The work under consideration in this article is that of the individual Christian. This is not an attempt to justify any activation of the church in a "universal" sense. The church in the "universal" or "relational" sense merely refers to all Christians of all time in every location who have been saved by the blood of Christ and have submitted themselves to His headship. It is not the sum of all local churches presently in existence. Thus, the "universal" church is relational in its nature, not functional.
As individual Christians, we share a relationship to one another regardless of our present location due to our common family in the new birth. The love and concern coming from that family bond leads us to fulfill the responsibilities we have to our brothers and sisters wherever they might be. Though the Lord established local churches to function corporately in ways prescribed by His will, He did not relegate all religious action to the joint work of a local church. Much of the spiritual work given to Christians has been left to the individual. When engaged in such work, the individual Christian is not restricted to acting only within some diocesan border defined by geographic locality.
Regardless of the work or lack thereof done by the local church of which one is a member, each Christian has responsibilities that are individual in their nature. Among those responsibilities are several towards our brothers and sisters in Christ wherever they might be. Let us turn our attention to a few of these as shown by approved example and direct command in Scripture.
The apostle Paul both exemplified and commended such a love towards all brethren. He serves as an approved example to us of one whose love for brethren throughout the world caused him to act in their best interest even when that action demanded the sacrifice of his own desires (see 1 Cor. 9). Paul demonstrated that which John commanded about biblical love: it is shown "in deed and truth" (1 Jn. 3:18). In speaking to the Ephesians, Paul commended them for "the love which ye show toward all the saints" (Eph. 1:15). The same love was commended in those at Colossae (Col. 1:4). Neither was Paul's love for brethren confined to present acquaintances. It stretched beyond those brethren presently known and urged others to have the same active love towards brethren unknown by face (Col. 2:1-3).
It is not idle curiosity which leads faithful Christians to inquire about the work in the Philippines or eastern Europe. Many brethren have rightly sought such information so that they might respond out of love for their brothers and sisters in Christ who are in need of spiritual or benevolent help. It is contrary to Scripture when anyone urges individual Christians to limit their demonstration of love to the confines of a local geographic area or to the saints comprising the local church of which one is a member. The motivation of love for our brethren is one of the factors which causes us to fulfill many of the other responsibilities we have as individual Christians towards our fellow saints.
By inspiration, Paul also delivered direct commands telling us to pray for our brethren and our common work as he did. After describing the armor of God necessary for each Christian to be properly equipped, he gives the following addition to the attire:
... with all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints, and on my behalf, that utterance may be given unto me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak (Eph. 6:18-20).
Notice the repetition of the word "all" in declaring our responsibility. As we wear the armor of God, we remember all the saints with all prayer and supplication at all seasons with all perseverance. Such a command leaves no doubt that we must constantly, specifically and universally pray for our brethren and the work we share in Christ.
While working with the brethren in Alvin, Texas for many years, it was my privilege to see this
responsibility fulfilled in a way which touched me and helped me. In over eleven years there, I cannot
remember praying with the saints where the work of Christ and brethren in other places were not
mentioned in prayer. Two good brethren, Tom McMillan and Johnie Jermain, frequently mentioned
specific brethren in other places and asked God's blessings upon them. The same can be said for
several members of this congregation as well. True love for our brethren demands nothing less. Prayer
for our brethren all over the world and for their work in Christ further binds us together as a family with
a common cause whose separation is only temporary as we head toward the common goal.
"For by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, that no man should glory" (Eph. 2:8-9). Grace provided salvation and teaches how to appropriate its benefits; and we, through our faith, lay hold of the salvation offered. On Pentecost (Acts 2), the people were saved by grace through faith, simply because their confidence in God led them to perform the conditions announced to them.
Divine and Human Sides of Salvation. There are two sides to the matter of salvation, the divine and the human; and there are two principles of operation, grace and faith. On the divine side grace performed the necessary conditions to bring salvation to man; and on the human side faith must perform the necessary conditions to appropriate the blessings provided by grace. Hence we are saved by grace through faith. Grace on the part of God made Naaman's cure possible; faith that led Naaman to carry out God's stipulated conditions made the cure a reality...
Salvation is the free gift of God; but it takes two to perfect a gift, one to make the offer and another to accept. That which is thrust on us without our consent is, in no sense, a gift. God gave Israel Jericho (Joshua 6), but they had to do certain things to come into possession of the gift. He gave them the land of Canaan, but they had to subdue it. Both gifts came to them by grace through faith.
--- from Sound Doctrine, Vol. 1 ---