| The Lord Jesus is the author of salvation, not the church, so if I don't go to church, as long as I believe in the Lord Jesus and follow the correct path to salvation, won't I be saved? |
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- The church is the body of Christ (Eph 1:22-23, 4:12, 5:23; Col 1:24). How can a person believe in Christ yet refuse to be a member of the body of Christ? True believers of Jesus Christ are members of the same body, i.e. the church (1Cor 12:12-13, 27-28).
- There is no doubt that Jesus is the author of salvation, but the Lord Jesus imparts his salvation through his church by sending his workers and giving his church the authority and power to forgive sins (Jn 20:21-23; Mt 16:18-19). Baptism, footwashing, Holy Communion, all of which have to do with believers’ salvation are performed by the church. A person must also pray for the Holy Spirit in the true church. Furthermore, the Lord is the savior of the church as a whole (Eph 5:23-27; see also Acts 20:28). Believers are not saved apart from the church.
- While those who have been purchased by the blood of Jesus are already members of the church (Acts 20:28), it is necessary that the members stay in fellowship with one another in the Lord (see Acts 2:42-47). Church services are held for members to worship together (see Mt 18:20; Heb 12:22-24); to encourage one another (Heb 10:24-25; see 1Cor 14:3-4); to pray together (Mt 18:19-20, see Acts 1:14; 2:42; 4:23-31; 12:5,12); to edify one another with spiritual gifts (Eph 4:11-12,16), so that the body of Christ may be built up to become the dwelling of God’s Spirit (Eph 2:19-22) and be prepared as the bride of Christ (Rev 19:7; 21:2).
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