Benefits

Anyone who is familiar with the New Testament should know that it is required of believers to join themselves to a Bible believing, Bible practicing (Baptist) church. Whenever God requires something it is for our good and His glory. We always reap benefits as a result of obeying God. Salvation is a perfect example of this. God requires that all men be saved and when we agree with God about our sin and turn to Jesus Christ for salvation, we not only do what God requires but we reap innumerable benefits. This truth also applies to the matter of church membership. When believers join themselves to a New Testament Church they reap innumerable benefits as a result of their obedience to God. I want to summarize just a few of these benefits.

First of all, they are joining themselves to the pillar and ground of the truth. 1Ti 3:15 "But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth." God has and continues to use His churches to proclaim, preserve, and protect the truth. The Word of God is the truth (John 17:17). Those who know the truth know true freedom (John 8:32). Those who seek truth outside of God's church will never find it. 2Ti 3:6,7 "For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." There are many teachers and preachers on the radio, internet and television who call themselves pastors and teachers of people that they have never met. People flock to such because they do not want to obey God and follow His plan. They think that they have found a better, more convenient way. It is too hard for them to endure the local, true pastor of God's New Testament Church. By turning away from the pastor of God's church they are turning away from the truth. 2Ti 4:3,4 "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." Do you love truth? Do you love God's Word? If so, then you are a member of a New Testament Church or soon will be.

Secondly, when believers join themselves to one of God's churches they are joining the only institution which is promised to have power over Hell. Mt 16:18 "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Hell has prevailing power. It has and continues to prevail over individuals, families, organizations and nations but it never has and never will prevail over one of God's churches. God's church and God's church alone offers power and victory over Hell. It is the one place of safety. Are you safe?

Thirdly, the church is the place where believers are prepared and equipped for life and ministry. The pastor of God's church is a gift to God's people. God uses Him to "feed the flock", to nourish them in "the words of faith and of good doctrine", to make disciples, to train preachers, to "reprove, rebuke, exhort" and to protect and warn the sheep of God. God also uses believers to comfort, exhort and edify one another. All of these things happen within the church and are necessary for each believer.

I have summarized just a few benefits of being a member of one of God's churches. Are you a member of such a church? If not then you need to seek one out and talk to the Pastor about this matter. If you are a believer then you should have a desire to do so. To do otherwise would be disobedience to God and contrary to the Biblical definition of a believer.