What does "not forsaking the assembling" mean?
Introduction. Hebrews 10: 25 reads as follows: "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
The assembling is a reference to the local church. Beloved, Jesus promised to build his church in spite of the devil and death (Matt. 16: 18). Jesus did in fact establish his church ("church" is used in the universal sense, Matt. 16: 18, and in the local sense, 1 Cor. 1: 2). Jesus' church is not an amalgamation of all the man-made religions, but is based on the premise of "one faith" and "one body" (Eph. 4: 5, 4, I Cor. 1: 10).
A number of commands can only be executed in the assembly. The command to sing and make melody in the heart is an assembly command (notice "one to another," Eph. 5: 19, Col. 3: 16). Giving into the treasury of the local church necessitates the assembly (1 Cor. 16: 1, 2). It is in the assembled local church that Christians commemorate Jesus' death and anticipate his return in partaking of the Lord's Supper (Acts 20: 7, 1 Cor. 11: 23-26).
The Lord's church is essential. The common attitude is "going to church has nothing to do with my salvation." Beloved, this attitude is wrong. The writer of Hebrews equates the abandonment of the local church with falling away from Christ. Apart from Christ and his church, "...there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins" (Heb. 10: 26).
Conclusion. Concerned reader, you are invited to check out the Lord's church (Rom. 16: 16).
The assembling is a reference to the local church. Beloved, Jesus promised to build his church in spite of the devil and death (Matt. 16: 18). Jesus did in fact establish his church ("church" is used in the universal sense, Matt. 16: 18, and in the local sense, 1 Cor. 1: 2). Jesus' church is not an amalgamation of all the man-made religions, but is based on the premise of "one faith" and "one body" (Eph. 4: 5, 4, I Cor. 1: 10).
A number of commands can only be executed in the assembly. The command to sing and make melody in the heart is an assembly command (notice "one to another," Eph. 5: 19, Col. 3: 16). Giving into the treasury of the local church necessitates the assembly (1 Cor. 16: 1, 2). It is in the assembled local church that Christians commemorate Jesus' death and anticipate his return in partaking of the Lord's Supper (Acts 20: 7, 1 Cor. 11: 23-26).
The Lord's church is essential. The common attitude is "going to church has nothing to do with my salvation." Beloved, this attitude is wrong. The writer of Hebrews equates the abandonment of the local church with falling away from Christ. Apart from Christ and his church, "...there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins" (Heb. 10: 26).
Conclusion. Concerned reader, you are invited to check out the Lord's church (Rom. 16: 16).