What Church is Really About

We are excited about Christ to the extent that we know more of Him in our lives.

Grace attendance, therefore, is the main reason for going to church. We attend worship services to teh extend that we do not want to miss Christ.

Many believers in the Body of Christ are still looking for a church where they preach Christ and Him Crucified.

We do not go to church to get saved. We go to church in order to learn more about the One with whom we are One!

That's what Hebrews 10:25 is all about!

"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." (Hebrews 10:25)

Most people quote this isolated scripture in order to exhort (or, more precisely, shame) people into going to church. However, no scripture is of isolated interpretation (cf 2 Peter 1:20). Let us consider the entire context in which the writer of Hebrews was inspired to write this exhortation:

"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

"By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

"And having an high priest over the house of God;

"Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

"And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." (Hebrews 10: 19-25)

The writer first establishes our never-ending, ever present righteousness in Christ through the ongoing intercession of Jesus Christ our High Priest as He sits in glory at the Right Hand of the Father. We are saved by grace through faith (cf Ephesians 2:4 and 2:8), not by works, and certainly not by church attendance.

We are invited to come boldy to Him, filled to the fullness by faith with God's approval and regard. We therefore provoke (lit. get excited about) doing God things because God's power resides in us, as He is willing in us both to will and do for His good pleasure (cf Philippians 2:12-13) In this spirit, therefore, we come to church, to learn of Jesus Christ, to witness and worship Him in our lives, to grow in grace and knowledge of Him. We do not go to church in order to join a choir, to wear long robes, to have preeminence, like Diotrephes (cf 3 john 9), the opponent of John, the diciple whom Jesus loved.