… And I woke up in eternity realizing I had rejected a fellowship of believers purchased by the blood of Christ !
Paul said, “Take heed unto yourselves and to all the flock in which the Holy Spirit hath made you bishops, to feed the church of the Lord which He purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28)
It must really hurt Jesus when He hears one say, “Oh, I know accepting Jesus is important, but you don’t really need to belong to a local church of Christ congregation.
Man’s Sin Problem
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). If one dies in sin, he will pay the penalty of death for his sins because he earns eternal punishment (Revelation 21:8). Paul said, “For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life” (Romans 6:23). Why is it fair?
Jesus Paid for Our Sins
Isaiah said that God had laid on Jesus the sins of us all (Isaiah 53:6). The incarnate Jesus, who is God manifest in the flesh (John 1:1-14) voluntarily took care of our sin problem (Romans 5:8). Then the third day God raised Him (Acts 2:22-24). Now He sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for Christians (Hebrews 7:25) and He promises to come back for those in Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). Those in the family of God are in the church of Christ (1 Thessalonians 1:1) and no other.
How Does One Get into Christ ?
Those who heard the message of Christ’s death and resurrection asked what to do to be saved (Acts 2:37). “Peter said unto them, Repent ye and be immersed (baptised) every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” When one repents, there is to be a change of mind which means we give up the right to rule our own lives and let Christ’s will be done. When one demonstrates a trusting faith in His death, burial and resurrection through immersion (Romans 6:3-4), God forgives him of his past sins (Acts 22:16).
The Church and Salvation
How does the church of Christ fit into man’s response to become a Christian, a member of the Body of Christ ? On the birthday of the church of Christ we find that 3,000 were immersed (baptised) and were added to the church (Acts 2:41, 47). For a long time I thought that one just joined the church as he does any other kind of organization, but God says that He adds believers to the church that He died for (Acts 5:14;cf. 1Corinthians 2:18) when they obey the gospel (Romans 6:17-18). So why do we have the church ? God wanted sons and daughters (Hebrews 2:10-12) but because we all sin, someone had to pay the penalty of our sin and this was planned before the world was created (1 Peter 1:18-20).
The Church in the Mind of God
Paul in his letter to the Ephesians tells of the mystery (hidden to previous generations) concerning the church and that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs through the gospel (Ephesians 3:1-11). Even angels and the prophets desired to look into this mystery (1 Peter 1:10-12), but had to await Jesus’ statement, “Upon this rock I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18). Matthew continues to quote Jesus, “I will give unto thee the keys to the kingdom of heaven” as He tells Peter. You will be the first to unlock this mystery by opening the door through the gospel message. Fifty days after Jesus’ resurrection, Peter shares the good news of His crucifixion and resurrection, and then how to confess Jesus as Lord (Acts 2:22-41).
The Church – God’s Family
When we bring children into a human family, God expects us as parents to raise these little ones, providing all the physical and spiritual needs necessary for their proper development.
The same thing is true in God’s family, the church. He first tells the church leaders (bishops or elders) to feed the flock (members of the body of Christ)… (1 Peter 5:1-3). We may have special times in the week when we may call for Bible study sessions which are normally provided to meet this need in God’s church. Instructions to new Christians are to desire the sincere milk of the word to help them grow (1 Peter 1:1-2). And since the Lord instructs all Christians to study His Word (2 Timothy 2:15), faithful leaders will provide this need.
Fellowship So Important
I will need the strength and encouragement of fellow Christians which I get when I visit the assembly, and when I am with the saints on other occasions. The early church sensed this need as we see in Acts 2:42, 46. Note the beauty and validity of the statement recorded in Hebrews 10:24, “Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works.” The only way to accomplish this is to be with our brethren. (See Hebrews 3:12-15). The Hebrew writer continues in verse 25, “not forsaking our own assembling together as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another and so much the more as ye see the day drawing nigh.” Note the word “assembling” rather than “assembly.” This simply says that whenever God’s people meet together, we need to be with the saints – that would even include a mid-week Bible study.
Can I Miss “Church”
A person who tries to do as little as he can to serve God, normally does not remain faithful to Him and returns to the world. Peter said of such a person: “For it were better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered unto them.” See 2 Peter 2:20-22; Hebrews 10:26-31.
When one deliberately misses the assembly, it becomes impossible to worship God in spirit and truth (John 4:24). God asks His people to remember the sacrifice His Son made by partaking of the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:20-34) each Sunday (Acts 20:7). Preaching (Acts 20:7), praying and singing (1 Corinthians 14:15); as well as giving to help preach the gospel (1 Corinthians 16:1-2), all constitute God’s design in worship.
His organization includes elders and deacons (Philippians 1:1). If every Christian decided to forsake the assembly, God’s organization for the church would instantly be dissolved. Yes, God expects Christians to meet together just as He expects any family unit to be together as it grows and matures.
Will Those Outside the Church Be Saved ?
God has set the members in the body as it pleases Him (1 Corinthians 12:18). Paul said concerning Jesus, “He is the Saviour of the body” (Ephesians 5:23). The Lord has never promised to save any one outside His church or body, nor has He endorsed the many denominational churches in existence today. In fact, if a person had lived 2,000 years ago, he would not have had the difficult task of searching for the church described in the Bible, for only one existed (1 Corinthians 12:20, Matthew 16:18). It is the prayer of this preacher that those who read hear and read this message will search for the church of Christ in their community. If there is none in your local area, then write me an email and maybe we can help you establish one in your area.
May God bless you as you do His good will. Amen
Lesson has been delivered to you by: Bro Robert H Brown
