19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Hebrews 10:19-25
First, we must understand that the church was instituted by Christ
Matthew 16:18 is the foundational text for the church. A close study of this verse reveals a number of vital concepts relative to the church. “Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
Who may be a member of this church?
The answer to this question is I Corinthians 12:13: “For by Church one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”
Thus, membership has nothing to do with nationality, color, social or economic status, or anyother carnal factor. Anyone may become a part of Christ’s church. Admission into the church is by the new birth (John 3:5). We see it happening throughout the book of Acts. Acts 2:38 gives the specific steps for entrance into the church. “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
The church is a spiritual body, but it is also a group of people.
The only way the church can remain alive and function is for the people to stay in contact with each other, support each other and cooperate with each other.
Because of this, the writer to the Hebrews said that we should not forsake the assembling of ourselves together. Let me get down to a practical level here.
1 Corinthians 12:14-27
“I want you to think about how all this makes you more significant, not less. A body isn’t just a single part blown up into something huge. It’s all the different-but-similar parts arranged and functioning together. If Foot said, “I’m not elegant like Hand, embellished with rings; I guess I don’t belong to this body,” would that make it so? If Ear said, “I’m not beautiful like Eye, limpid and expressive; I don’t deserve a place on the head,” would you want to remove it from the body? If the body was all eye, how could it hear? If all ear, how could it smell? As it is, we see that God has carefully placed each part of the body right where he wanted it.
19–24But I also want you to think about how this keeps your significance from getting blown up into self-importance. For no matter how significant you are, it is only because of what you are a part of. An enormous eye or a gigantic hand wouldn’t be a body, but a monster. What we have is one body with many parts, each its proper size and in its proper place. No part is important on its own. Can you imagine Eye telling Hand, “Get lost; I don’t need you”? Or, Head telling Foot, “You’re fired; your job has been phased out”? As a matter of fact, in practice it works the other way—the “lower” the part, the more basic, and therefore necessary. You can live without an eye, for instance, but not without a stomach. When it’s a part of your own body you are concerned with, it makes no difference whether the part is visible or clothed, higher or lower. You give it dignity and honor just as it is, without comparisons. If anything, you have more concern for the lower parts than the higher. If you had to choose, wouldn’t you prefer good digestion to full-bodied hair?
25–26The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part, the parts we mention and the parts we don’t, the parts we see and the parts we don’t. If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt, and in the healing. If one part flourishes, every other part enters into the exuberance.
27–31You are Christ’s body—that’s who you are! You must never forget this.
It is amazing what we can do together, rather than separately.
3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, [1]
9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Isolation
What happens when we withdraw, pull away or isolate ourselves from the flock? Animals that travel in herds, flocks or packs do so instinctively. Togetherness provides them with protection from predators. A predator lies in wait until a little calf falls behind and doesn’t keep up with the rest. Or, he waits until he sees a member of the herd get sick, weary and the herd abandons him. That gives the predator the opportunity to pounce on the loner who cannot be supported by his brothers and sisters.
1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”
The church is where you need to be when you are spiritually sick, weak, troubled, discouraged, lonely, hurting and devastated by life.
When someone is struggling, the church is obligated to show mercy, reach out in love, and forgive the repentant one who has sinned.
1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ
Today, it may be someone you like who needs the church. It may be someone you don’t like. But remember, tomorrow, it may be you. Or, it may be me.
Galatians 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.[2]
When someone comes into our midst who needs love and forgiveness, they must not receive judgment and condemnation.
Some may say, but what kind of example for the rest of us do they set by their bad behavior? To that I ask, “What kind of example do we set by showing judgment and condemnation?
I refuse to consign anyone to eternal punishment. If someone is lost, let it be in spite of our best efforts to keep it from happening. Jude says,
20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. 24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever.† Amen.
[1]The Holy Bible : King James Version. 1995 (electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version.) (Ac 2:1-2). Bellingham WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
[2]The Holy Bible : King James Version. 1995 (electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version.) (Ga 5:13-15). Bellingham WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
† A Greek word occurs that is not directly translated in the King James Version.
Greek Strongs: 165
[3]The Holy Bible : King James Version. 1995 (electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version.) (Jud 20-25). Bellingham WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.