The following "Question" was asked by a member of the congregation at Grace Community Church in Panorama City, California, and "Answered" by their pastor, John MacArthur Jr. It was transcribed from the tape, GC 1359, titled "How to Function in the Body"  A copy of the tape can be obtained by writing, Word of Grace, P.O. Box 4000, Panorama City, CA 91412 or by dialing toll free 1-800-55-GRACE. Copyright 2001 by John MacArthur Jr., All Rights Reserved.

Question

Why or is it necessary to join a local church?

Answer

That's a good question. Why is it necessary to join a local church? For many reasons. Number one, it says in Hebrews 10:25, "Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together as the manner of some and much more as you see the day approaching." There is a command there to attend the assembly of Christians. Very important. So we are to be involved in an assembly of Christians.

Now from the historical argument I'll take it a step further. There is never seen in the New Testament a Christian who doesn't belong to a local assembly. There is no such thing in the New Testament. Every one of them belong to some local assembly. And that becomes the pattern. And we know that they had lists in those local assemblies of their people. They had, for example, Paul wrote to Timothy and talked about the widows' list, that they had an actual roll of widows. We know that there were between the churches letters of recommendations sent commending one member to another church when he left a certain area. So we do know that they kept rolls and they kept lists of the people who were in their congregations. And there is no such thing in the New Testament as a Christian who doesn't belong to some local assembly.

Now beyond the statement of Scripture and beyond the argument of history, you have thirdly the fact that Hebrews 13 says that all Christians are to submit themselves to the rulers over them. And we know that Christ rules through the local assembly, the church. If you are not submitting yourself to some rulers of Christ in the church, then you're disobedient to Hebrews chapter 13. Let me just read that to you so you understand what it says. "Remember those who have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the Word of God, whose faith follow." You're to be under these people who are rulers, elders in the church, and you're to follow their faith. Verse 17, "Obey them that have the rule over you and submit yourselves for they watch for your souls." Here again you have the statement that the congregation is to be submitting to elders and leaders. And that assumes that you'll be in a local congregation to be able to do that. No Christian is a law unto himself, just autonomous running around. They all historically were in a local congregation. The Bible says not to forsake the assembling of yourselves together. We are to come together. In the early church they came together the first day of the week, for sure, and probably several other times during the week for fellowship. And the reason we do this is because Hebrews 10 says we stimulate one another to love and good works. When you stay away, you grow cold. You need that peer pressure, if you will, that spiritual stimulus that comes from the community of Christians. In fact, in the earliest years of the early church they met every day.

Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "MacArthur’s Questions and Answers" by:

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
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