Fellowship (Talk to Christians)
Hebrews 10:24-25: And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 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.Acts 2:42-47 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Psalm 92:12-15 The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree. He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing, to declare that the LORD is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.
by Study-Leader @ 1:47 PM
1 Comments:
"Membership has its benefits"
Why do we need church? What is it about our relationship with God that requires that we share and express it corporately?
The writer of Hebrews, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, commands us to meet together:
Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how we may spur on one another toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together,as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the "the day" approaching.
Just as our relationships with friends provide support and encouragement so it is with our relationships with other believers.
Although it's more commonly used in this derivative sense today, membership as in "belonging to a group or organization" actually comes from the sense of "part of a body or organism."
So the Bible's usage of church membership in comparison to members of a body (i.e., foot, hand, ear, eye, as in 1 Corinthians 12:13-13:13 "For by 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. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular."
This tells us how we need each other, for we are commanded to "Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2) And the 1 Corinthians passage goes on to talk about how members are to function in the body:
"And God set some in the church, firstly, apostles; secondly, prophets; thirdly, teachers, then works of power, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, kinds of languages. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of power? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak languages? Do all interpret? But zealously strive after the better gifts. And yet I show to you a more excellent way." (vv. 14-31)
These gifts are called "pneumatikos" (translated "spiritual gifts") in the beginning of chapter 12. The word for spirit is also the word for "air" or "breath" -- and the idea is a little like a pneumatic drill, where the power comes from the air inside it. The idea is to be a channel of the power of God toward others:
1 Peter 4:10,11 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterances of God; whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Notice that everyone has received a gift. Along with our eternal salvation, this was purchased for us by Christ and applied after His ascension when the Holy Spirit came down as promised on Pentecost. This is what Jesus was talking about when He said it was to our advantage that He go. (John 16:7) These gifts given by the Holy Spirit are "for equipping the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the Body of Christ" until we all attain spiritual maturity. (Ephesians 4:7-16)
A corporate setting is also the only place where it's possible to publicly identify with Christ in the ordinance of Baptism and observe Communion in recognition of His death:
For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. (1 Corinthians 11:26) Done corporately in the present, proclaiming His death in the past, until He comes in the future.
Above all, the rule is love, which the Holy Spirit sheds abroad in our hearts (Romans 5:5) This is Jesus' commandment for us, our hallmark--and without it, our efforts are meaningless, like a clanging gong or tinkling cymbal. It is the "more excellent way."
Post a Comment
<< Home