We pick up today in Romans chapter 1, verse 8. Paul is still making his opening remarks to the community in Rome until verse 12, when he says something I want to highlight today.

Romans 1:12 That is to say, we would be encouraged together by one another’s faithfulness – both yours and mine.

God wants us to encourage one another. Simply put, Paul recognizes the value of community. In order for community to be “of God,” it has to be covenantal. God, our Father, is covenantal and He wants His children to be in covenantal communities with Him and with each other.

God cuts covenant throughout Scripture. Beginning with the sin of Adam and Eve, God had to cut covenant with them through the slaying of animals to make their clothing. The ultimate covenant was the shedding of Yeshua’s blood, by which He rose from the dead. This is confirmed near the end of Hebrews.

Hebrews 13:20-21 Now may the God of shalom, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep by the blood of an everlasting covenant, our Lord Yeshua, make you complete in every good thing to do His will, accomplishing in us what is pleasing in His sight, through Messiah Yeshua. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

There is an inseparable link between being in covenant and having authority. Without godly covenant there is no divine authority. To exercise authority, one must be under authority. Even the Roman centurion understood this. (Read Matthew 8:8-10) We cannot bring correction to each other unless we are also subject to correction, and that is done through covenant relationships.