13 7. The Church—The Importance of Being Members of It

7. The Church—The Importance of Being Members of It

The Church—The Importance of Being Members of It

INTRODUCTION It is claimed by some that it is not necessary to become members of the church in order to be saved. In studying this or any other subject, we should see to it that we are not prejudiced either for or against the question. If it is God’s will to save us out of the church, there is no good reason for objecting to his doing so; hence, we should teach it and so live while on earth. The Lord’s will and way should be our constant desire and prayer. THE QUESTION CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF SYMBOLS In "the house of God."(1 Timothy 3:15.) Christ is the rock foundation. (Matthew 16:18; 1 Corinthians 3:11.) How can we rest on Christ as our rock foundation and be no part of that house that is built upon him? The foundation sustains the superstructure of the building. We must be connected with that superstructure if we are to rest on the rock foundation. We become a part of that superstructure by hearing and doing what Christ says. "Every one therefore that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them, shall be likened unto a wise man, who built his house upon the rock." (Matthew 7:24.) In "the kingdom of heaven." Christ is the King. (Psalms 2:6-7; Acts 2:36; Acts 13:32-33; 1 Corinthians 15:24-25.)

How can we accept him as our King, crown him Lord of all in our hearts, and refuse to become citizens of the kingdom over which he reigns? (See Matthew 23:13; Luke 19:14; Luke 19:27.) In "the body of Christ." Christ is the "head over all things" to the body. (Ephesians 1:22-23.) The relationship existing between the head of a human being and his body is used as a symbol or shadow of that relationship that exists between Christ and his church. The shadow is never as great as the substance or that which is symbolized by it. Hence, the relationship between Christ and his church is closer, more living, and vital than that existing between a living human being’s body and his head. No human being has ever fully comprehended the wonderful relationship, because of blood and nerve, that exists between the human head and body. Are you surprised, then, that the Bible says we are blessed "exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think" just because we are members of this church of Christ, this body of Christ? Commit to memory Ephesians 3:20-21. But how can we have this relationship to Christ as Head and be not grafted into his body and become a part of it? Disconnect your arm from your body, and it at once loses its vital relationship to your head. We must be members of his body, his church, to enjoy this relationship. In the sheepfold. Jesus is the Shepherd, and he says: "I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved." (John 10:9.) Where is the promise for those who stay out and will not go in? The church Christ’s bride. How can one be wedded to him, take him as a spiritual husband, and refuse to be a part of his bride? (See again Romans 7:4.) The church as an army. Christ is Captain. (Hebrews 2:10; 2 Timothy 2:3-4.) How can one take him as Leader, or Captain, and refuse to be a soldier in his army? The church as a family. How can one be recognized as a child of God, a joint heir with Christ, and refuse to be born of water and the Spirit into this family? (See John 3:5.)

These symbols mean something. Can you name one thing the Bible says about the church that does not teach that one must be a member of it in order to be saved?

SOME DIRECT STATEMENTS In Isaiah 46:13 we have the following prophecy: "I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory." Compare Hebrews 12:22-24 and you will find the people came unto "Zion" under the preaching of the apostles, and you will find "Zion" there followed by the explanatory modifiers: "city of the living God," "the heavenly Jerusalem," "innumerable hosts of angels," "general assembly and church of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven." observe that when they came into this glorious church, or assembly, they found God, Christ, and "the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better than that of Abel." The church is where God and his Son here on earth can be found. The church is "builded together for a habitation of God in the Spirit." (Ephesians 2:19-22.) In Hebrews 3 : I we are commanded to "consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, even Jesus." But in Hebrews 10:21 we learn that he is "a great priest over the house of God." The "house of God" is the church. (1 Timothy 3:15.) Christ is now in heaven in God’s presence for "us"’ (Hebrews 9:24), but the "us" in this verse is the church—those of us who have surrendered to Jesus. (Hebrews 3:6.) God is able to save us to the uttermost need if we undertake to go to him by this living Savior we have in heaven as High Priest over the church. He does not function as High Priest over the world, but the church that he purchased with his own blood. (Hebrews 7:12.)

Acts 2:47 says Christ daily added to the church "such as should be saved," or "those that were being saved." The very moment you become "such as should be saved" you get into the church. In Ephesians 5:23 Paul says: "Christ also is the head of the church, being himself the savior of the body." The church is the saved body; hence the importance of being a member of it. THE TABERNACLE OF MOSES

Moses was commanded to make all things according to the pattern shown him in the mount. (See Hebrews 8:5.) God’s reason for wanting him to be faithful was "for a testimony of those things which were afterward to be spoken." (Hebrews 3:5.) The tabernacle of Moses was a type of the church, or, as Hebrews 8:5 puts it, "copy and shadow of the heavenly things." The "most holy" was a type of heaven itself, where the mercy seat is. (See Hebrews 9:24.) The "holy place" was a type of the church, or the kingdom of heaven on earth. The tabernacle was so built that you could not go from the worldly sanctuary, or the outside, to the most holy without going through the holy place. The walls were, so to speak, tongue-and-grooved together and there was but one entrance—the door on the east end of the tabernacle. They had to enter the holy place and pass through it to the veil that separated the holy from the most holy, and through the veil into the most holy was the way to the mercy seat.

See the application in the words of Jesus: "No one cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6.) Where is he stationed in the scheme of redemption? "I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved." (John 10:9.) How can anyone go from the world to the Father without going through Christ, the door, and through his institution, the church? (Matthew 16:18.) Look at the diagram above. When Christ said, "Upon this rock I will build my church," he was not talking about building a nonessential, a playhouse, out of which salvation can be had as well as in it.