Take Advantage of the Church (2)

Every soul added to the church by God has been shown His mercy, given His grace, and experienced His glory in Jesus Christ.

Every soul added to the church by God is a living stone which rests upon Christ, the chief cornerstone.

Every stone is being used for the building of a spiritual house for a holy priesthood for the administration of God’s salvation plan.

1 Peter 2:5

1 Peter 2:5 NASB95

you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

The church is the body of Christ dwells the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 2:21-22

Ephesians 2:21–22 NASB95

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 of God in the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit fills each member of the church for individual service for the edifying of itself in love.

The church is a gift to each of us as the spiritual resource for the life of our soul.

In the church we are ministered unto, and we do minister unto one another.

We receive Protection, Exhortation, and Endurance.

Each of these are vital to our spiritual survival.

Protection

Hebrews 13:17

A watchman for your soul

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. ἀγρυπνέω

to be vigilant in awareness of threatening peril

A true watchman is always on guard for your soul.

He watch is performed through the eyes of the Holy Spirit.

His watch is over your soul.

In the church we are family “Members of one another.”

By our relation to each other in Christ, we share a love unknown by the world.

It is by this love we are commanded to exhort one another.

Exhortation

Hebrews 10:25 NASB95

not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

to exhort — to earnestly support or encourage a response or action; to encourage — to inspire with confidence; to give hope or courage to.

It is possible to grow weary in well-doing

We need endurance to press through to the end, and the church is such a viable source.

Endurance

Hebrews 10:36

Hebrews 10:36 NASB95

For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.

You and I need the church for it is Christ Jesus to us. The church is the body of Christ wherein dwells the living Holy Spirit of God.