By
Sandy Ditoro
Today
we begin a series of articles in which we will consider many aspects of the
fellowship we enjoy in Christ. We will look at our
blessings and our responsibilities within the sphere of this precious
fellowship with Christ and with one another.
Who
has the right to this fellowship?
We
are the Church of Christ.
We are the church and the church belongs to Christ. He
bought the church with His own blood.
The
Apostle Paul spoke these words to the elders in Ephesus:
Therefore
take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has
made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased
with His own blood.
(Acts 20:28)
.....
The churches of Christ greet you. (Romans
16:16)
What
is the significance of being His Church? Let’s
take a look at the meaning of the word church:
ekklesia
(ek-klay-see'-ah); ...a calling out, i.e. (concretely) a popular meeting,
especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Christian community
of members on earth or saints in heaven or both) Strong's
Exhaustive Concordance :
We
are a Christian community of members. We become a member by
believing in Christ, repenting of our sins, confessing that we believe He is
the Son of God and by being baptized:
For
as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
(Galatians 3:27)
Once
we are in Christ, we are a part of this wonderful community of believers. As
such we have the certain privileges no one else has. We are allowed to partake
of a bread that strengthens us and gives us life spiritually:
For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we
all partake of that one bread.
1 Corinthians 10:17
I am the living bread which came down from heaven.
If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread
that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the
world.”
(John 6:51)
As
part of this Holy union we have within Christ we must live by the Law of
Christ:
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. If
anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into
your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds. (2
John 1:9-11)
Our bond with each other should be for the good of the
other to help one another get to heaven. We are to keep the spiritual
environment healthy to produce offspring for Christ. We
should take care that we are not like the Corinthians whom Paul chided :
Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you,
since you come together not for the better but for the worse. For
first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are
divisions among you, and in part I believe it. (1
Cor.11:17-18)
It
is our privilege to present to you for the next few weeks devotional
thoughts concerning this precious fellowship we have in Christ.
May we become more appreciative of this Holy communion (this divine
relationship) with Christ and His saints. May we become more careful to
guard the ties we have in common with whose company we keep in the Lord.
;)