Twenty-Two reasons why you Must be in Fellowship with the Body of Christ... YES, that means if you call yourself a Christian, then you gotta be active

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When you become a Christian, you are called into a relationship with God (1 Corinthians 1:9). But I John 1:3 makes it clear that we enter a fellowship that goes two ways: with God and with other Christians.

The New Testament never speaks of Christians existing in isolation. All the way through, it assumes that everybody participates in their local assembly. It gives no examples of Christians who belong to the "universal church" but have no link with a local body of believers. Wherever and whenever Christians are within range of each other in the New Testament, they would meet with one another. Every time the apostle Paul comes to a town where there were no Christians, he wins a few converts and immediately organizes them into a small group - a small body of new believers, a little church.

Acts 20:7 reveals the practice of the early church.... "And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached to them." For Christians in every location, regular gathering was a normal, expected and highly anticipated part of life.

It's illogical to say that anyone professing Christ can be merely part of the worldwide, universal church, yet refuse to gather with the segment of that universal church that exists in your geographical area. It would be like claiming you have a car, when the right fender is in Boston, the engine is in Paris, and the wheels are in Rangoon! You don't have a car; you have the beginning of the inventory for a junkyard. It just won't function until the pieces are put together in one place. The church is the same... it must be together to carry out many of its purposes.

Today however, many Christians are frustrated with the Church and rightfully so. The Church today is full of problems... front and center is wide spread hypocrisy among its so-called members.

Can a Christian survive apart from the church? Probably not. That’s the short answer and maybe not the one you wanted to hear. The purpose of this article is not to rehash all the reasons why people want to be known as a Christian but want to avoid today’s Church. It is however going to explain why being an active and engaged part of the “body of Christ” is essential to your eternal salvation. The body of Christ, the church is part of how God is working out our salvation, collectively, all together. God has provided us with twenty-two reasons why being together in assembly is essential for our spiritual growth.

Remember, our spiritual growth is part of preparing to live in brotherhood and fellowship for eternity. Spiritual formation takes place in the imperfect Church, in fellowship with a bunch of other imperfect, grumbling, nit-picking folks just like you. Here and now, this side of eternity, is where we master the art of living together. That means we’re going to struggle together in frustration, sometimes combating heresy and sin, but all the while we are allowing God to refine us, to develop the fruits of the Spirit in us... all in the context of what He programmed... His organization of assembled believers – the Church.

Let’s begin by recalling what Jesus commanded..... “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35  

Can there be any doubt as to our Lord’s expectations for us? He expects us to develop deep and abiding relationships not only with Him, but equally important, with one another. Because without “one another” we can’t truly be “in Him”. There is a great deal of instruction in the New Testament about how we are to cultivate our interpersonal relationships with fellow believers. The formula for building successful relationships with “one another” is only achievable in following the advice of our Lord. The arena is the Church and we are the cast of characters living out a cosmic drama that will result in our eternal salvation or our eternal damnation.

Twenty-Two Reasons to be in Fellowship, in Church.

1. "Be at peace with one another" (Mark 9:50). "If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men" (Romans 12:18). "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God" (Matthew 5:9). "So then let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another" (Romans 14:19). Jesus is our peace; He broke down all barriers that divide us and made us into ONE BODY, "thus establishing peace" (Ephesians 2:14-18). "Be diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3).

2. "If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you" (John 13:14-15). Jesus did not intend here to institute a new symbolic rite/ritual or an actual sacrament, rather He showed that "He, their leader, had stooped to serve their needs, and that they should do the same for one another. The emphasis is on the inner attitude of humble and voluntary service for others" (The Expositor's Bible Commentary)

3. "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:34-35). "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. This I command you, that you love one another" (John 15:12, 17). See also: Matthew 22:37-40; Romans 13:8-10; 1 John 2:9-11; 3:10-11, 14-15, 23; 4:7-21.

4. "For I long to see you in order that .... you and I may be mutually encouraged by one another's faith" (Romans 1:11-12). "...not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near" (Hebrews 10:25). "Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing" (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

5. "For as each of us has one body with many members, and not all the members have the same function, so too we, though many, are one body in Christ and individually members one of another. We have gifts (abilities, talents) that differ according to the favor bestowed on each of us" (Romans 12:4-6). "We are members of one another" (Ephesians 4:25). See also: 1 Corinthians 12:4-30; Ephesians 4:1-16; 1 Peter 4:10.

