The Definition, Vital Factors, and Benefits of the Church Life
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The church life is clearly revealed in the New Testament.
A. The beginning of the church life is described in Acts 2:42-47. B. The church life is not a social life or religious life, but a proper human living that takes care of the spirit, soul, and body. – 1 Thes. 5:12-23 C. The church life is not an occasion for doing business, but a realm for prayer and spiritual edification. – John 2:14-17; Matt. 21:12-13. “Whatever we do in the church meeting must be for the building up of the saints and the church. To exhibit Christ and enjoy Him in the meetings for the building up of His Body must be our unique purpose and goal.” – 1 Cor. 14:26 note 2 D. The church life is not an information center (2 Thes. 3:11; 1 Tim. 5:13; Areopagus, Acts 17:19-21), but a spiritual food court. – “We must labor on Christ, our good land, that we may reap some produce of His riches to bring to the church meeting and offer. Thus the meeting will be an exhibition of Christ…a mutual enjoyment of Christ shared by all the attendants before God and with God for the building up of the saints…” (see 1 Cor. 14:26, note 1 par. 2) E. The church life takes Christ and the church as its the center and content. – “Any stress on things other than Christ and the church will bring confusion to the church and distract it from the central lane of God’s New Testament economy.” (see 1 Cor. 14:26 note 1 par. 3) F. In the church life, “all things must be done becomingly and in order.” – 1 Cor. 14:40. “The apostle’s concern for the church was that Christ as God’s center and the church as God’s goal might be carried on and carried out, with all things done becomingly and in good order before men and the angels (4:9; 10:11). Our natural life is useless in fulfilling such a high purpose. The experience of Christ crucified (1:23; 2:2) for the termination of our self and the experience of Christ in resurrection as our daily sanctification and redemption (1:30) are needed for a proper church life.” – v. 40 note 1 |