Does going to Church mean you become a Christian? How important is it to be part of a church community as a believer in Christ?
Do I Have To Go To Church To Become A Christian?
One of the cardinal commandments God gives us in the Bible is to be part of a local Church.
“Willingly putting in the effort to obey biblical commandments out of love for Jesus proves that we possess and are growing in the new life Jesus gives to us, even though it doesn’t describe how we receive that new life.”
Topics & Timestamps
0:00 – Do I have to go to church to become a Christian?
0:23 – The reason behind the question
0:58 – How we become Christians
1:43 – The marks of a healthy local church
2:05 – Real growth requires church commitment
Top Quotes: Is Going To Church Necessary To Be A Christian
“Neither you nor I should be confident that you are a Christian without your regular Church attendance and commitment.”
“One of the cardinal commandments God gives us in the Bible is to be part of a local Church.”
“Hebrews lets us know that there are aspects of your new life you will never grow in if you’re not committed to a healthy local body of Christ”
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How To Spot a Christian Cult
Is Christianity A Religion or A Way of Life?
Transcript
Do I have To Go To Church To Become A Christian?
While the answer is no you don’t have to go to Church to become a Christian. But I will be quick to add that all things being equal, neither you nor I should be confident that you are a Christian without your regular Church attendance and commitment.
Neither you nor I should be confident that you are a Christian without your regular Church attendance and commitment.
The Reason Behind The Question
What if someone asked, “Do I need to live with, be sexually faithful, spend any money on, and sacrifice for my spouse, to become married?” And the obvious answer is no. But you’ll be left more puzzled with the questioner than their question. Why? Because they seem to misunderstand the purpose of marriage. Now, that’s the same thing that’s going on with this question about going to the Church and becoming a Christian.
How We Become Christians
You see, how we become Christians on the one hand and the purpose for becoming Christians on the other hand, though distinct, can never and should never be separated. We become Christians because we believe that Christ died for our sins and resurrected to his throne to give us new life. And you know, possessing my father’s DNA proves I am his son but does not describe how I became his son. They are distinct but not separate. Similarly, willingly putting in the effort to obey biblical commandments out of love for Jesus proves that we possess and are growing in the new life Jesus gives to us, even though it doesn’t describe how we receive that new life. They are distinct but not separate.
The Marks Of A Healthy Local Church
One of the cardinal commandments God gives us in the Bible is to be part of a local Church.
Now, one of the cardinal commandments God gives us in the Bible is to be part of a local Church. Not just a fellowship or a community of believers, a local Church. How do I know a Church? You ask. Well here are four markers; where you have a regular, collective, gathered worship of Christians, consistent preaching of God’s word, administration of the ordinances of baptism and Lord’s supper, and biblically structured leadership. Now these four don’t guarantee that you have a healthy Church but without all of them, you are guaranteed not to have any Church.
Real Growth Requires Church Commitment
Hebrews lets us know that there are aspects of your new life you will never grow in if you’re not committed to a healthy local body of Christ
Finally, the commandment in Hebrews 10:24-25 lets us know that there are aspects of your new life you will never grow in if you’re not committed to a healthy local body of Christ. So, if you’re not part of one and claim to be a Christian, please commit to finding a healthy one and join in.
