Thankful for Christ’s Church-Look to Him and Be Saved

Josh July 26th, 2006

I can’t say enough how thankful I am for my Church Home. Back in November of 2004 I was in the midst of a trial of which I’d never conceived. Providentially, God, in His grace, led me to Texarkana Reformed Baptist Church (TRBC). Now, long before this I had been one who subscribed to the Doctrines of Grace but neither the timing nor “opportunity” was right that I could go to TRBC.

There is no church with which one who is a serious student of Scripture will always agree on everything. I’m reminded of the old adage, “In essentials unity, in no-essentials liberity, in all things charity.” Now this is not, of course, an acknowledgement to the ungodly notion of modern ecuminism, but rather it is a principle by which all biblical Christians ought to apply in the context of fellowship and ministry.

I’m happy to say that I see it in practice each time I visit my Church. “So, Josh, what are you getting at?” Well, I’m merely pointing out the importance of regularly attending, fellowshipping within, and applying the principles learned therein of a biblical Church at which the Word of God is supreme, primary, and final. In today’s culture Churches (so-called) have lost their identities in Christ (IMHO proving they were not in Christ from the beginning, seeing that those whom He saves, He also justifies, whom He justifies, He alos sanctifies, glorifies, so on, so forth, etc.).

One particular area in which I think of automatically (not to mention one that hits very “close to home”), is the biblical command and principle of Church discipline. When is the last time you’ve heard of a church actually confronting a member who professes Christ, yet is openly and blatantly involved in sin in a way that spits in the face of Christ and tramples on God’s law? It is overwhelmingly rare in these days . . . especially in the “Good Ole’ Bible Belt”. It is clear in Scripture that Church discipline is both authorized and commanded to be applied in Churches. Why? Among others, so that:

1) No man would have a false sense of security (i.e. “fire insurance”) that he does indeed know Christ, when his constant, unrepentant actions truly and only show a hatred of our Lord. (Consider Matthew 7:21,22)

2) The Church would maintain a sense of credibility with unbelievers and other Christians. The Lord said we are salt, we are light. A Church full of Christ-professing, yet not Christ-possessing people is one which has lost all flavor of saltiness, and has no light, but the dim, nay, dark blindness of sin and deception.

So let me encourage you who may have unwittingly stumbled on to my blog. Number 1, are you a Christian? Number 2, if you are a Christian do you go to a biblical Church which engages in the 1) proper preaching of the Word of God borne out of a belief that the Bible, in its original autographs, is the actual, inspired, infallible, and inerrant Word of God, 2) rightful administratin of Baptism and the Lord’s supper, and 3) church discipline? If not, do so! It is imperative to growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. If you’re comfortable NOT going, then you should indeed examine your heart, and ask God to examine as well, to see “whether ye be in the faith.”

Concerning number 1, if your answer is “No”, then I exhort you to heed the command of God to repent and believe on His Son Jesus Christ as revealed in the Scriptures. This is not a hokey, “God loves you and has a plan for your life” thing, nor is it a plea for you to “find your purpose.” The Bible says in Proverbs 16, “The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of doom.” Does that send chills down your spine? The God of the Scriptures hates sin, and yet He loved the world so much that to those who believe, follow, and obey Him, He gives eternal life. With this change of mind (repentance), comes a change of action (sanctification) as secured and guaranteed by the power of the Holy Spirit. If you know not Christ yet, cast yourself at His mercy, for it is your only hope. No trust can you put in yourself or your goodness, for you have none. You are deserving of only hell, but God will never cast out any who come to Him.

How’s this to be done? Well, in Scripture God has given us a revelation of Himself and His standards. Originally God had made a covenant with Adam, the first of all mankind and, thus, the Representative of all mankind. Adam was created upright and holy, but when he sinned he plunged himself and all mankind (remember, he was our representative) into sin.

In this regard, all men are born spiritually dead and separated from God. Yet, even right after Adam’s transgression, God spoke of His plan of redemption. The seed of woman (Christ) would crush the head of the serpent (Satan). Genesis 3:15 is the first time the Gospel is preached. You can read more about this here. Moving on to the crux of the matter. After Adam introduces sin into the world, mankind has the sinful misconception that somehow he can earn salvation with God. “Well, I’m better than so and so.” or “My good outweighs my bad”, etc. This is the mentality of our natures.

As has been noted, God had a standard with Adam. Adam broke covenant. There is a portion of Scripture which sums up all the law/standards of God. In this portion of Scripture we learn about the 10 Commandments. Guess what? We’ve all broken at least one of them. Repeatedly. Now, if this is God’s standard for “getting in”, then where does that leave all of mankind? On the way to hell. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. So, if you answered “No” to question 1, you’re in the same predicament as everyone else. You cannot earn the salvation of God. You have nothing to offer Him. He will accept nothing less than perfection . . .THAT’S SCARY, HUH? Yet, my friend, there is hope.

You see, the first Adam failed in his covenant with God. But there is a second Adam. And He did not fail. His Name is Jesus Christ. As Adam represented all of mankind and plunged all mankind into sin, Christ represents His people and has secured all of them into God’s salvation. So, we’ve found that God requires perfection for entrance into His kingdom. But we’ve also learned that all mankind is sinful, thus no one is perfect. Scripture itself says, “There is no one righteous. No, not even one.” and “. . . all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” If we are to stop here, there is no hope for any of mankind. But the Gospel means “good news” and it doesn’t stop here! We can never be perfect, thus we cannot merit God’s favor or salvation. But Christ can and did! He is the second Adam, the one Who crushed the head of the Serpent.

He came into this world, without sin, lived a perfect life according to the law of God, and then fulfilled all righteousness to be a sacrifice for those who would believe on Him, satisfying God’s requirement of perfection on their behalf! What glorious news! Do you believe yourself to be hopelessly lost and destitute, and sinful? Do you realize that in your wickedness you have offended the thrice holy God who knows no sin? Do you want entrance to His kingdom, forgiveness of sin? Then acknowledge your great rebellion against Him, cast your sinfulness aside, and plead to God for His mercy according to the merit of Christ! There is no mystical prayer that obligates God to do this. It is simply His offer of salvation for those who believe on His Name by faith, not trusting in anything of themselves, and who repent of their sinfulness, following Him, loving, knowing, and obeying His Word, and, if need be, dying for Him.

Will you?

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