In the previous lesson some teachings which are part of the nature of the assembly were presented for study. The main topic was separation from the ways of the world which is the beginning of the new life in Christ. Paul described the new life as follows: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17) The old life of sin is gone and the new man is now living for Christ. Christ has created the new life which is completely with odds with ways of the world. The new convert is a new creature, (creation or created through Christ) who has shed the old ways to follow Jesus.

Ever since the fall in the Garden of Eden, the struggle of humanity has been to look to God and not to self. God provided the path back to him through Christ, but it has been spurned by millions through the years. In spite of the clear instructions of the Bible, man continues to try to change the way God wants all to behave. All sorts of excuses are made to justify the violations committed against the teachings of God. 

Holiness was discussed in previous lessons but a brief return to it is necessary. Holiness is the quality of being whose essence is purity which is without spot or blemish. In order for anyone to be acceptable to God the person must be without spot or blemish and in Ephesians Paul uses a comparison to teach purity. We’ll begin in Chapter 5, verse 25-27: Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.  Paul wrote of the purity of life in order to be pleasing to God. When one is in Christ, there aren’t any spots or blemishes to be seen. The blood of Christ washes the sin away at baptism so therefore Christ can present the assembly to the father in purity and holiness, without spot or blemish.

The conclusion is that the assembly is a group of people who have been washed in the blood of Christ and who desire to live in holiness and purity of life. Any group claiming to be part of the general body of Christ that doesn’t practice holiness and purity of life cannot be part of the favored assembly of people known as God’s people. That isn’t to say all who claim the name of Christ are able to live or have lived without sin. The issue is deliberately doing what God says not to do. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. (I John 3:9) Deliberate sin isn’t part of following God which is the meaning of cannot sin. There isn’t one sinful behavior listed in the scriptures that can be engaged in without knowing it.  God has left nothing to doubt.

Being a member of a “church” and going to church are the accepted standards for people of this world. Neither going to “church” nor being a member of some body called a “church” will bring salvation. Salvation begins with being baptized into Christ which adds one to the distinctive group of people revealed in the scriptures. They are a body of people who perform God’s work on earth by preaching, teaching, and administering to those in need.  They wear no other name than that of a believer in Christ and who live with faith in their Lord. They spurn deliberate sin and admonish each other as well as teach each other to live in purity and holiness, separated from the evil of the world by not engaging in it as was the practice before obeying the gospel. Anything less and the group cannot be called the people of God as found in the Bible (Revelation 2:15-17); the one true assembly (church), the visible earthly body of Christ for whom Christ died.

© 11-01-2009 DEC

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