by Neil Richey
In one of the unsung chapters of the
Bible, Romans 16, are these words, "Salute one another with an holy kiss.
The churches of Christ salute you" (Rom. 16:16).
When writing on the duty of church
leaders, Luke wrote, "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the
flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church
of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood" (Acts 20:28).
As the Hebrews writer spoke to the
living saints about their deceased brethren, he said, "To the general
assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and
to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect"
(Heb. 12:23).
On the day of Pentecost, when Peter
preached his first gospel sermon, we read that three thousand souls repented of
their sins and were baptized for the forgiveness of those sins. Then, at the
end of this same chapter are these words, "Praising God, and having favour
with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as
should be saved" (Acts 2:47). "Churches of Christ," "church
of God," "church of the firstborn," and "the church"
are all references to the same thing--the church that we read about in the
Bible.
One would think that the religious world’s desire is to be
part of that church. However, a cursory perusal of our own communities shows
that there are many who are religious, and nearly as many whose religion is in
vain. How do I know? Drive down the street, write down the name of every church
you see on those church signs, and then ask yourself, “is that the name of
the church I read about in the Bible?” If it’s not, then red flags should be going up
in your mind. Perhaps, to you, the name is not all that important. I think the
Lord would disagree. So, is there really anything in a name?
Following the end of one of the deadliest wars ever fought,
the Civil War, Robert E. Lee was asked by the Louisiana Lottery if he would be
willing to allow his name to be used to advertise their commission. They told
him that if he agreed, he would become incredibly wealthy.
Lee couldn't believe the proposition. Standing up, buttoning his
gray coat, and then with a loud voice Lee said, "Gentlemen, I lost my home
in war. I lost my fortune in the war. I lost everything except my name. My name
is not for sale, and if you fellows don't get out of here, I'll break this
crutch over your heads!"
He would have had my attention. How about you? In the Bible, God
warns us not to let the great schemer of the universe manipulate
us into allowing our name to be misused and abused. Add to that he warns us not
to take the most sacred names for His church, and then change them to fit our
own personal designs for His church.
To illustrate that there really is something in a name, can you
think of any Bible characters whose names became synonymous with
something less than admirable? Two immediately come to my mind--Jezebel
and Judas.
The Old Testament character, Jezebel, was a horrible
creature. A read through the book of 1 Kings tells us of the atrocities
that she was behind. She killed the prophets of God. She manipulated her
husband. She killed Naboth, by proxy, so that her husband could have Naboth's
vineyard. Her name is so synonymous with wickedness that no one would think of
naming his or her newborn girl, Jezebel. Why? There is something in a name.
The New Testament character, Judas died by his
own hands and the Bible says that he "went to his own place" (Acts
1:25). Judas, or "the son of perdition" as he is also called, is
the one who betrayed the Lord Jesus for money (Jn. 17:12). He turned his
back on God for momentary pleasure and that, which brings material
happiness.
So, today, how many parents expecting baby boys to be born
have picked out the name "Judas" as their name of choice for their
new little bundle of joy? I’m not aware of any. Why? There is
something in a name.
Though rather lengthy, this illustrates the fact that names are
important. There is something in a name. There is something in a name when it
comes to what people call you. Then also, there is something in a name when
it’s applied to what one calls the collective body of Christians.
If the name of the church you belong to cannot be found in the
Bible, then doesn’t it stand to reason that you should find a church that does
wear the right name, and then become a member of it?
By way of this study, we will only make
three observations. First, we’ll observe why one should want to be a member of
the church we read about in the Bible. Second, we’ll learn how one becomes a
member of the church we read about in the Bible. Third, we’ll close our study
with three observations on how one is saved, therefore privileged to enjoy the
benefit of being part of the church we read about in the Bible.
I want to be a member of the church of
the Lord because . . .
To
be a member of the Lord's church is to have access to all "spiritual
blessings." "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in
Christ" (Eph. 1:3). The expression "heavenly places" in this
context is a reference to the church, which is located "in Christ."
What are some of those blessings?
• Acceptance is a blessing that
comes to those in His church. "To the praise of the glory of his grace,
wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved" (Eph. 1:6). The Lord
never accepts anyone on their own terms, but the Lord's.
• Redemption and forgiveness
are blessings that come to those in His church. "In whom we have
redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches
of his grace" (Eph. 1:7). Redeem means to be bought back. Sin is a costly
thing in deed. It costs us more than we could ever pay. So, for that debt to be
forgiven, it took something more valuable than money. It cost Jesus his life's
blood. "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many
for the remission of sins" (Mt. 26:28).
• An eternal inheritance is a blessing that comes to
those in His church. "In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being
predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the
counsel of his own will" (Eph. 1:11). Paul, through the eyes of faith, was
looking at that inheritance when he wrote down these words, “Henceforth there is
laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge,
shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love
his appearing”
(2 Tm. 4:8).
