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CHRISTIAN'S GOD/DEITY MORALITY RELIGIONS LIFE IN-DEPTH BRIEF FAMILY CREATION COURSES AUDIO COMMENTARIES ARTICLES TOPICS BIBLE SALVATION CHURCH
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according to the Bible. We do not claim that any denomination is important. Denominations are not found in the New Testament and were never part of God's plan. They were added by men hundreds of years after Jesus' church began. We can and should be saved without joining a modern denomination. Nor are we saying that the people in the church make the church important. We will see that the church is essential because of its relationship to God and its role in the plan of God. The gospel clearly shows that the church is part of God's eternal purpose and Old Testament prophecy. Jesus planned and built His church, and all saved people in the New Testament were members of that church. The New Testament church was a vital part of worship to God and evangelism. What about that church? How essential is it to our salvation? Consider:
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Ephesians 1:22,23 - Christ is head of the church, which is His body. [Colossians 1:18,24] Why do we need to be members of Christ's body? Christ is Head of the body (Eph. 1:22,23) [Col. 1:18] Christ is the Head of no other institution. There is one body (Eph. 4:4-6), just as there is only one God and Father. Is Christ the Head of an unimportant, non-essential institution? To belittle the body is to belittle its Head! Christ is Savior of the body. Ephesians 5:23 - Christ is head of the church, being the Savior of the body. Ephesians 5:25 - He loved the church and gave Himself for it. The church is the body of Christ, and Christ is the Savior of the body. What does that mean about people who are not in the body (church)? We do not claim that the church saves us. Christ saves us. But whom does He save? The church! The church is the body of all people who have been saved by the blood of Jesus. [Acts 2:47; Eph. 2:16; Col. 3:15]
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* A person would pay almost any price for an operation that would save his life. * But we would pay little for something of little value to us. Some people pay a fortune for "modern art," but I wouldn't pay a dime! The highest price anyone can pay for anything is his life. When a soldier or policeman dies in the line of duty, people say he paid "the supreme price." If a father dies trying to rescue his family, he paid the highest price he could pay. So Jesus bought the church by paying the highest price anyone could pay. The importance of a death is determined by the importance of the person. All souls are of equal value to God, but some deaths are more important because of the serious consequences. * To an army, the death of a general is more important than that of a private. * To a nation, the death of a king would be a greater price to pay than the death of a beggar or criminal. Consider then the death of Jesus. He was not just the greatest man that ever lived, he was more than a man. He was God in the flesh, the only-begotten Son of God. If He died to purchase the church, consider how valuable and important He must consider the church! The purpose of Jesus' death, stated in other ways, shows the importance of the church. Note why Jesus' death is important: Ephesians 1:7 - We have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins. Matthew 26:28 - He shed His blood for many for remission of sins. [1 Peter 2:24] Jesus died to save us, but He died to purchase the church. Surely this makes the church essential to salvation. This is why Ephesians 5 says He is Savior of the body. Acts 2:47 - The Lord adds the saved to the church. When one is forgiven of sins by Jesus' blood, Jesus puts him in the church. Hence the church is the body of people who have been saved and purchased by Jesus' death. People who say the church is not essential to salvation are unintentionally saying that Jesus' death is not essential. How dare anyone say that that Jesus' death is important but the church is not important, when Jesus died to purchase the church!
A. Worship
The church conducts worship assemblies where people gather to worship God. We partake of the Lord's supper in the church. 1 Corinthians 10:16,17 - Those who partake of the bread are members of Christ's body. [Luke 22:29,30] We also sing and pray in the church assemblies. This can be done outside the assemblies, but should also be done when the church meets. 1 Corinthians 14:15 - Referring to the church assembly, Paul taught us to sing and pray. [v19; Heb. 2:12]
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How important is this worship? John 4:23,24 - God seeks people to worship Him in spirit and in truth. Hebrews 10:25 - We are not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. [1 Cor. 11:23-26] To receive our Father's inheritance, we must serve Him faithfully. This includes group responsibilities. It is not enough just to live good lives and worship God at home. We cannot receive eternal life without fulfilling our God-given work in the church.
Conclusion
Again, we are not saying that membership in some denomination is essential to salvation. On the contrary, denominations are no part of the plan of God. The church we are talking about is the body of all saved people which God planned and Jesus built. It is the kingdom of Christ, the family of God. Rather, the church is important because God chose to make it important. * If it is important to be children of God and to be saved from sin, then the church is important, for these are in the church. * If the purpose of God is important, then the church is important, because the church is a fundamental part of God's eternal purpose. * If Jesus' death is important, then the church is important, because Jesus died for the church. * If worship and gospel preaching are important, then the church is important, because these are what the Lord established the church to accomplish. All these points show that the church is important because of its relationship to God and to Jesus. * The church is the family of God, the body and kingdom of Christ. * The church fulfills the purpose of God. * The church was purchased by the blood of Jesus. * The church exists to worship God and preach His message. Again, the church is not important because of the people in the church. It is important because the Father and Son are important and the church sustains an essential relationship to Them. To exalt the church is not to
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belittle God but to exalt God and respect His will. Note: If you would like help in finding a faithful local church in your area or a Christian in your area to study the Bible personally with you, please click on the link at the end of this message to email us. You will be given an opportunity to inform us of your desire. Depending on where you live, we may or may not be able to help in these ways. (C) Copyright 1999, David E. Pratte Local churches and individuals may, within limits, distribute this Bible study guide for free, but not for sale. Web sites may link to this page but not reproduce it. For details click here for our copyright guidelines. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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