Christian Community is a Matter of Life and Death

Our very spiritual life is dependent upon the daily exhortation of other believers. Let that sink in. I think we can often miss the significance of this reality in the Christian life. Sometimes, as we strive to "work out our own salvation with fear and trembling..." we can falsely come to the conclusion that it's an individual effort: that my spiritual growth in godliness is up to me. We may intellectually know this isn't true, yet we functionally live as if it is. And yes, while it is true that each believer is to follow Christ and love Him with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength, our spiritual growth in Christ is a community event. One of the primary means of our preservation to the end of this life is daily exhortation from other believers. One of the primary means of our protection against sin is daily exhortation from other believers.