6. "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves" (Romans 12:10). "Let each of you regard one another as more important than himself" (Philippians 2:3). "All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another" (1 Peter 5:5). "Submit to (defer to, be subject to) one another out of reverence for Christ" (Ephesians 5:21).

7. "Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited" (Romans 12:16). The NIV phrases it this way: "Live in harmony with one another." The NAB says: "Have the same attitude toward all." "May God, the source of all patience and encouragement, enable you to live in perfect harmony with one another according to the Spirit of Christ Jesus" (Romans 15:5, NAB).

8. "Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. Love does no wrong to a neighbor; love therefore is the fulfillment of the law" (Romans 13:8, 10).

9. "Let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another" (Romans 14:19). "Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing" (1 Thessalonians 5:11). When each member of the Body does its part in love, it "causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love" (Ephesians 4:16).

10. "Accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God" (Romans 15:7). See also: Romans 14:1-3.

11. "And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able also to admonish one another" (Romans 15:14). This is the Greek word noutheteo which means: "to place within the mind; to instruct; warning based on instruction" (Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words). The NIV says: "Competent to instruct one another." The NAB & NEB say: "Able to give advice to one another."

12. "Greet one another with a holy kiss" (Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12). "Greet one another with a kiss of love" (1 Peter 5:14). A visible, physical expression of love and fellowship.

13. "There should be no division (schism, dissension) in the body, but the members should have the same care (equally concerned) for one another. If one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members share its joy" (1 Corinthians 12:25-26). "Help carry (bear) one another's burdens; in that way you will fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2).

14. "Through love serve one another" (Galatians 5:13). "As each one has received a special gift (talent, ability), employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God" (1 Peter 4:10).

15. "Walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance (bearing with, endure patiently) to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:1-3). "Put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace" (Colossians 3:12-15). "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you" (Ephesians 4:31-32). "Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed" (James 5:16).

16. "May the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all men" (1 Thessalonians 3:12). "Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; and this you are doing with respect to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more" (1 Thessalonians 4:9-10). "The love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater" (2 Thessalonians 1:3).

17. "Therefore comfort one another " (1 Thessalonians 4:18). This is from a Greek word which conveys the idea of calling someone to your side and placing an arm around them for the purpose of giving comfort, consolation and encouragement.

18. "See that no one repays another with evil for evil (or "wrong for wrong"–NIV), but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all men" (1 Thessalonians 5:15).

19. "Let us consider how to stimulate (stir up, rouse, spur on) one another to love and good deeds" (Hebrews 10:24).

20. "Be hospitable to one another without complaining (grumbling)" (1 Peter 4:9). "Practice hospitality" (Romans 12:13). "An overseer, then, must be .... hospitable" (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8).

21. "Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere (unhypocritical) love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart" (1 Peter 1:22). "Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers over a multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8).

22. "For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another" (I John 3:11). "And this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us" (1 John 3:23). "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love" (1 John 4:7-8). "Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has beheld God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us" (1 John 4:11-12). "If someone says 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also" (1 John 4:20-21). "And now I ask you, lady, not as writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another" (2 John 5).

All twenty-two of these character building principles must be cultivated in community, together in fellowship. The nature and quality of these attributes we are to develop in ourselves and in one another can be achieved alone. God has gifted each member of his church to serve one another, to sustain one another and to build one another up... we can’t do that solo. It is near impossible to live a Christian life alone, apart from brotherhood and fellowship. the very idea runs counter to everything God has done for us.

It does beg the question... Why in the world did Christ decide to build his “body of believers”, out of sinful people and leave us with what seems like unending problems? Because he loved us enough to die for us and he knows we can do great things if we but let him rule in our lives. Most of us don’t let him do that, at least not with any consistency. So God recognizes our natural tendency to be resistant and “miss the mark”, by giving us these twenty-two ways to build relationships in brotherhood and fellowship. If we take his advice seriously, He has promised to work within us in the person of the Holy Spirit to make us wholly acceptable and worthy of eternal salvation.

The Church is not perfect and never will be this side of heaven. But Christ is! So we fasten our eyes on Him. We all do one of two things... try to hide our bad sides or we try to make them look good. But deep inside we all know that we fall short of living the way we know we should. No one can escape the charge of "hypocrite"—no one except Jesus Himself. He is the only One who has lived up to God's standards; the only One who has perfectly lived what He preached. Only through…Christ can we escape the penalty due our hypocrisy… By living within the security of Christ's love, we are free to peel off masks and to become real, honest people.

