HEB.10:25-27 "CAN’T I BE SAVED AND NOT GO TO CHURCH?"
A) Let me begin by saying that it doesn’t matter at all what you think about the subject,
* Nor does it matter what I think about it, but what does the Lord think about it!
* And I might add that He says what He thinks about it in Heb.10:25-27!
B) There is no doubt in my mind that Jesus went to church ... faithfully!
* Luke 4:16 "And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was,
he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read."
* Notice the phrase ... "And, as his custom was ..."
C) Jesus could always be depended upon, as a boy, and as a youth, and as a man,
* To be in His place in the synagogue as service was going on!
* Nobody in this building can argue with that statement!
* Jesus was regular ... every Sabbath! * We too need to be regular in our church attendance!
D) The reason for the church can be found in Eph.4:12 ...
* "For the perfecting ... saints, for the work ... ministry, for the edifying ... body of Christ."
* We gather together with God’s people , where the Word of God is appreciated, and where
we come together to sing praises and to pray!
E) Many times, we lose sight of Jesus, or lose consciousness of His presence!
* Like Joseph and Mary in Lk.2:43 and guess where they found Him ... The Temple!
* In John 6:24, after the feeding of 5,000, they went looking for Jesus.
* And once again, where did they find Him? * In the synagogue - v.59! * He was faithful!
F) It’s wonderful to meet with Him and worship Him! * I want to share something .......
* Matt.18:20 "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the ......."
* One Christmas Eve, the phone rang in the office of the Pastor of a church in Washington DC
that President Franklin Roosevelt attended.
* "Tell me Rev." the voice inquired, "Are you holding a Christmas Eve service tonight?"
G) When told that there would certainly be a service that evening, the caller asked,
* "And do you expect President Roosevelt to attend your church tonight?"
* "That," explained the Pastor patiently, "I cannot promise, I’m not sure about the President’s
plans for this evening."
* "But I can say that we fully expect God to be in our church tonight, and we feel secure in
the knowledge that His attendance will attract a reasonably large congregation."
H) Many times we are distracted away from church!
* We say we are only missing church! * Had to miss church because of job .......
* Had to miss because company was coming ... or had an appointment ... or just too tired, etc.
* But we are actually missing God’s presence! * Mt.18:20 says Jesus is there when 2 or 3 .......!
I) You are leaving the presence of God to work at a job!
* You are leaving the presence of God to be with friends or family!
* You are leaving the presence of God because you made an appointment with someone who is
undoubtedly more important to be in their presence than God’s presence!
* You are leaving the presence of God because you are too tired to be in His presence!
J) The message: "Can’t I be saved and not go to church?"
* There are many number of Scriptures I could use here, but ... Psalm 1:1-2
* Please note with me about three things about the subject .......
(1) GOD COMMANDS HIS PEOPLE TO ASSEMBLE TOGETHER - HEB.10:25!
* Note that this is a direct command, it is not a suggestion!
A) The word "forsaking" means: to desert, to leave behind.
* Don’t desert or leave behind the assembly and many are doing just that!
* "As the manner of some is." * This indicates that some of the Hebrew Christians failed to
assemble themselves in the house of God!
B) This command is to Christians according to v.19-23!
* Nowhere in Scripture are sinners commanded to go to church, but Christians are!
* Christians are to give God first place in their lives!
* Whatever we do ought to be done for God’s glory! * Not only does it do ourselves good,
but we encourage & comfort one another & get stirred up for God!
* Why don’t we just obey the Word of God and pattern our lives like Jesus!
* He went to church regularly and faithfully!
(2) SEE THE UNCONCERN ON THE PART OF SOME WHO PROFESS TO BE SAVED!
* He tells us in v.25 "As the manner of some is."
A) Every born again believer should be a part of a local assembly!
* And not just any assembly either! * We are living in a day when it’s taught that it matters not
where one attends church, just so long as he attends, but this is not true!
B) A Christian will be held accountable for the type of church he supports!
* A true believer should not fellowship with liberals and modernists!
* Amos 3:3 "Can two walk together except they be agreed?"
C) Some are just indifferent, it seems, and they have a "don’t care" attitude!
* Some just ignore God ... It doesn’t matter what God says to some!
* But everyone affects someone else in one way or another!
* Rom.14:7 "None of us liveth to himself and no man dieth to himself."
D) How important is the church in your life? * What are you teaching your children?
* What are you teaching your family and your loved ones?
* You are teaching them how important it is or there’s nothing important about it at all!
E) Some are unaware of how important church is, they are unclear on the concept!
* A 747 was halfway across the Atlantic when the captain got on the loud speaker.
* "Attention, passengers. We have lost one of our engines, but we can certainly reach London
with the three we have left. Unfortunately, we’ll arrive an hour late as a result."
* An hour later the captain made another announcement: "Sorry, but we lost another engine."
* "Still, we can travel on two. I’m afraid we will now arrive two hours late."
F) Shortly thereafter, the passengers heard the captain’s voice again,
* "Guess what, folks, we just lost our 3rd engine, but please be assured we can fly with only
one. We will now arrive in London three hours late."
* At this point, one passenger became furious! * "For Peat’s sake, " he shouted.
* "If we lose another engine, we’ll be up here all night."
G) There are many who take church that lightly!
* They don’t realize how much it hinders their spiritual progress when they are absent from the
church services! * They aren’t aware of how critical it is in their spiritual life!
* Don’t fit in the category of "as the manner of some is." * Not forsaking the assembling .......!
(3) LET’S NOT FORGET THAT THERE IS COMING A JUDGMENT!
* "As ye see the day approaching." * "The day" is the judgment day!
A) Whether we want to believe it or not, the day of judgment is a reality!
* Heb.9:27 "And as it is appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgment:"
* There is no getting around it! * Whether we want to accept it or not, our judgment will be
from the Almighty God! * Rom.14:12 "So then every one of us shall give account of ..."
B) And we must all admit that our day of judgment may be sooner than we dare to think!
* Your appointment with death is inevitable! * Luke 16:19-31
CLOSE
A) The Bible to my knowledge doesn’t come right out and say,
* That one cannot be saved unless he goes to church, but it couldn’t be much plainer
without saying it, could it?
B) But I must add from my own experience with the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior & Lord,
* I think every saved person wants to attend church!
* Jesus puts that desire in every one He saves!
C) It is natural for a saved person to go to church,
* It’s as natural as praying and reading your Bible!
* As a policeman to uphold the law, or as a fireman to put out fires!
* Can I be saved and not go to church?
* If what you got wont take you to church, I doubt if it will take you to heaven!
