Cincinnati Primitive Baptist Church

Why Is Church Important?

Ephesians 1:23 describes the church as the body of Christ. And Ephesians 2:19 states that Jesus Christ himself is the chief cornerstone of the church. Ephesians 3:10 explains that the manifold wisdom of God is made manifest to the principalities and powers in heavenly places by the church. In 1 Timothy 3:15 the church is said to be “the pillar and ground of the truth.”

In Matthew 28:20, Jesus Christ promises to the apostles, as representatives and officers of the early church, that he will be with them always. In addition, Jesus states emphatically in Matthew 16:17 that the gates of hell will not prevail against his church.

Now we must ask ourselves this question: are these things important to us? Do we want to be found in the body of Christ; do we want to be set on the cornerstone of Christ; do we want to find the place where the wisdom of God is made manifest; do we want to learn and perpetuate the truth?

And just how important these things are to you is made apparent by how much effort you are willing to put forth to find and fully engage yourself in a truth-proclaiming, hell’s-gates-storming local body of believers.

Doubtless this is why the writer of Hebrews so urgently called the believers into the edifying accountability and stability of local church commitments. He writes:

"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 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" (Hebrews 10:23-25).