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“At least they’re going to church.”. #1.) Attending the assembly doesn’t equal faithful Christianity.
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#1.) Attending the assembly doesn’t equal faithful Christianity. • Hebrews 10:26–27 (NKJV) 26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.
#1.) Attending the assembly doesn’t equal faithful Christianity. • Romans 6:15–23 (NKJV) 15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! 16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves ofrighteousness…
#1.) Attending the assembly doesn’t equal faithful Christianity. • …19I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. 20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death...
#1.) Attending the assembly doesn’t equal faithful Christianity. • 22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
#1.) Attending the assembly doesn’t equal faithful Christianity. • Revelation 3:1 (NKJV) 1 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write…“I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.
#1.) Attending the assembly doesn’t equal faithful Christianity. • 2 Peter 1:5–8 (NKJV) 5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
#1.) Attending the assembly doesn’t equal faithful Christianity. • Galatians 2:20 (NKJV) 20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
#1.) Attending the assembly doesn’t equal faithful Christianity. • Romans 12:1–2 (NKJV) 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
#2.) Their worship is vain if they’re teaching man-made doctrines. • Matthew 15:8–9 (NKJV) 8‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 9And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”
#2.) Their worship is vain if they’re teaching man-made doctrines. • Matthew 7:21–23 (NKJV) 21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
#2.) Their worship is vain if they’re teaching man-made doctrines. • Luke 6:46 (NKJV) 46 “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?
#3.) Lukewarm churches don’t benefit anyone who attends. • Revelation 3:14–22 (NKJV) 14 “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked…
#3.) Lukewarm churches don’t benefit anyone who attends. • …18I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ ”
#3.) Lukewarm churches don’t benefit anyone who attends. “Hot drinks provide warmth and comfort on cold days. Cold drinks provide refreshment and satisfaction on hot days. What happens, however, when I set my coffee or iced tea on the counter for a while and forget about it? When I come back later, I take a swig and find it tepid, lukewarm and, frankly, disgusting. I immediately spit it out. What was once a hot drink that provided warmth and comfort does nothing. What was once a cold drink that provided refreshment and satisfaction does nothing. But what was really wrong? How did that which was once cold or hot become lukewarm? They were affected by their surroundings. The cool air makes the hot drink lukewarm and the warm air makes a cold drink lukewarm. Once the drink reaches the same temperature as its surroundings, it will cease to change temperature. What does it mean to be lukewarm? It means to be governed by the surroundings. That was Laodicea’s problem. Instead of being the influencer in Laodicea, the church had been influenced. Essentially at this point, being a member of that congregation didn’t really make a person different than not being a member.” – Edwin Crozier