| July 5, 1998 |
Vol. I, No. 10
|
It shall be our purpose in this study to consider a few Bible facts, and to ask some questions that might enable the reader to see for himself the importance of membership in the church of Jesus Christ.
First, let us note that the Bible speaks of the church as the family or house of God, 1 Tim. 3:15; Eph. 3:15. How could one hope to be a child of God and not claim membership in the household or family of God?
Secondly, the church is referred to in many passages as the kingdom of God or kingdom of heaven, Matt. 16:18-19; Col. 1:13, etc. Christ is the King who reigns over those who are citizens in that heavenly kingdom, Psa. 2:6-7; John 18:37. How could one hope to claim Christ as his King without holding citizenship in the kingdom over which Jesus reigns?
Thirdly, the church of the Lord is viewed as His body, Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:22-23. It is stated in very clear terms that Christ is the Head of the body, the church. He is also the Savior of the body, Eph. 5:23. By what stretch of the imagination could one claim Christ as Head and Savior without being a part of the body of Christ, which is His church?
Finally, the church is viewed in the Scripture as a building made of living stones, 1 Pet. 2:5. The only foundation that can successfully be laid for such a building is Christ Himself, 1 Cor. 3:11. How could one claim to be built upon that foundation without being a part of the building?
Many other such figures are used in the Scriptures to portray the importance of Christ’s church, but surely the honest seeker can now readily see his need to be a part of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. To do so, one needs only to believe the gospel, repent of his sins, and be scripturally baptized, Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:36-38; 8:36-38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3-5. Christ will add such an individual to His church. One does not have to join any denomination. His obedience to the commands of Christ will constitute him a member of the church of Christ, Acts 2:41, 47, the kingdom of God, John 3:5; Rom. 6:4, the body of Christ, 1 Cor. 12:13, the family of God, Gal. 3:26-27.
--CRJ
Jesus instructed His disciples, “And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two” (Matt. 5:41), and thus demanded of His followers more than a bare minimum of response to the requirements of life. This principle may be emphasized in a number of specifics.
1. It is fine to believe that there is one God, and to believe other things recorded in the Bible. But even the demons do that, James 2:19. Agrippa believed the prophets, Acts 26:27-28. Many of the Jewish rulers of Jesus’ day believed on Him with a faith too weak to acknowledge Him, John 12:42-43. But he who would be a Christian must go the second mile. Obey the truth as well as believe it, Heb. 5:9; Matt. 7:21; 2 Thess. 1:7-9.
2. All classes of humanity are accustomed to the commendable practice of loving their friends, but he who would be a true disciple of Jesus must go the second mile--love his enemies, Matt. 5:43-47.
3. An individual has done the right thing to provide for those who are members of his immediate family, for that is only fair and just, and even infidels recognize such an obligation, 1 Tim. 5:8, 16. But he who would follow Jesus must seek to do good to all, Gal. 6:10; James 1:27. This is the second mile principle.
4. All civilized societies recognize the need for their citizens to refrain from murder, theft, and other such-like crimes against one’s fellow human beings. This has ever been the case. But the principles of Christ demand second mile living in such matters. Learn to harness and control anger, Matt. 5:21-22. Learn to avoid the covetousness that leads to theft, Luke 12:15. Bring under control the passion that could lead to adultery, Matt. 5:27-28, etc.
Thus we see in these matters--and with but little thought can bring many others to mind--which exemplify the need for second mile living. In the sermon on the mount, Jesus asked His audience, “What do you more than others?” (Matt. 5:47) Being a Christian makes demands on us to do more than the bare minimum that the world in general recognizes as necessary. Christians must be devoted to the second mile living that Jesus commanded.
--CRJ
Well, I went to visitation
Against my will, guess.
I was hot and tired and troubled,
And I wasn’t at my best.
But they told me I was needed,
So I knew I couldn’t rest
With my conscience making comments
About how I’d failed the test.
First, I went to see a shut-in.
She’d been one quite some time.
Oh, how she’d missed the brethren,
But she tried hard not to pine.
Next, a brother who’d been absent
Several Sundays in a row.
He thought nobody missed him,
And he said next time he’d go.
Last I called upon a couple
Who had just moved into town.
I invited them to visit,
And they said they’s come around.
Back home again, I pondered,
Why, now, I was feeling fine.
I recalled those gladdened faces,
And the pleasure was all mine.
--author unknown
Jesus said, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted" (Matthew 5:4). Happy mourners? Blessed mourners? How can this be?
In contrast, Paul spoke of some who are "past feeling," (Ephesians 4:19), whose conscience has become seared with a hot iron, 1 Timothy 4:2. Surely we can see that these people, who have run rough-shod over their consciences until they have no conscience left are not the truly happy people. Surely the person who can still mourn have more to be happy about than those who are past feeling.
Jesus, of course, did not mean to imply that everyone who mourns, regardless of his reason, will be comforted. In this world there are numerous deliberate pessimists. They search for misery and despair. They look for trouble night and day. They know comfort, primarily because they refuse to be comforted. Jesus was not describing such folks as happy or blessed. These are not the mourners He had in mind.
Others mourn over some selfish loss or ambition--over not being able to take unfair advantage over someone else. Jesus was not referring to such when He promised comfort to mourners. Some mourn because they have been taken victim of their own sin. Jails and penitentiaries are full of folks who mourn because they were caught breaking the law--but they have not yet learned to hate sin. Their mourning is not over the fact that they did wrong, but over the fact that they have been caught and punished. Hell will be full of mourners who will know no comfort whatsoever. It was not these of whom Jesus spoke when He promised comfort to those who mourn.
Who, then, are those whose mourning ends in comfort? The promise is fulfilled in the case of every mourner whose mourning leads him to Jesus Christ. Mourning over your sins, over the fact that you have grieved God and set the wrong example for others, is the mourning that leads to true repentance--a change of heart that will result in a change of lifestyle. This mourning truly has the potential to bring comfort, now and eternally.
--CRJ