Romans 1:8–12 NKJV

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established—that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

Thankful for a Sound Congregation

Soundness Defined

Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) 5617 ὑγιαίνω

5617 ὑγιαίνω (hygiainō): vb.; ≡ DBLHebr 8934; Str 5198; TDNT 8.308—1. LN 23.129 be healthy, be well (Lk 5:31; 7:10; 15:27; 3Jn 2+; Mt 8:13 v.r. NA26); 2. LN 72.15 be accurate (1Ti 1:10; Tit 1:13)

However, the word "sound" is not in our text.

We can see the word "sound" used especially in 2 Timothy.

2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:13 NKJV

Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 4:3 NKJV

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;

But our text certainly does give the clear description of what a sound congregation looks like!

A Sound Congregation is a Faithful Congregation

Romans 1:8 NKJV

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

Romans 1:5 NKJV

Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name,

Romans 16:26 NKJV

but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith—

Romans 1:16–17 NKJV

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

Romans 6:3–4 NKJV

Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Romans 6:16–18 NKJV

Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

A Sound Congregation is an Evangelistic Congregation

Romans 1:8 NKJV

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

Romans 16:19 NKJV

For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil.

1 Thessalonians 1:2–3 NKJV

We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father,

1 Thessalonians 1:8 NKJV

For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything.

A Sound Congregation is an Encouraging Congregation

Romans 1:11–12 NKJV

For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established—that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

This is the purpose of Christian fellowship (Utley).

The church is encouraged together when we all use our God-given talents for the good of all (cf. 1 Cor. 12:7).

Ephesians 4:15–16 NKJV

but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

1 Corinthians 14:26 NKJV

How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.

The word "edification" is used six times in this one chapter!

1 Thessalonians 5:11 NKJV

Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

A Sound Congregation Is:

Faithful

Evangelistic

Encouraging