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What does "not forsaking the assembling" mean?


Introduction. Hebrews 10: 24-25 says: "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 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. 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 per Matt. 16: 18 and in the local sense as in 1 Cor. 1: 2). Jesus' church is not an accumulation of all alleged "Christian" religions teaching contradictory doctrines, but is based on the premise of "one faith" and "one body" (Eph. 4: 4-5, 1 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 requiring "teaching and admonishing one another" (Eph. 5: 19, Col. 3: 16).  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).  In the same context of the assembly for the Lord's Supper, chapter 16 of 1 Cor. includes giving into the treasury of the local church (1 Cor. 16: 1-2).

The Lord's church is essential. A common attitude today is "going to church has nothing to do with my salvation." However, this attitude is wrong according to the scriptures. Note carefully what Hebrews says immediately after the command to assemble: "For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries." (Heb. 10:26-27) Contextually this willful sinning includes the "forsaking the assembling of ourselves together". Apart from Christ and his church, "...there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins" (Heb. 10: 26).

Conclusion. Concerned reader, you are invited to search out and join a faithful, local assembly of the Lord's church (Rom. 16: 16).
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