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Introduction
It is important to belong to a particular Church, and to function in the Church to which you belong.
What is the Church?
A Gathering of God’s People
The Church is simply a gathering of God’s people for the purpose of worship or for making decisions that promote their faith in Christ Jesus. In its original sense, it means “the called out people”, people who are called out or separated from their own personal environment to belong to the environment of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ has called them out of their own world where they can act as they please into God’s world where they can only act in order to please God. These people no longer belong to themselves, they belong to God. As long as they remain committed to Christ Jesus, they belong to God on a permanent basis. They are the Church.
The Redeemed of the Lord
The Church is the total number of the redeemed of the Lord. It is not limited to a place, or a venue, or a building, or a denomination. The Church encompasses everyone that is sprinkled by the blood of Jesus for forgiveness of their sin and salvation from sin. The Church is the body of believers worldwide who have been saved from sin and are living the new life that is only available through the grace of Jesus Christ. These people have been set free from the power of darkness, they now walk in the light of Christ. They are the redeemed of the Lord, they are conscious of the price that Christ paid in order to set them free. They are the Church.
Why Church Membership?
God requires it
In both the Old and the New Testament, scriptures clearly teach that God does not want His people to be floaters, people who roam about from place to place without putting down roots. Scriptures teach that those who belong to God are a new people, a new nation, they have a new sense of identity, a new sense of belonging. God requires them to dwell together in unity as a people, to work together and to support one another. Church membership commits you to a particular Church where you can fulfil this requirement. Roaming from Church to Church is a sign that you do not belong anywhere, and probably you actually do not belong to Jesus.
Jesus Christ demands it
It is part of the plan of salvation that the Church will emerge in the process of time. Jesus was committed to this plan exclusively that He mentioned it to His disciples before His sacrificial death, and promised them that He himself would build His Church upon the rock and that the gates of hell will not prevail against the Church. Every New Testament book details the importance of the Church to Jesus Christ, and the fact that He is coming back to receive the Church to Himself at the end of the ages. Jesus Christ will come and the Church will be raptured. New Testament teachings show very clearly that believers awaiting this important event are required to belong to local groups of worshippers. They are required to participate actively in their local groups. They are not expected to be floating about and roaming around Churches. They must belong and function in a particular group.
The Holy Spirit commands it
In the Acts of the Apostles, it was made clear that God’s Holy Spirit was drawing people into particular Church groups, and appointing them to serve these groups. All the epistles or letters written by the apostles of the Lord speak of people committed to serving their local Churches, and being sent out or commissioned by their local Churches to plant other Churches, or just to help other Churches. God’s Holy Spirit works in believers to root them in particular congregations where they are profitable to His ministry. Roamers and floaters are believers who disobey the express will of God’s Spirit or, probably, they really do not belong to Jesus Christ in the first place. “My sheep listen to my voice”, says the Lord.
Functioning in the local Church
If you are committed to a particular Church, you will participate in certain fundamental functions within that Church. You will participate actively in Church-based worship and prayer; Church-based Bible Study; Church-based evangelism. You will also seek to particpate in the ../administration of the Church, if you have the training or skill or gift.
Above all, a true born-again Christian will support their local Church through consistent and generous financial contribution. A true Christian will pay 10% of their gross income to their Church to ensure that their Church can function financially. In addition, a true Christian will generally support their Church with other financial offerings.
It is always a thing of shame to find people moving from Church to Church, without settling down and gaining roots in the work of the Lord in a particular place of worship. It is a sign that such people do not belong to the Lord.
Also it is a thing of shame to find anyone that goes to Church, anyone that labels themselves as Christian, and yet refusing to be generous towards their Church. Again, of course, such people are deceiving themeselves: they do not belong to the Lord.
Style of Worship
Style of worship differs from Church to Church. Often the style of worship is based on what the local Church considers to be essential ingredients of Spirit-filled worship. One style is not necessarily better than another, as long as the local Church is open to the move of the Holy Spirit. And a Church filled with singing, dancing, clapping, and lively music is not necessarily more spiritual than a quieter Church!
What determines a Spirit-filled Church is not the noise or the quietness but the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church.
Prayer and Bible Study
Approaches to prayer and Bible Study differ from Church to Church. Some Churches have different meetings for each activity, some are contented to ensure that every meeting provides a rich opportunity of corporate prayers and group learning.
No matter the approach taken, it is important for the local believer to benefit from Church meetings in the areas of personal intimate relationship with God through consistent growth in their prayer life and knowledge of God.
Church evangelism
Evangelism is central to the work of the Church. It is based on the universal commission given by the Lord Jesus Christ to every believer, particularly, as stated in the Book of Matthew, chapter 28:18-20. Jesus instructed us to go into the whole world and preach the gospel with the sole aim of making disciples and teaching them to follow the teachings of Jesus.
