They sleep in quietly and leave quickly. But that is not the New Testament picture of the church. The New Testament picture of the church is that we are a family. A healthy church is marked by affection, by hospitality, by encouragement, by meaningful relationships. So ask yourself, friends, Are you intentionally building relationships within the church? Are you doing that? Did you welcome others warmly? Are you known by the people of God? Would anyone in this church say you encourage them spiritually? Observe quickly, number three, Christ is the center of all true service. Christ is the center of all true service. Where do we see that in the text? Well, there's something being repeated in the text, and it is the phrase, in the Lord, in Christ.

Everything revolves around Christ

Observe with me verse two,

that you may welcome her,

what?

In the Lord, in a way worthy of the saints.

Observe verse three,

great priest and Aquila, my fellow workers, In Christ,

it's important to pay attention to that. Observe verse five,

greet also the church in their house, greet my beloved, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia.

You'll see that in verse seven, in Christ, in the Lord.

Everything revolves around Christ. Everything does revolve around Christ. Their identity was in Christ as a church. Their unity was in Christ. Their service was in Christ. This is so important because church activity alone means nothing unless Christ is at the center. Unless Christ is at the center. And for those who are not Christians, their works are nothing. Their works are useless. Their works are in vain because their works are not in Christ.

But there's good news for them. They can repent from their sins and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Lord and personal Savior. Jesus saves sinners. And if you can repent and believe in him, you'll find salvation. This is very important. As I said earlier on, back home, you ask anyone on the street, they will tell you they are believers. Why? Because Zambia is a Christian nation.

And they are busy in churches. Deceived that they are believers. They are busy in churches on their way to hell. What a tragedy. to live life believing that you are a candidate of heaven only to find yourself in hell. You can be busy and still be spiritually empty.

True Christian service flows from love for Christ. And remember this, Christ himself was not a spectator. In Mark chapter 10, verse 45, it says,

for even the Son of Man came not to be saved, but to save and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Well, friends, remember, it's a devotion. We don't have time. Quickly observe number four.

What would be written about you?

And number four, it's a question, what would be written about you? Imagine an elder from Jefferson Park Baptist Church writing a letter to this church and your name appears on that letter. What would be said about you? What would be attached to your name? Would it read, that brother or sister who faithfully serves the saints? Would it read, that brother who labors in prayer, who opens their home, who encourages the discouraged, who works hard in the Lord, or would there be nothing to say about you?

If Keith or any of the others wrote a letter to this church, what would be attached to your name? We are told in First Corinthians 15, 58,

therefore be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

There is no insignificant service in Christ's kingdom. There's no insignificant service. Perhaps you just, you sweep in the church. That's what you do and no one notices. And the ones who are noticed, it's the preachers like myself. I'm standing in front. And your service is not noticed.

Well, it is noticed by the Lord. You are important in the kingdom. And you must continue working for the Lord. So are you faithfully engaged in the life of Christ Church? Allow me to end in this manner, friends. Romans 16 shows us a church alive with service. It shows us a church alive with love, with sacrifice, with devotion to Christ. Not perfect people, but engaged people. And at the center of it all is Christ, the one who saved them, the one who united them, the one who worked through them.

Beloved Christ has received you graciously. Therefore, do not stand on the sidelines. Give yourself to the life of the church. Love the people of God. Serve Christ joyfully. Labor for the glory of God. So I leave you with this searching question tonight. Are you in the greeting list? May the Lord bless this way to our hearts. Amen.