"To fulfill all righteousness"

UST AS Jesus was baptized, He also regularly attended worship with God's people every week.  Jesus, (God Himself!) did not need to be baptized, but did so because God had commanded it!  For the same reason, He attended worship regularly ("as His custom was"?).

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.

Luke 4:16

Doing all that God expects of His people was important to Jesus:

"It becometh us to fulfill all righteousness."

Matt. 3:15

The pleasure of God's house

What constantly delights this author, though, is the fact that, time after time, he finds that what's best for God is always what's also best for His people!

15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

II Cor. 4:15

To survive, grow as a Christian, and fulfill God's plan for our life we must link-up with other Christians!  So, not only is church attendance expected of our Saviour, it's absolutely essential to our personal growth? and it's enjoyable!

1 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.

Psalm 122:1

10 For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

Psalm 84:10

Mutual ministry

God has determined that His Gospel be preached by people, not angels, and He's decided that He is going to minister to His people through other Christians.  The local church body of believers is where God's declared He will establish His Presence through the persons of His believers.

25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

I Cor. 12:25-30    

The Scriptural passage, above, tells us that:

1)  The members of the church body care for each other;

2)  The church suffers with a suffering member;

3)  The church rejoices with a rejoicing member;

4)  Each member of a church body is a part of the Body of Christ!

5)  God has given each member of the body of Christ a different role from the rest;

6)  Through the church body we receive ministry from:

a.       Apostles,

b.      Prophets,

c.      Teachers,

d.      Miracle Workers,

e.      Healers,

f.       Helpers,

g.      Leaders,

h.     “Tongues” speakers with messages from God.

God asks, "Are all Christians able to do every one of these things?"  Of course not!  God has given each member of the church a different role to play in ministering to His people.  If we are not in a church we both suffer because of our separation from the people God has given us to minister to us, and we deprive those same Christians of the ministry that God's developing in us too, for their sakes!

What role do you wish to play in the Body of Christ?  Scripture tells us to desire the best gifts from him, to minister to His people!

31 But covet earnestly the best gifts:

I Cor. 12:31

We CANNOT, "Go it alone!"

Scripture tells us that it is even more important to link up with a church body as the return of Jesus Christ approaches, because of how much sin will increase the closer that days gets!

24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

25 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.
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

II Cor. 1:3-5

A Christian alone will eventually whither and become totally ineffective in both his personal relationship with God, and in his ability to minister to others.  God has determined that He will mature His people by using the context and lives of the other Christians around him.  Without that context the individual Christian's faith becomes mere theory and simplistic ideas; put into the context of the lives of other Christians, with their struggles and triumphs, the life of the individual Christian is made so much easier to fulfill!

But, WHICH church? 

Find a church without too much formalism – experience tells us that the less-formal churches usually contain Christians who are most enthusiastic about their faith; these people will be the greatest help to you as you, "grow in Christ."?  Also, the less formalism in a church, and therefore the more you understand about what you are doing in the church service, the more personal and, "real,"? your faith will be to you!

Become as involved as possible in the church.  In addition to attending services once or twice on Sunday, attend a mid-week group.  These are usually smaller, often in a family's home, and you will very quickly become quite close to the people who regularly meet there.  This will become your core group of friends and support in the church.  Without this group (especially in a large church) you will take much longer to, "settle in,"? and become a part, with the resulting friendships, support structure, help, and all things you will need to help you grow in your new faith.

Deu. 12:5