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church of Christ at 26th and Connecticut |
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3 REASONS TO GO TO CHURCH Hebrews 10:25 says, “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” (NKJV). Notice three reasons, from this one verse, as to why you should go to church. [By the way, I know some people think that we can’t “go to church” because we are the church. But they should reread 1 Corinthians 14:35—sometimes “church” means the worship assembly, which is how I’m using the word here.] We should go to church because it is commanded. I studied with a man recently who knew a lot of Scripture, who obviously studied the Bible often, and yet who did not go to church. However, he knew that he should go to church. He knew that it was commanded in Scripture (without my having to tell him that it was). Indeed, Hebrews 10:25 commands it. We are commanded to be “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together.” Jesus said that if we love the Lord, we will obey His commandments (John 14:15) and if we are the Lord’s friends, we will obey His commandments (John 15:14). So if you don’t go to church as God commanded, you don’t love Him and you are not His friend. The book of Hebrews says that Jesus is the source of eternal salvation to all those that obey Him (Heb. 5:9). So if you don’t go to church as God commanded, then you do not have eternal salvation. John said, “by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says ‘I know him’ but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:3-4 ESV). So if you do not go to church as God commanded, then you do not truly know God. John also said, “whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him” (1 John 3:22 ESV). So if you do not go to church as God commanded, then you should not expect to receive what you ask from God. And consider this: Part of the Great Commission is to teach people to obey all that the Lord has commanded (Matthew 28:18-20). Thus, if I am to obey the Great Commission, I must teach others to not forsake the assembly. And if you are to obey the Great Commission, you should teach others to not forsake the assembly. We should go to church in order to exhort one another. Notice again that the text says, “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another.” There are many reasons to go to church, but the one given in this verse is so that you can exhort the church. The book of Hebrews itself is a “word of exhortation.” Hebrews 13:22 says, “I appeal to you, brothers, bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly” (ESV). So the writer to the Hebrews (whoever he may be) wanted to exhort them with this letter, and then wanted them to continue to exhort one another in their church assemblies. [It has been suggested that Barnabas, the “Son of exhortation” (Acts 4:36 ASV) is the author of Hebrews.] At least one way we exhort one another is by our singing. I think of what Paul said: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16 NKJV). We should go to church because the Day is coming. Notice once more the text: “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.” We see the Day approaching in the same way that Moses saw the Lord: by faith. In the next chapter in Hebrews, we read of Moses, “By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen” (Hebrews 11:27 NASB). In fact, we too see the Lord now by faith. Earlier in Hebrews, we read, “But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus” (Hebrews 2:9 ESV). How? Not by sight, obviously. Rather, by faith. In the same way, we see the Day approaching by faith and we want to be ready for it. After all, this is the day when we will have to give an account of ourselves before God (Romans 14:12). What will you say to Him then about your church attendance? “For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done” (Matthew 16:27 ESV). How will you be repaid? |