ARE YOU NEGLECTING THE ASSEMBLING?
Adapted from Bible Matters
Church attendance indicates spiritual health. Forsaking the assembling is a symptom of "Heart Trouble."
One whose love for the Lord is weak will allow other things to come before worshipping HIM. WHEN MEN FORSAKE OR NEGLECT THE ASSEMBLING TOGETHER: THEY:
1. DISOBEY CHRIST. "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you..." Mt. 28:20.
2. REBEL AGAINST CHRIST'S AUTHORITY. "And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all." Eph. 1:22,23.
3. DESPISE CHRIST'S BLOOD. "...to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." Acts 20:28.
4. REFUSE TO OFFER SPIRITUAL SACRIFICE. "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Christ Jesus." 1 Pet. 2:5.
5. REFUSE TO PROCLAIM THE LORD'S DEATH. "For as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come." 1 Cor. 11:26.
6. SUBJECT THEMSELVES TO FEARFUL PUNISHMENT IN JUDGMENT.
"But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries." Heb. 10:27.
7. REFUSE TO CONTINUE STEADFASTLY. "And they continued steadfastly in the
apostle's doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." Acts 2:42.
8. HAVE TRODDEN UNDER FOOT THE SON OF GOD. "Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God..." Heb. 10:29.
9. ROB GOD OF GLORY. "Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end." Eph. 3:21.
10. FORSAKE A COMMAND. "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together...Heb. 10:25. "...but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you." 2 Chron. 15:2.
11. CRUCIFY CHRIST AFRESH. "...seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame." Heb. 6:6.
(Editor's note): In studying the above article, jus how neglectful, in serving the Lord, have you been? We would all do well to take stock of ourselves and determine just how we stack up in the eyes of God according to the the way we have been keeping His commandments. There are multiplied hundreds of excuses that people give to try to justify their neglect in serving God, but though you are able to justify yourself in the eyes of the preacher, the elders and the congregation, you still have to give an account to one that really knows whether your excuse is valid or not, and that one is God. JWS.
YOU ARE LOST IF YOU
:
1. Do not obey the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 Thes. 1;7-9 and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the
presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
2. Do not live a godly life (following after God, through His word). Gal. 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath,
selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
3. Do not abide in the doctrine of Christ. 2 Jno. 9. Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.
4. Turn back again into the beggarly elements of the world.
2 Pet. 2:20-22.For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. 21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: "A dog returns to his own vomit," and, "a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire."
5. Neglect the assemblying of yourself with the saints at the appointed time and place. Heb. 10:25-26. not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. 26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the
truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
Selected and adapted from the Observer.