In the book “What’s so Amazing about Grace?” by Philip Yancy a story is told of a woman who was down on her luck. She was having a miserable time and things in her life did not look like they would get any better. She was asked if she had ever thought about going to church for and with her problems. Her reply was, “why would I ever go there? I was already feeling terrible about myself. They’d just make me feel worse.” If someone was having problems in their life came to the services of the church here what do you think they would find? Would they find the sympatric ear and heart? Or would they find themselves shunned? Maybe her clothes were not the best; maybe her hygiene was not the best.Would she find the help she needed or would she be turned out because of who she was?
The student of the Bible knows several things about someone in this situation. This student knows that Romans 2:1 talks about this situation, “Therefore thou are inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for where in thou judgest another, thou comdemnest thyself; for thou that judgestdoest the same things.” Further in the book we find, “What then? Are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles that they are all under sin” (Romans 3:9). Also the student knows, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). This means that everyone use stand before God in the same condition. There is no one that is better than anyone else about their condition before God. “For there is no respect of persons with God” (Romans 2:11 cf. Acts 10:34-35). Of old, Isaiah said by inspiration, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). In this one simple verse we find our condition before God and the help needed to restore fellowship with God. We find that we have gone astray and when we are in this condition Isaiah tells us we are separated from God (Isaiah 59:1-2). In the above passage we also find the remedy for our separation from God. Notice, “… and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” this is what Jesus came into this world to do. He came to sacrifice himself of the sins of all those who would come to Him. So before we stare down our noses at someone for not being just like us, let us consider who we are.
But let us consider further who needs the church. “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, not effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers not extortioners, shall inherit that kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). Do you think that there is anyone in this list that needs the church? Do think anyone on this list would be good church members? Could anyone on this list be an upstanding member here at Cleveland? Listen to the next verse: “But such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11). The church at Corinth was made up of people who have formally been all of the above list of individuals. They all needed the church!
What about you, do you need the church? Are you lost in sin? Are you troubled on every side? Do you struggle daily with the idea of the pleasures of sin which are but for a season? Then you too need the church! But why do these people need the church?
The only way that a person can have a changed life is by contacting the Blood of Jesus Christ. “…Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood” (Revelation 1:5). Notice also, “And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). So when one is baptized he is in a saved condition (Mark 16:15-16). When one is baptized that places him into the church: “Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:47).
Notice also that the church is the body of Christ: “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all” (Ephesians 1:22-23 cf. Colossians 1:18). If we are not in the body then we have no benefits of the body: “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it: That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:25-27).
There is no place of safety outside of Christ spiritually speaking. If one is outside of Christ he is also outside of the body or the church of Christ. All those in the church are those who have reformed their lives to conform into the image of what God wants us to be. That is hard for some! Many people do not want to be in the image of God. Could it be that even said members of the church do not want to be in the image of God? This cannot be.
So, who needs the church? There is not a person alive who does not need the church. For in the church there is the place of safety, there is the place to worship correctly, there is place of being cleansed from all our sins, there is the place of fellowship with one another and with God.
This also without being outspoken speaks of the importance of the church. For without the church there is none of the above things. Are you a part of the church? Are you an active member of the church? If you are not a part then why not be a part of the body of Christ this day! If you are not an active member then become active today.
Love, Keith