How you see GOD... affects the way you see the Church
God means for the Church, the Body of Christ, to be viewed with an awe, and if we aren’t viewing it that way, then we aren’t seeing it properly. Think about that.... the Church is people, so God expects us to see one another with awe? How is that possible? In those who first saw the Church, there was a transition that took place. It was reported that those early believers "were filled with awe" when they saw the body of believers in fellowship assembled together. Something very dramatic happened in their lives to the extent that they all abandoned their separate lives and were together and had everything in common. It’s not just, "Yeah, yeah, I know. They loved Jesus. They gave their lives to the Lord. They repented and turned away from sin. Something else happened, too. They were devoted to the apostles' teaching, to fellowship, to prayer, and to the breaking of bread—all these things have to do with other people and have to do with the Church. They instantly had a regard for the Household of God as something much more than a loose-knit affiliation of people who each believed in God. It was not just about praying in their prayer closets and then acknowledging these other people, "Well, they are Christians, too. I'm going to live for God, and they are going to live for God. So, we ought to at least try to get along and attend something together regularly.” That isn't how the believers 2,000 years ago viewed the Church.

The way they viewed the Church affected every ounce of their being. When each one saw the assembled body of believers in Christ, something radical happened in the way they began to function with one another. They now saw their lives as actually belonging to each other, rather than themselves. It wasn't just simply, "I believe the Messiah had come.” Something happened in the way they viewed other people. Something about Christ with His Head in heaven and His feet on earth was awe-inspiring to them and had a dramatic effect on their lives. It was a powerful thing they experienced, something very awe-inspiring was happening as a result of the Holy Spirit. It was really very simple... they knew who Jesus was, what he did and they knew they were His People on this earth. They saw it, they felt it and they responded to it... together.

The church today, doesn’t feel that same way. It is clear and evident from the way she has drifted into “churchianity”, rather than staying focused on Jesus. But the Church today is just as capable of “seeing” the awe in one another as those first century Christians. It’s not complicated, but it does require a change in thinking and repentance from our self-centeredness.

What is Church? What is a Christian?
From Jesus’ standpoint, for us not to discern the Body, is also not to discern Christ. For us to ridicule the Church or minimize the Church or not esteem this thing called the Church is in turn doing the same to Christ. We may in fact have good cause not to be in awe of the institution of the church. It is an organization dominated more by the ways and means of men today than by focus on Christ. We know that many who profess Christ and claim to be Christians are not acting and living as Christians, if measured against the Bible's definition of what it means to be a Christian.

The Bible defines Christians as ones who have forsaken all in order to be His disciple. They’ve lost their lives in order to find it. They’ve turned from sin and therefore can come to be called new creations because the old has been abandoned. They’ve died to sin and then they are buried it the water of baptism. With the exception of immersion, most people wouldn’t come anywhere near a description like that. Christians today look and act a lot like unbelievers... they want to live for themselves. The Scriptures say that such attitudes and lifestyle make them enemies of God. They love the world and have not died to sin, therefore they are children of the devil (1 John 3). So, most of what we’ve historically called “church” really isn’t Church, from a biblical standpoint. Remember, this is not judging... it’s simply an assessment of people who profess to be Christians, but display visible attitudes and actions contrary to a genuine profession of faith.

The Church and Christ are Inseparable
If you say you desperately love God, you cannot minimize or marginalize the relevance of loving the House of God, the body of Christ. We are the work of God's hands, the loving extension of God's heart... as Paul said in Colossians all who profess Christ are to be “loving the visible of the invisible God”.... one another.

It's essential that we see the connection between loving God and loving His Body... the Church. There is no concession that will allow us to think that we can love God, but loving His Body is secondary in importance. “I can be a Christian, but I don’t need the church.” Wrong thinking.

God in His infinite wisdom said that Jesus Christ is the head of the fullness of deity, and His Body, collectively, is the fullness of the authority and the power of Jesus. There is no authority and power apart from the Church!

Unless you are part of a local body of believers with God as part of what you are doing, Christ-honoring, Christ-centered, Bible-believing people who are walking in obedience to God—not just talking about it, but doing it, living it—then you are not in the fullness of deity and there is no power, no authority, no dominion.…none of those things exist in your life.