There are many ways by which Churches fulfill this instruction. Often it includes bringing the Church into contact with the local community, for instance, through Church-based events that are open to all members of the public; local members inviting their neighbours, families and friends to join their Church or visit their Church or help their Church out; Churches helping other Churches (that is, networking to share their skills, talents and resources in order to be more effective in the community); Church members being sent abroad to serve in the mission field, etc. (“Abroad” may mean another part of the city/community in some cases.)
Increasingly, modern technologies, including satellite television broadcasts, podcasts, websites, etc are also being used to reach distant audiences.
In addition, God has raised up many international evangelists with accompanying signs and wonders to tour the world with the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is important for every living Church (that is, every Spirit-filled Church) to support mission work (evangelism) in one way or another.
Administration – some Churches have paid employees for carrying out basic ../administrative functions, some cannot afford this. However, in most Churches, voluntary work is the mainstay of the Church. Committed Church members are often the bedrock of voluntary work in every Church.
Financial contribution – Churches depend on the financial support of their members. All members are required to support their Church with a tenth of their income. Committed members do more, they support their Church financially to the utmost of their ability!
Church as the House of God
The Bible reveals that God has a special concern for His house, and we discover that those who love the Lord always love His house. One major name of God revealed in the Bible is that God is El-Bethel, or God of the House of God.
God, our heavenly Father, and the Father of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, holds His house in highest regard and requires all of us who call ourselves His children to have the same attitude. We should have a high respect for the house of God.
David, who was described as a man after God’s heart, wrote in Psalm 23:6 - Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
David went on to say in Psalm 26:8 LORD, I have loved the habitation of Your house, and the place where Your glory dwells.
In another Psalm (Psalm 69:9), he wrote: Because zeal for Your house has eaten me up, And the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me.
And again in another place he wrote: Psalm 122:1 I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go into the house of the LORD."
The Lord Jesus is our model example of the kind of attitude we should have towards the house of God. It was His custom to go into the house of God. (Lk 4:16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.)
In fact twice, the Lord drove out those who had turned the house of God into a shopping centre for buying and selling their own personal business.
In Matthew 21:12 Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.
And then again in John 2:15 When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers' money and overturned the tables.
Therefore in John 2:17 Then His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up."
Jesus had a vital and active link to the House of God. He was a permanent member of the temple, He paid His tithes there, He paid the temple tax, He preached there, He healed there, He prayed there and stayed there despite the opposition of the Pharisees and the Sadducees. On His preaching tours, He never failed to attend the local temple.
Jesus did this because:
• He had a concrete relationship with the Father. Jesus said the Son dwells in the house but the slave dwells outside. The same word that He used for the slave could be interpreted in the context as the illegitimate child or the bastard, the one who is not the Father’s son.
• He was obedient to the teachings and instructions of God concerning the house of God.
• He was humble – pride often makes people not to attend the house of God – they have better things to do and better places to go!
When the Holy Spirit is in you, you will have the same attitude, the same understanding, and the same love for the house of God. You will know how to behave in the house of God.
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had their own houses but they went out and built worship places where they and their families and friends could go to seek God’s face.
Every man and woman of God in the Bible and everyone today in whom you find God’s Holy Spirit has the same understanding. No matter how beautiful your own house, it is not the house of God.
If you really want to worship God, you must have a vital link to His house.
If you truly are a child of God you must be an active and supportive member of a house of God.
In the dictionary of God, only His true children will abide in His house, those who are children of the devil may try hard but they will never find a place in the house of God. When you are the devil’s child you will never find a place in the house of God.
The house of God is for people who have a concrete, productive relationship with the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ.
In the Old Testament, as soon as the LORD brought out the children of Israel from their captivity in Egypt He instructed them to construct a tabernacle for Him, a place for God Himself where His holiness, mercy, judgement and majesty can be found day and night.
The Characteristics of the House of God
1. Beth-anath - house of response or the house of conversation with God
Isaiah 56:7 Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices Will be accepted on My altar; For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations."
Mt 21:13 And He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of thieves.' "
2. Beth-anoth – the house of answers
Ps 5:7 But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy; In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple.
Ps 18:6 In my distress I called upon the LORD, And cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry came before Him, even to His ears.
3. Beth-arbel - house of God’s court
Ps 65:4 Blessed is the man You choose, And cause to approach You, That he may dwell in Your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Of Your holy temple.
Ps 92:13 Those who are planted in the house of the LORD Shall flourish in the courts of our God.
4. Bethesda - house of mercy
Ex 25:21 "You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the Testimony that I will give you.
Ex 25:22 "And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel.
Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Ps 5:7 But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy; In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple.
5. Beth-gilgal - house of Gilgal or house where shame is rolled away
Ps 71:1 In You, O LORD, I put my trust; Let me never be put to shame.
Isaiah 61:7 Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, And instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double; Everlasting joy shall be theirs.
6. Beth-hakkerem - house of a vineyard
2Chron 7:12 Then the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: "I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice.