• The seal of the Holy Spirit is a blessing that comes
to those in His church. "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the
word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye
believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise" (Eph. 1:13). A
seal is something that is true and binding. A seal proves one’s authenticity. So,
when one is a member of the church of the Lord, God has put his seal on that
person showing His recognition of the fact that he or she is an authentic
Christian, and member of God’s
church. Now, how does one become a member of the Lord's church, thereby
receiving His approval?
I become a member of the church of the Lord by . . .
Doing
it the Lord's way. So many try to invent ways for man to gain membership into
the church of the Lord. Some man-made churches will vote on an individual, and
if he or she receives enough votes they become members.
Many
denominations who teach salvation via the "sinner's prayer" are then
to be baptized to join a particular denomination. Then, there are others who
say, "just join the church of your choice."
Never
in the Bible do we read about people being voted into the church of the Lord,
nor do we read about their joining the church of the Lord. What we do read is
this, "And the Lord added to them [the church KJV] day by day those that
were saved" (Acts 2:47 ASV). Those who are truly saved are added to the
church, because the saved are the church. So, the answer to the questions
"How do I become a member of the Lord's church," and "What must
I do to be saved," will be the same.
We want to conclude this essay with three salvation
questions:
1. Will there be few saved? Luke wrote,
"Then said one unto him Lord, are there few that be saved?" (Lk.
13:23). Throughout history, God's people have always been in the minority. For
instance, when God destroyed the world with a flood, only eight souls were
saved--Noah, his wife, their three sons, and their wives. When God destroyed
the city of Sodom, only three souls were saved--Lot, and his two daughters. In
answer to the question, the Bible teaches that on the Judgment day, few will be
saved. Jesus said, "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate,
and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go
in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth
unto life, and few there be that find it" (Mt. 7:13-14).
2. Who then will be saved? The Universalist
would answer the question, "Everyone will be saved." The moralist
would answer the question, "All moral people will be saved." The
denominationalist would answer the question, "All 'faith only' people will
be saved." Our concern should be about whom God says will be saved. Jesus
said, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the
kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in
heaven" (Mt. 7:21). In answer to the question, the only people who will be
saved are those who obey God's word.
3. What must I do to be saved? This is clearly the
most important question that a man could ever ask. This question was asked
three times in the book of Acts. The jailer asked it, and received the answer
"believe" (Acts 16:30-34). The people on the day of Pentecost asked it
and received the answer "repent and be baptized" (Acts 2:37-41). Saul
of Tarsus asked it, and received the answer "be baptized" (Acts
9:1-22; 22:1-16; 26:1-21). Who could question that these, having done what they
were told, were saved? I dare say that no one could.
In
answer to the question, "What must I do to be saved?" I must do the
same as those in the book of Acts in order to be saved. I must believe in Jesus
as God’s Son, just as these did. I must repent of my sins, just as these did. I
must be baptized for the forgiveness of my sins, just as these did. When I do
this, then I know that I am saved because I have done what they did to be
saved. Then, the added benefit is knowing that upon my salvation, the Lord adds
me to His church (Acts 2:47).
It is our prayer that you’ll take to heart
these simple biblical truths, and then become a member of the church that we
read about in the Bible.
~Neil Richey
Neil’s bio: Neil Richey is a native
of Tennessee. He has preached full-time in Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia,
where he now preaches for the Piedmont Road church of Christ in Marietta, GA.
In 1995 Neil met Emily (Martin) and
in 1997 they were married while attending Freed-Hardeman University. They have
two children: a son named Peyton, and a little girl named Rebekah.
Neil's formal education includes a
B.S. in Communication with an Emphasis in Broadcasting. He holds a M.A. in
Church Growth and a D.Min. in New Testament Theology.
He has been blessed to preach in
several states and in a number of other countries including Brazil, New
Zealand, and Tanzania, where he has taught multiple short courses for the
Andrew Connally School of Preaching. He holds numerous Gospel Meetings and
speaks on lectureships and youth rallies each year and makes annual mission trips
outside of the United States.
In addition to his full-time work
with the Piedmont Road church of Christ, Neil is one of the instructors for
the Georgia School of Preaching and Biblical Studies. Also,
Neil is the President of the Board of Directors at West Cobb
Christian Academy. He is a regular writer for journals, periodicals,
blogs, and he hosts multiple video devotionals on-line. He writes a short
devotional sent out via email every Monday - Friday called, Neil's Daily
Devotional Nugget which can be subscribed to at www.NeilRichey.com.
Neil has authored and edited books
including Growing the Church God Loves, Thinking Out Loud, and What Wilt Thou
Have Me To Do. All of these are available at www.NeilRichey.com.
When asked, Neil
wants people to know that, "I'm a husband, father of two, and most of
all, a Christian that's been saved by grace through faith. I'm trying everyday
to live life with purpose for Him."
The
apostle Peter wrote, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word,
that ye may grow thereby" (1 Peter 2:2).
The people to whom Peter was writing had been and were suffering from
persecution. They needed strength, both
from the word of God and from other Christians.
Peter serves as a perfect example of a Christian who knew how to encourage
and uplift others.
