The best life is a God First life

Tag: assembly

No Non-Church Days: We Are the Body of Christ

As Christians, there are no non-church days. We are the church. We do not stop being the church when the assembly ends. We are the church, the body of Christ, 24/7. Paul makes this plain: After describing how God rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, he writes:

“He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. … And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard… Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church…”
(Colossians 1:18, 21–23, 24 NASB1995)

Christ is the head of the body now. We are members of that body now. The transfer into His kingdom and the reconciliation accomplished through His death are not limited to one day of the week. Our identity as the church is non-stop.

This is why Paul also states, “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27 ESV). We do not become the body only when we gather; we gather because we already are the body. The local assembly is essential ( see: Hebrews 10:24–25), but our belonging to Christ and to one another does not turn on and off with the church calendar.

There are no non-church days for those who are in Christ. Every day we live as members of His body, under His headship, continuing in the faith and seeking to present ourselves holy and blameless before Him.

See also: Colossians 1:13–24; 1 Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 1:22–23; Romans 12:4–5; Ephesians 5:30; 1 Peter 2:9; Hebrews 10:24–25.

God First!

Be the Church Christ Purchased with His Blood

Who is the church? The church is not a building. It is the people Christ purchased with His own blood (Acts 20:28). They are those who have repented and been buried with Him in baptism for the forgiveness of sins, raised to walk in newness of life, and added by the Lord to His body (Acts 2:38, 41, 47; Romans 6:3–4; 1 Corinthians 12:13). Scripture calls us to follow Christ and to handle His word accurately, to the glory of God (Matthew 7:21; 2 Timothy 2:15).

“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). All of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death (Romans 6:3). In one Spirit we were all baptized into one body (1 Corinthians 12:13).

Attending Bible classes and worship whenever we can helps us draw near to God. “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8). Each class, worship service, prayer, and song turns our minds toward our Creator and reminds us whose we are.

As disciples of Christ and members of His body, our times together teach us to love and encourage one another as we seek a clearer understanding of God’s will (Hebrews 10:24–25). Each visit is an opportunity to share our lives, bear one another’s burdens, and become better equipped to resist temptation. We are reminded of Jesus’ love and sacrifice, and of the forgiveness He offers when we repent and keep His commandments (John 14:15; 1 John 1:7–9). We compare our choices with His word and, when we need to, turn again in repentance.

We are not alone in the challenges, victories, and pains of life. We shake hands, embrace, listen, laugh, cry, and pray together, turning our burdens over to Jesus and helping each other in what ways we can (2 Corinthians 1:3–7).

Together we give thanks to God in worship, prayer, and song, and we let that gratitude show in our words and example. As we study, we strengthen our resolve to follow Christ and keep His commandments, so that others may see the hope that is in us and ask why (1 Peter 3:15). We want them to know the joy and peace of being in Christ, and what it is to walk through this world with our Savior’s help.

Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might present her to Himself in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she would be holy and blameless (Ephesians 5:25–27). He prayed that those who believe in Him through the apostles’ word may all be one, even as the Father is in Him and He in the Father, so that the world may believe that the Father sent Him (John 17:20–21). And He charged His people: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned” (Mark 16:15–16).

For those near us, you are invited to join this journey of study and worship.

Buford Church of Christ
1135 Chatham Road
Buford, GA 30518 Sunday: 9 am | Bible class, in person (all ages)
10 am | Worship, in person and online
6 pm | Worship, in person and online Wednesday: 7 pm | Bible class, in person and online To God be the glory.

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