7. Bethlehem - house of bread
When you attend the House of God faithfully, you can rest assured that God will meet all your needs in His house
8. Beth-shan - house of security or rest
Membership of a local Church connects you to the peace of God that passes all understanding. No matter what you face in life, coming regularly into the house of God and being an active member of a local fellowship ushers you into security and rest.
9. Beth-zur - house of rock
God’s house is the house of rock. No wonder, the Bible says those who run into His house have run into a stronghold, a place of true safety and security.
What commitments do we need to make as members of a local Church?
Consistency and endurance
Luke 9:57-62 - “Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, "Lord, I will follow You wherever You go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." Then He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.": And another also said, "Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house." But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Forsaking all for Christ
Luke 14:25-27 - “Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”
What are the benefits of our commitment to the local Church?
Matthew 19:29 - "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.”
Isaiah 61:7-10 - “Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, and instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double; everlasting joy shall be theirs… I will direct their work in truth, and will make with them an everlasting covenant. Their descendants shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people. All who see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the posterity whom the LORD has blessed. I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”
What is attractive about the Church?
The household of faith
Galatians 6:10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Ephesians 2:19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
Mysteries of God are spoken there
Rom 16:25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began
1Cor 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory,
Eph 1:9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,
Eph 3:9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;
Col 1:26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.
Col 1:27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
The Presence of God and His holy angels
Hebrews 12:22-24 - “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.”
The Church is the bride of Christ!
Ephesians 5:25-27 - “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.”
What do people expect from the Church?
They expect to find warmth, acceptance, empathy, love, forgiveness, kindness, help, health, wealth, well-being, peace, joy, deliverance, healing, victory, company.
Galatians 5:22-23 - “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”
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Some Scriptures Mentioning the Church
Acts 2:47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Acts 5:11 So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.
Acts 11:22 Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch.
Acts 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
Acts 12:1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church.
Acts 12:5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.
Acts 13:1 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
Acts 14:23 So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
Acts 14:27 Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
Acts 15:3 So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren.
Acts 15:4 And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them.
Acts 15:22 Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren.
Acts 18:22 And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up and greeted the church, he went down to Antioch.
Acts 20:17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church.
Acts 20:28 "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
Rom 16:1 I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea,
Rom 16:5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia to Christ.
Rom 16:23 Gaius, my host and the host of the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, and Quartus, a brother.
1Cor 1:2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
1Cor 4:17 For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.
1Cor 6:4 If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge?
1Cor 10:32 Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God,
1Cor 11:18 For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it.
1Cor 11:22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.
1Cor 12:28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, ../administrations, varieties of tongues.
1Cor 14:4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
1Cor 14:5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.
1Cor 14:12 Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.
1Cor 14:19 yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
1Cor 14:23 Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind?
1Cor 14:28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.
1Cor 14:35 And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.
1Cor 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
2Cor 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia:
Gal 1:13 For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.
Eph 1:22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,
Eph 3:10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,
Eph 3:21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Eph 5:23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.
Eph 5:24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,
Eph 5:27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
Eph 5:29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.
Eph 5:32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Phil 3:6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
Phil 4:15 Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only.
Col 1:18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
Col 1:24 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church,
Col 4:15 Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church that is in his house.
Col 4:16 Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.
1Thes 1:1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2Thes 1:1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
1Tm 3:5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?);
1Tm 3:15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
1Tm 5:16 If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.
Phlm 1:2 to the beloved Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:
Heb 12:23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Jms 5:14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
3Jn 1:6 who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well,
3Jn 1:9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us.
3Jn 1:10 Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.
Rv 2:1 "To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, 'These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands:
Rv 2:8 "And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, 'These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life:
Rv 2:12 "And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, 'These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword:
Rv 2:18 "And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, 'These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass:
Rv 3:1 "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, 'These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: "I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.
Rv 3:7 "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, 'These things says He who is holy, He who is true, "He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens":
Rv 3:14 "And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, 'These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God...
What are the popular objections against going to Church?
Many unbelievers say the Church is:
Ancient
Irrelevant
Too strict
Many unbelievers say the Church:
Demands time
Demands money
Many unbelievers say the Church:
Respects status
Is only for the married
Is not for single parents
Is not for divorcees
Is hypocritical
Many unbelievers say they do not want to attend Church because:
There is no life after death
The Church can’t solve social problems
The Church is political
The Church is part of the problem because religion is divisive, etc
The Church ia a money-making machine
All these objections have always existed as part of Satan's method of deceiving those who readily want to be deceived about the true purpose of the Church.
2Corinthians 4:3-6 - “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
What patterns do we have in the Bible of believers committed to the Church?
God requires His people to attend all temple activities, including all the festivals! Jesus attended the temple regularly. His disciples attended Church regularly.
Hebrews 10:23-25 - “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 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.”
Romans 13:11 - “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.”
Ephesians 5:16 - “… redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”
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