You Must Be In The Church

Introduction

There’s a notion today that purports the non-essentiality of the church

They might say “I’m non-instutution”

That I can somehow exist in a relationship with God with being near or around God’s body

Church folk, dont say “Amen” to quickly, some of us believe and behave like that too

The reality is that the bible places great significance on the church

But, we must be careful to explain clearly how the church is connected to salvation.

If not:

We might give someone the idea that “church membership” is gauranteed salvation - Christianity is not performance based. The root is grace the fruit is good works Eph 2:10

We might give someone the idea that any assembly that calls on Jesus, has been called by Jesus - 1 Jn 4:1

We might give someone the idea that the church is really not needful

The significance of the NT Church

#1 - Jesus said “I’ll build my church”

Matt 16:18 ““I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.”

He shows the indestructibility, invulnerability, inviolability of the church

#2 - Jesus looks out for His church

Acts 8:3 “But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.”

Acts 9:4 “and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?””

We see His protective character as Jesus speaks to the Jews

Jn 10:11-13 ““I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. “He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. “He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep.”

We His provisional character as well

Eph 1:22 “And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church,”

#3 - Jesus loves His church

Eph 5:25 “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,”

The Descritption of the NT Church

The way bible authors describe the assembly of God in scriptures help us to further understand how the church should FUNCTION.

This too, further solidifies the importance of the church.

Good things happen when the CHURCH functions right

1 Tim 3:15 “but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.”

“household” - dwelling place of a family joined by blood.

Eph 2:19-22 “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens [a native of the same town] with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling [a home where someone lives and stays] of God in the Spirit.”

You cannot read this and not see a PURPOSE

One of the terms associated with church is KINGDOM

Understanding this, may very well help you get to heaven

The kingdom is spoken of as something both here now, and there then

Col 1:13 “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,”

Rev 1:9 “I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.”

But. . .

2 Pet 1:10-11 “Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.”

2 Tim 4:18 “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”

So, the kingdom is not just the church

Saying the church is the kingdom is not entirely wrong, but it does not paint the full picture.

The church is an extension of the kingdom but not all of the kingdom.

Kingdom is not limited to the earth, it speaks to all of God’s reign

The Heb. word malchut speaks not to geography and territory but, the sovereign kingship of God.

Similarly, the Gk. word basileia, speaks primarily to the “reign of the king” then to the area reign by the king.

Is God’s reign limited to the earth? Certainly not.

Being in the kingdom means

I must recognise who is King

There must be acknowledgement to the sovereignty of the King

There cannot be more than one king in this Kingdom

I must submit to His reign

Who has your heart?

Many times we “come to church” but Jesus does not have the reign in our heart

Mt 7:21 ““Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.”

I will serve my king - We are his subjects, we must submit to the commands of the king

Call to Salvation

Church is more than “old tradition” “religion” it is not something to frown on or ignore.

Eph 5:23 The church is the body of Christ. Christ is the Saviour of the body “For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.”

The church is the body of Christ. Christ is the Saviour of the body