Involvement In The One Church

Issues2 – April 2024 – Grace & Truth Magazine

Involvement In The One Church

Have you ever wondered why there are so many different so-called “churches” when the Bible speaks of only one Church? First Timothy 3:15 ( NKJV ) refers to that Church as “the house of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” And, Acts 2:47 tells us the Lord adds to that Church, and only that one, those who are being saved – those redeemed by His blood (Rev. 5:9).

Participation
Each member has a role in the function of this Church. Some are given a greater responsibility by the Lord, as Acts 20:28 tells us: “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the Church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”

Whether an overseer or not, every saved believer has a certain role, a gift, a vital part in helping to maintain the function and the purity of the true Church created by God and outlined in the New Testament. Unfortunately, it often seems many of the redeemed members make little effort to participate in the function of the Church of the living God. Since we each have specific roles and spiritual gifts it is important for us to be exercising those gifts (Rom. 12, 1 Cor. 12). Are we truly functioning in our God-given roles as members of His Church? How much it would honor the Lord to show care for His Church as He does!

Appreciation
Another question in relation to being a member of the true Church we may ask is: “Do we rely on biblical teachings without actually appreciating them in a personal way?” A brief picture of the heart of the Lord and the heart of men is illustrated in Luke 17:11-19. In this account of the healing of the ten lepers, we see expressions of the hearts of men that resemble what we often see in our gatherings today. The Lord told the lepers, “Go, show yourselves unto the priests” (v.14). As they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy. One of the ten, upon realizing he was cleansed, immediately turned around and returned to the Lord. He, “with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks” (vv.15-16). This is a beautiful form of worship!

The other nine continued on, showing little interest in acknowledging or thanking the One who healed them. This caused the Lord to ask in verse 17, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?” The Lord saves many, but few show their appreciation by returning to thank the Lord, remembering what He did for them in offering Himself as a sacrifice for their sins on the cross of Calvary. Perhaps even a majority of believers continue to seek their own traditions and religious activities, doing what pleases them while neglecting what the Scriptures instruct as to the desires of the Lord.

Completion
One simple yet profound example to follow comes from the Lord in Luke 22:19, where “He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’” Later, according to Acts 20:7, believers continued this practice “on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread.” It is good for the members of the Church to get together weekly to remember the Lord. His redeemed are privileged to set aside time to praise, worship and offer thanksgiving in the presence of the One who alone deserves to receive the outpouring of our hearts.

All this will reveal the same spirit as that one leper who returned to the feet of the Lord who healed him. When he did, the Lord recognized the spirit of his heart and remarked, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well” (Lk. 17:19). The King James Version translates this verse in this manner: “And He said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.” Obedience to God’s Word – the desires of our Lord – will always bring completeness to our relationship with Him as members of the Church of the living God!

By Walter Terhune

The folly and absurdity of turning to idols and false gods should have been plain to all the people of Israel during their history, but it was not. How was it that their eyes were closed and their understanding darkened? The trouble laid in their hearts, which were deceived. Because of this, they were unable to consider and discern the lie. The position today is just the same. Why do so many take up the erroneous religious cults that abound? The trouble lies not so much in their intellects as in their hearts. It is true for them as for Israel of old that, “a deceived heart hath turned him aside” (Isa. 44:20 JND). —Frank B. Hole, “Comments On Isaiah” (adapted)