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In a few weeks my third grandbaby will be born. When he makes his anticipated entrance into this world, he will be placed in the nurturing arms of his mother. He will be held by his father and surrounded by loving siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. He will be well loved, cared for, fed, and protected. This is by God’s design. When we are born into the world, we are born into a family.
The day we are born is significant. Most celebrate it each year. Yet, Christians understand that their physical birth is only their first birth. Every Christian has a spiritual birth. Jesus said to Nicodemus, “I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God,” John 3:3. This new birth changes everything. Old things are passed away; all things become new. Stony hearts are replaced with hearts of flesh. And where we were once children of wrath, the new birth makes us children of God, granting us eternal life with Him.
When we are born again, we should also be joined to a family of believers. In this family we are fed by elders (1 Peter 5:2), and the older teach the younger (Titus 2). The strong in the faith help restore those overtaken in faults (Galatians 6:1). The brethren lovingly exhort and warn the unruly (I Thessalonians 5:14). We encourage one another daily so that sin will not harden hearts (Hebrews 3:12-13). And we love those in sin enough to have compassion and make a difference in their life. Jude 22-23 says, “And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”
The idea of experiencing salvation without belonging to a local church is foreign in the New Testament. When individuals repented and believed in Christ, they were baptized and added to the church (Acts 2:41, 47; 16:5). They did not live out a private commitment to Christ. They joined formally with other believers in a local assembly and devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer (Acts 2:42).
It is also important to note that the New Testament epistles were written to churches, not individuals. In them we read about the significance of one another. The scriptures call us to love one another, honor one another, edify one another, admonish one another, care for one another, serve one another, restore one another, bear one another’s burdens, and be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving toward one another. We are to teach one another, comfort one another, exhort one another, and consider one another. The Bible says we are to confess our sins to one another, have compassion with one another, be hospitable to one another, minister to one another, and to fellowship with one another. It is easy to see a theme here.
Salvation is personal, but the Christian life is not. Just as children who are orphaned, abandoned, and left to themselves can face harm or failure to thrive, so can children of God without a family. God designed us for accountability. We need each other. It was never intended for the child of God to be an island off to themselves. I can’t imagine my grandson being born and left to himself without love, care, and protection. I can’t imagine him not having nourishment or his needs provided for. Every child born needs and deserves a nurturing family to thrive. In the same way, every born-again, child of God needs to be a part of a family, the local church.
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