Is Joining the Church a Means of Salvation?

Christ demands that his followers confess him before men (see Luke 12:8,9), and joining the church is the recognized method of doing so. We are ordered not to forsake "the assembling" of ourselves together in the Lord's House. It places us on record. Beside this, it is a means of grace. One who turns his back on God's Church and his people would be a very singular Christian, indeed. In associating with God's people there is mutual help and reinforced service. Then, too, the Christian would naturally wish to obey Christ's request, that his friends would remember him by partaking together of the bread and wine. There may be obstacles in the way of a Christian joining a church, and we would not judge any man for holding aloof, but be should have very weighty reasons to justify him in doing so. Leading a good moral life and believing in God are not, however, sufficient of themselves for salvation. God is not pleased when men ignore the way of salvation he has provided. Jesus saith, "No man cometh unto the Father but by me" (John 14:6).

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