ARE YOU IN GOD’S HOUSE – THE CHURCH?

“Praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the CHURCH daily those who were being saved” – Acts 2:47

It is vital for us to be certain that we are part of GOD’S HOUSE – the CHURCH. This warrants knowing what the Church is and what it is not. It is necessary but not sufficient to be attending a place called church every Sunday or certain days of each week; you must be absolutely sure that you’re a member of God’s Living Church here on earth and will remain part of His Family eternally. The Church is the Body of Christ on earth, through which He desires to continue His life and ministry, in order for the will of God to be accomplished on earth as it is in heaven (Mt.6:10). The Church is a living, growing, spiritual organism; and the Lord Jesus Christ adds to His Church daily, as the Book of Acts severally confirms:

• “Then those who gladly received His word were baptized: and that day about three thousand souls were added to them” (v.41).

• “And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women” (Acts 5:14).

• “For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord” (Acts 11:24).

You and I must ascertain if we are truly part of the Church of the Living God? Here are Seven Vital Indicators:

The church is not the collection of names of people on local church roles or records: “Nevertheless the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, The Lord knows those who are His. And, Let every one that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (2Tim.2:19).

The church is not a social club. Although some people join churches because it is socially acceptable to belong to those churches, that is not Christianity; it is a religious coating.

The church is not decisions for Christ – a number totalled up of people who had raised their hands in an evangelistic meeting and prayed a sinner’s prayer. Many take such steps emotionally and thereafter return to their vomit. The church is not made up of decisions for Christ, but Disciples of Christ!

The church is not “floating” Christians, that is, lip-confessors who are like particles floating around, not related or committed to any local church. Such uncommitted individuals confess to being born-again and profess Christ, but they see no reason to join a local church or be committed there. The Lord is not interested in producing “spiritual grasshoppers” – engaged in “supermarket Christianity” – jumping from church to church.

The church consists of born-again, spirit-filled Christians who are responsible members: “And they continued steadfastly in the apostle’s doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (v.42).

The church is people who have oriented their lives around four active priorities, namely: personal commitment to Jesus Christ and His Lordship; commitment to the Body of Christ in a local church; commitment to the Word of God; and commitment to the work of Christ in the world – evangelism, missions, worship, and edification.

The church is born-again people who are true disciples of Jesus and who have decided to take up their crosses and follow Jesus absolutely. The church is Holy-Spirit-filled people who are sold out for the Kingdom of God: they walk in the anointing of God; they do the works of Christ; they feed the hungry, heal the sick, deliver the oppressed and cast out demons. These new-creation folks actively proclaim and demonstrate the power of the Gospel where they live and work. They witness and win souls to Christ. They earnestly seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.

Every individual who is born-again in every denomination, irrespective of background, language or nation, belongs to Jesus! Every person who has trusted in Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord is a blood-bought, blood-washed, born-again believer, and a member of the Church. A person cannot be unsaved and be part of the church! Are you in His Church?