…I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
Matthew 16:18
We have been considering ways that Christ has been building His Church. I thought it of great value to mention some things about the vital importance of the Church.
Jesus made it clear that the Church is His Church, that He is it’s Builder, and that He guarantees His Church’s ultimate success. Jesus came not merely to save individuals (though we are all saved individually). He came to save His people collectively. Collectively, His people are known as His Church (also as His body and His bride, among other designations). The instant we are saved we are members of His Church.
In His infinite wisdom, the Lord established “local churches,” since one cannot function practically belonging only to the universal Church. Believers can be members of the universal Church, yet disobediently refuse to associate with a local church. It is in local churches that we belong, worship with other believers, serve, give, pray, etcetera. Proverbs 18:1-2 warns against not being connected:
Proverbs 18:1-2 A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment. 2 A fool has no delight in understanding, But in expressing his own heart.
I’ve said it for years, but the tragic reality continues to worsen: There has never been a time in Church history when there have been more people who profess faith in Christ, yet willfully have nothing to do with His Church! There have been times when more people who are not saved have associated with Christ’s Church, but never more who profess faith in Christ, who not only do not associate with a local church, but insist that they do not need church.
Why do we need church?
The New Testament letters were written to churches, largely about church life. The only way believers knew of these Apostolic letters was by attending local churches were they were read, then circulated in other local churches.
Hebrews 10:24-25 exhorts all believers to associate with a church—and to attend with regularity:
Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
More next time…