Many in America are associated with a local church. I’ve talked to many people that place the identity of their faith in the church they attend. While we know that church membership does not give us eternal life, because that only comes through putting our faith in Jesus Christ, it does give us an identity. Some have misunderstood what the church offers if they think that having their name on a membership roll will get them to heaven. With that being said, I want to pursue what the church does offer us according to the writings of Paul in I Corinthians 1:2.
I Corinthians 1:2 “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:”
Paul first establishes the identity of the church itself. It is the church of God, and this particular church happens to be at Corinth. Any true biblical church must be God’s church built on the cornerstone of Jesus Christ. When we become a Christian, we automatically gain a new leader, Jesus Christ. Our life is no longer our own to do as the flesh wishes. We have been bought with a price, and now we belong to the one who paid that price, Jesus Christ. When we belong to a local church, we serve Him corporately together.
I Corinthians 6:20 “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
Ephesians 2:20 “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;”
The cornerstone is the most important part of any building. If the cornerstone is small and unstable, the whole building will settle down and be insecure. It also occupies a conspicuous and honorable spot. It is the first stone set and all other stones will be set in reference to this stone. That is why several times in scripture, Jesus is referred to as the chief cornerstone. Unless He is the foundation on which the church is built it will not be stable. So, the local church offers us an opportunity to be part of a local body of believers where Jesus is the chief cornerstone.
Paul then identifies the specific church of God he is speaking about. It was the Corinthian church he had established on his second missionary journey.
He now turns to those who are part of this church. The church offers the believer a new family. He reminds them they are sanctified in Christ Jesus.
The word sanctified means that they were separated or set apart. They had been separated from the mass of pagans around them. They were separated from the world unto God. They were to be different from others and truly devoted to God.
This new family is bound not by the blood of man, but by the blood of Jesus. We are the children of God and a joint-heir with Jesus. If we are the children of God, we are brothers and sisters in Christ.
Romans 8:16-17 “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”
Romans 8:17 “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”
With our new leader, we gain a new family, and we have a new identity. Inside the local church, we can work together to accomplish so much more for Christ than we could alone. We can share one another’s burdens. We can help each other financially when there are needs that are beyond our resources.
The church offers education. God gave the ministry of teaching and preaching to some in the church to help us to grow in Him. We are to encourage and exhort one another. We are to also admonish one another if a brother or sister is not following the teaching of the Bible. This admonishing is not to treat them as an adversary, but as a loving family member to help to set them on the right path.
II Thessalonians 3:15 “Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”
Ephesians 4:11 “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;”
We have never lived close to our blood relatives, but God provided great church families wherever we lived. I can honestly say, many were as close as a family member could be. The church provided family, friendship, love, concern for our spiritual and physical life, help in time of need, and so much more! God always provided us with those who had great wisdom for decision making. He provided me with great role models as a wife and mother.
No matter where we lived, and we have moved to several different states, the church was our base. I am amazed as I look back at how God provided us with exactly what we needed when we needed it.
If you are not part of a local Bible-believing church, you are missing out on some of the greatest blessings God has to offer you!
